Parapēgmata and poleis: astrometeorological calendars in the Hellenistic city
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| Title: | Parapēgmata and poleis: astrometeorological calendars in the Hellenistic city |
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| Authors: | Ruben Post |
| Contributors: | University of St Andrews.School of Classics |
| Source: | The Journal of Hellenic Studies. :1-21 |
| Publisher Information: | Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2025. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Subject Terms: | Meteorology, T-NDAS, Hellenistic government, Medicine, DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World, Agriculture, Calendars, DE |
| Description: | Between the fifth and first century BC, calendars that compiled astronomical and meteorological information, known as parapēgmata, came to be used throughout the Greek-speaking world. In the course of the Hellenistic period, numerous such almanacs attributed to scientific authorities who operated in different regions were circulating, some of which emphasized distinct atmospheric phenomena. By ca. 100 BC at the latest, individuals and communities began combining astrometeorological parapēgmata to produce their own, including inscribed public versions. I argue that politically active citizens and doctors would have benefited from the use of these calendars within the context of the Hellenistic polis because weather was believed to have a direct impact on the collective food supply and health of communities and such documents were perceived as an invaluable tool for anticipating important atmospheric changes, determining when meteorological thresholds were crossed and building consensus for communal action taken in response. |
| Document Type: | Article |
| File Description: | application/pdf |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 2041-4099 0075-4269 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/s0075426925100293 |
| Access URL: | https://hdl.handle.net/10023/32724 |
| Rights: | CC BY |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi.dedup.....969378b168c660a485060e218b7abf96 |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstract: | Between the fifth and first century BC, calendars that compiled astronomical and meteorological information, known as parapēgmata, came to be used throughout the Greek-speaking world. In the course of the Hellenistic period, numerous such almanacs attributed to scientific authorities who operated in different regions were circulating, some of which emphasized distinct atmospheric phenomena. By ca. 100 BC at the latest, individuals and communities began combining astrometeorological parapēgmata to produce their own, including inscribed public versions. I argue that politically active citizens and doctors would have benefited from the use of these calendars within the context of the Hellenistic polis because weather was believed to have a direct impact on the collective food supply and health of communities and such documents were perceived as an invaluable tool for anticipating important atmospheric changes, determining when meteorological thresholds were crossed and building consensus for communal action taken in response. |
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| ISSN: | 20414099 00754269 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/s0075426925100293 |