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Constellation: Difference between revisions
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Constellations have been around for many generations in society. People kept track of constellations long before telescopes existed. In fact, a telescope is not at all necessary to view constellations because they were designed to be able to see with the naked eye. It is thought that the process of naming and identifying constellations was originated by farmers long ago. They followed seasonal constellations to help them know when the right time was to plant or reap their crops. | Constellations have been around for many generations in society. People kept track of constellations long before telescopes existed. In fact, a telescope is not at all necessary to view constellations because they were designed to be able to see with the naked eye. It is thought that the process of naming and identifying constellations was originated by farmers long ago. They followed seasonal constellations to help them know when the right time was to plant or reap their crops. | ||
Interestingly though, almost every ancient civilization has kept records of constellations, but many of the constellations have been given very similar names, or represented very similar figures. These were recorded thousands of years ago; long before communication would have allowed for civilizations scattered across the globe to have shared ideas or thoughts. However, one hypothesis by Jonathan Henry, is that much like the story of a world wide flood is found in almost every culture, the shapes and figures of constellations of stars are very congruent as well. He thinks this is because of the fact that when the people of Babel spread out their separate ways, they took popular beliefs or ideas with them. If when people dispersed from Babel, they took their ideas about constellations with them, it would explain why so many cultures around the world shared the same thoughts before communication between continents was a reality. <ref> [http://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j22_3/j22_3_93-100.pdf Constellations: legacy of the dispersion from Babel] </ref> | Interestingly though, almost every ancient civilization has kept records of constellations, but many of the constellations have been given very similar names, or represented very similar figures. These were recorded thousands of years ago; long before communication would have allowed for civilizations scattered across the globe to have shared ideas or thoughts. However, one hypothesis by Jonathan Henry, is that much like the story of a world wide flood is found in almost every culture, the shapes and figures of constellations of stars are very congruent as well. He thinks this is because of the fact that when the people of Babel spread out their separate ways, they took popular beliefs or ideas with them. If when people dispersed from Babel, they took their ideas about constellations with them, it would explain why so many cultures around the world shared the same thoughts before communication between continents was a reality.<ref name=constellations>[http://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j22_3/j22_3_93-100.pdf Constellations: legacy of the dispersion from Babel] Dr. Jonathan F. Henry. Journal of Creation 22(3), March 30, 2010.</ref> | ||
== The Zodiacs == | == The Zodiacs == | ||
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{{bible quote|book=Job|chap=38|verses=31-32|Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?.(NIV)}} | {{bible quote|book=Job|chap=38|verses=31-32|Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?.(NIV)}} | ||
Constellations are some of the most ancient astronomical observations. Interestingly enough there are marked similarities in constellation names and the images they form, similarities that extend across cultures. Dr. Jonathan Henry proposes that these commonalities point back to the dispersion after [[Babel]], and that the constellations are representative of shared historical events like the global [[Flood]]. The pervasiveness of flood legends all over the world is well-supported, found in various cultures like that of the Mayans, Egyptians, and Scandinavians. Some secular researchers claim that the similarities of the constellations were a result of "a kind of convergent cultural evolution that happened spontaneously in many cultures"; that is, widely dispersed and entirely unique civilizations all develop the same general interpretation of the stars all around the same time period. One must understand however, that stars within a constellation have no actual connection to one another until the shape of the constellations is imagined by the viewer. Thus, it is next to impossible that people groups in very different regions of the world all “imagined” the same general images in the stars. Estimates of the date and location of the origin of the ancient constellations are consistent with the height of Assyrian power (in both the biblical period and physical location on earth allotted to Babel.) Examination of Roman, Greek, and Indian planispheres, or sky maps, further support this fact in that they incorporated previously known information; the Indian and Greek ones are so similar that they are nearly identical. <ref name=constellations | Constellations are some of the most ancient astronomical