BOOK LAUNCH: Imagining the Heavens Across Eurasia
Imagining the Heavens Across Eurasia from Antiquity to Early Modernity, edited by Rana Brentjes, Sonja Brentjes and Stamatina Mastorakou
No matter where they are on earth, when people look at the sky, they see the sun, moon, stars, and planets rising and setting every day and every night. Nonetheless, their perception of what they are looking at differs significantly depending on the cultural context(s) they were born and lived in, and their location on earth. Local climatic conditions also affect how stargazers experience and interpret the sky. Many different cultures have thought deities and demons inhabit the heavens. Some believed the heavens were densely populated by entire societies of such beings who fought with each other, loved, danced, and inhabited separate regions governed by the main gods or immortal emperors. Others saw the forces of Good and Evil in an eternal struggle in the universe. Again, others saw the universe controlled by a single god.
Book Introduction and event Program. Pre‐registration required. Sponsored by Professors Sabine Schmidtke and Myles Jackson (IAS School of Historical Studies).