Astronomy and the Odyssey
Activity objectives
Background
The Odyssey is one of the most famous works of world literature. It is an epic poem that recounts the adventures of Odysseus (also known as Ulysses), king of the Greek island of Ithaca, on his journey home. Odysseus was returning from the Trojan war which it is believed took place sometime around 1200 BCE. The poem is attributed to the Greek poet Homer and most scholars believe it to have been composed near the end of the 8th century BCE, somewhere in ancient Greek Ionia in the coastal region of modern-day Turkey.
In his epic 10-year voyage back home the hero confronts giants, nymphs, monsters, before finally arriving in Ithaca where the story ends when he sees off a group of unruly suitors, the so called Mnesteres, who had been competing to marry his wife Penelope, as Odysseus himself had been assumed dead.
- Learn about the Odyssey one of the most important works of world literature
- Become familiarised with the Stellarium software
- Learn how to navigate the sky, including finding constellations and star clusters
- Become introduced to the basics of celestial navigation
Background
The Odyssey is one of the most famous works of world literature. It is an epic poem that recounts the adventures of Odysseus (also known as Ulysses), king of the Greek island of Ithaca, on his journey home. Odysseus was returning from the Trojan war which it is believed took place sometime around 1200 BCE. The poem is attributed to the Greek poet Homer and most scholars believe it to have been composed near the end of the 8th century BCE, somewhere in ancient Greek Ionia in the coastal region of modern-day Turkey.
In his epic 10-year voyage back home the hero confronts giants, nymphs, monsters, before finally arriving in Ithaca where the story ends when he sees off a group of unruly suitors, the so called Mnesteres, who had been competing to marry his wife Penelope, as Odysseus himself had been assumed dead.
Homer: Taken from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bust_Homer_BM_1825.jpg
Apart from its huge importance in world literature, the Odyssey also contains a wealth of astronomical data, including references to the Sun and Moon, various stars, constellations (groups of stars), planets, etc. It therefore constitutes an invaluable source of information on the state of ancient Greek astronomical knowledge at the 8th century BCE. In this activity we will be analysing passages from the poem that refer to the night sky, to familiarise ourselves with basic astronomical principles and with the Stellarium software.
Astronomical References
In book V of Odyssey, Odysseus sails away from the land of Ogygia, after having received detailed instructions from the nymph Kalypso (Od. 5, 270-277):
“αὐτὰρ ὃ πηδαλίῳ ἰθύνετο τεχνηέντως
ἥμενος· οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτε
Πληϊάδας τ’ ἐσορῶντι καὶ ὀψὲ δύοντα Βοώτην
῎Αρκτον θ’, ἣν καὶ ἅμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,
ἥ τ’ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τ’ ᾿Ωρίωνα δοκεύει,
οἴη δ’ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν ᾿Ωκεανοῖο·
τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα”.
“and taking his seat artfully with the steering oar he held her
on her course, nor did sleep ever descend on his eyelids
as he kept his eye on the Pleiades and late-setting Boötes,
and the Bear, to whom men give also the name of the Wagon,
who turns about in a fixed place and looks at Orion,
and she alone is never plunged in the wash of the Ocean.
For so Kalypso, bright among goddesses, has told him
to make his way over the sea, keeping the Bear on his left hand”.
The passage mentions the star cluster Pleiades, the constellations of Boötes, the Bear and Orion, and also contains a mention to celestial navigation as Odysseus is instructed “to make his way over the sea, keeping the Bear on his left hand”. We will now use Stellarium to investigate some of these references.
Analysis with Stellarium
The Odyssey describes events that took place around 1200 BCE. Many scholars also believe that the way Odysseus’s journey is described it must have taken place sometime in autumn.
Start Stellarium and in the Date/Time Window, set the date to:
-1199 / 09 / 15 (-1119 is equivalent to 1200 BCE). Also, since the voyage is taking place in the sea, using the Sky and Viewing Options Window, set the Landscape to 'Ocean' to add realism to the simulation.
We know that this passage refers to our hero’s departure from the nymph Kalypso’s island of Ogygia. Most scholars are reluctant to associate an actual geographical location to this and believe that most locations described in the poem are mythical. There is a tradition, however, that identifies this island with modern day Gozo, one of the islands of Malta. For our analysis we will assume that this is the case.
Next, set the location in the Location Window to Gozo in Malta. As Gozo is not included in the predefined list of places in Stellarium, you must enter the geographical coordinates manually. These are: 36°02'39.48" N 14°15'04.40" E. Make sure the Get Location from Network option is not selected.
Using the Date/Time Window, set the time to 9 pm.
Let us start with using Stellarium to locate the open star cluster Pleiades, otherwise known as the 'Seven Sisters'. An open star cluster is a group of up to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same molecular cloud. You can use the Search Window on the left side of the screen to locate the Pleiades by typing the name. Once you have located it, you can zoom in using the Page Up key.