observations. Interestingly enough there are marked similarities in constellation names and the images they form, similarities that extend across cultures. Dr. Jonathan Henry proposes that these commonalities point back to the dispersion after [[Babel]], and that the constellations are representative of shared historical events like the global [[Flood]]. The pervasiveness of flood legends all over the world is well-supported, found in various cultures like that of the Mayans, Egyptians, and Scandinavians. Some secular researchers claim that the similarities of the constellations were a result of "a kind of convergent cultural evolution that happened spontaneously in many cultures"; that is, widely dispersed and entirely unique civilizations all develop the same general interpretation of the stars all around the same time period. One must understand however, that stars within a constellation have no actual connection to one another until the shape of the constellations is imagined by the viewer. Thus, it is next to impossible that people groups in very different regions of the world all “imagined” the same general images in the stars. Estimates of the date and location of the origin of the ancient constellations are consistent with the height of Assyrian power (in both the biblical period and physical location on earth allotted to Babel.) Examination of Roman, Greek, and Indian planispheres, or sky maps, further support this fact in that they incorporated previously known information; the Indian and Greek ones are so similar that they are nearly identical. <ref name=constellations/> | ||
Naturally, over time the similarities in the ancient constellations would be altered, allowing for differences, but without diminishing the common threads of general interpretation. For example, according to Babylonian tradition, the star Sirius is part of a bow and arrow image; in China, this star is in a constellation resembling a dog that is being targeted by a different bow and arrow constellation; in the West, [[Sirius]] is a star in the Big Dog, or [[Canis Major]], constellation. The constellation of [[Orion]] as a hunter, or as one with a bow and arrow, is recognizable in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Chinese, Norwegian (Norse), Mexican, Iranian, and Indian art and legends, albeit with slight modifications. The [[Pleiades]] too, were known as "The Seven Sisters" from the aborigines in Australia to the native peoples of ancient Europe, Africa, and America. This commonality is especially interesting in that very often only six of the prominent Pleiades are visible, and the fact that they are referred to as ''The'' Seven Sisters is most unusually considering that the seven stars of the [[Great Bear]] constellation are far brighter. Concerning the Great Bear constellation, scientists estimated that the association of the Ursa Major star group as a bear may go as far back as the 'ice-age Euro-Asia' (the location of Babel would have existed in this general region); also, the constellation's association with a bear in regions of the world where there are no bears, like in Egypt, further prove the theory that the interpretation stems from a common origin. Another fact that indicates an origin of the major constellations near [[Babylon]] is that the most ancient ones are only seen in the northern sky and are absent around the southern pole. Therefore, the creators of the oldest constellations must have been in the northern hemisphere. <ref name=constellations/> | Naturally, over time the similarities in the ancient constellations would be altered, allowing for differences, but without diminishing the common threads of general interpretation. For example, according to Babylonian tradition, the star Sirius is part of a bow and arrow image; in China, this star is in a constellation resembling a dog that is being targeted by a different bow and arrow constellation; in the West, [[Sirius]] is a star in the Big Dog, or [[Canis Major]], constellation. The constellation of [[Orion]] as a hunter, or as one with a bow and arrow, is recognizable in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Chinese, Norwegian (Norse), Mexican, Iranian, and Indian art and legends, albeit with slight modifications. The [[Pleiades]] too, were known as "The Seven Sisters" from the aborigines in Australia to the native peoples of ancient Europe, Africa, and America. This commonality is especially interesting in that very often only six of the prominent Pleiades are visible, and the fact that they are referred to as ''The'' Seven Sisters is most unusually considering that the seven stars of the [[Great Bear]] constellation are far brighter. Concerning the Great Bear constellation, scientists estimated that the association of the Ursa Major star group as a bear may go as far back as the 'ice-age Euro-Asia' (the location of Babel would have existed in this general region); also, the constellation's association with a bear in regions of the world where there are no bears, like in Egypt, further prove the theory that the interpretation stems from a common origin. Another fact that indicates an origin of the major constellations near [[Babylon]] is that the most ancient ones are only seen in the northern sky and are absent around the southern pole. Therefore, the creators of the oldest constellations must have been in the northern hemisphere. <ref name=constellations/> | ||
