The Long History of an Imaginary Inscription: Josephusâ Two Pillars in Early Modern European Histories of Astronomy

John Steele

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Chapter 11 The Long History of an Imaginary Inscription: Josephusâ Two Pillars in Early Modern European Histories of Astronomy

In: Afterlives of Ancient Rock-cut Monuments in the Near East

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John Steele

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 402â426

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004462083_012

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Abstract

According to Josephus in his Judean Antiquities, before the flood all that was known of astronomy was inscribed on two pillars, one made of brick and the other of stone, in order that this knowledge would survive the coming catastrophe. This tale was used by medieval and Renaissance European writers to construct a lineage for the history of astronomy back to antediluvian times. Despite a growing awareness of the fictitious nature of Josephusâ account, the story of the two pillars continued to be presented as an important episode in histories of astronomy written in the early modern period. This chapter analyzes several seventeenth- and eighteenth-century histories of astronomy to examine how and why the story of the two pillars was used by the authors of these histories.

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Afterlives of Ancient Rock-cut Monuments in the Near East

Carvings in and out of Time

Series:Â Culture and History of the Ancient Near East, Volume: 123

Cover Afterlives of Ancient Rock-cut Monuments in the Near East

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004462083

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 15 Sep 2021

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African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
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Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
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Chapter 11 The Long History of an Imaginary Inscription: Josephusâ Two Pillars in Early Modern European Histories of Astronomy

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Share link with colleague or librarian

Afterlives of Ancient Rock-cut Monuments in the Near East

Carvings in and out of Time

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Chapter 11 The Long History of an Imaginary Inscription: Josephusâ Two Pillars in Early Modern European Histories of Astronomy