Is the open star cluster visible from Ogygia as indicated by Homer, during the autumn? Is it located nearer the East or the West? How many light years (one light year is the distance light travels in a vacuum in one year) away is this group of stars located? (You can obtain this information on the left-hand corner of the screen. It is the number in brackets next to Distance).
Next, locate the star constellation of “Boötes”. A constellation is a group of stars that looks as if they form a shape in the sky. The ancient civilisations associated many figures and myths to these star groups. For example, the ancient Greeks named this particular constellation Boötes, meaning “herdsman” (the keeper of domesticated animals). To see this, click on the Constellation names, Constellation labels and Constellation art icons at the bottom of the screen.
Unlike open star clusters like the Pleiades, the stars forming a constellation usually do not have any actual direct association to each other and can be located at vastly different distances. As the distances are so large, to our eyes the stars seem as if they are lying on the same plane forming a shape.
Is Boötes visible from Ogygia as suggested by Homer, during the autumn? The poet also describes the constellation as “late-setting”, meaning that it sets, i.e. falls below the horizon, late in the day. Is this justified by what you see on Stellarium?
Next, locate the 'Bear' constellation which is known as 'Ursa Major'.
What does Homer mean when he says that the Bear is the one “who turns about in a fixed place and looks at Orion, and she alone is never plunged in the wash of the Ocean”? Hint: Progress time (this can also be done from the icon at the bottom right corner) and see how the position of the Ursa Major constellation in the sky changes; you will also see Orion the Hunter appear. For this, you may have to zoom out a bit.
Finally, check that that the 'Bear' is always located approximately to the North.
Knowing the approximate position of the 'Bear' is to the North, when Odysseus is instructed “to make his way over the sea, keeping the Bear on his left hand”, does this mean that he should travel eastwards or westwards? Justify your answer. By checking the relative positions of Gozo and Ithaca (the Greek island not the one in the United States!) on a modern-day map, check if Kalypso’s instructions to Odysseus are correct.
Apart from its huge importance in world literature, the Odyssey also contains a wealth of astronomical data, including references to the Sun and Moon, various stars, constellations (groups of stars), planets, etc. It therefore constitutes an invaluable source of information on the state of ancient Greek astronomical knowledge at the 8th century BCE. In this activity we will be analysing passages from the poem that refer to the night sky, to familiarise ourselves with basic astronomical principles and with the Stellarium software.
Astronomical References
In book V of Odyssey, Odysseus sails away from the land of Ogygia, after having received detailed instructions from the nymph Kalypso (Od. 5, 270-277):
“αὐτὰρ ὃ πηδαλίῳ ἰθύνετο τεχνηέντως
ἥμενος· οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτε
Πληϊάδας τ’ ἐσορῶντι καὶ ὀψὲ δύοντα Βοώτην
῎Αρκτον θ’, ἣν καὶ ἅμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,
ἥ τ’ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τ’ ᾿Ωρίωνα δοκεύει,
οἴη δ’ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν ᾿Ωκεανοῖο·
τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα”.
“and taking his seat artfully with the steering oar he held her
on her course, nor did sleep ever descend on his eyelids
as he kept his eye on the Pleiades and late-setting Boötes,
and the Bear, to whom men give also the name of the Wagon,
who turns about in a fixed place and looks at Orion,
and she alone is never plunged in the wash of the Ocean.
For so Kalypso, bright among goddesses, has told him
to make his way over the sea, keeping the Bear on his left hand”.
The passage mentions the star cluster Pleiades, the constellations of Boötes, the Bear and Orion, and also contains a mention to celestial navigation as Odysseus is instructed “to make his way over the sea, keeping the Bear on his left hand”. We will now use Stellarium to investigate some of these references.
Analysis with Stellarium
The Odyssey describes events that took place around 1200 BCE. Many scholars also believe that the way Odysseus’s journey is described it must have taken place sometime in autumn.
Start Stellarium and in the Date/Time Window, set the date to:
-1199 / 09 / 15 (-1119 is equivalent to 1200 BCE). Also, since the voyage is taking place in the sea, using the Sky and Viewing Options Window, set the Landscape to 'Ocean' to add realism to the simulation.
We know that this passage refers to our hero’s departure from the nymph Kalypso’s island of Ogygia. Most scholars are reluctant to associate an actual geographical location to this and believe that most locations described in the poem are mythical. There is a tradition, however, that identifies this island with modern day Gozo, one of the islands of Malta. For our analysis we will assume that this is the case.
Next, set the location in the Location Window to Gozo in Malta. As Gozo is not included in the predefined list of places in Stellarium, you must enter the geographical coordinates manually. These are: 36°02'39.48" N 14°15'04.40" E. Make sure the Get Location from Network option is not selected.
Using the Date/Time Window, set the time to 9 pm.
Let us start with using Stellarium to locate the open star cluster Pleiades, otherwise known as the 'Seven Sisters'. An open star cluster is a group of up to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same molecular cloud. You can use the Search Window on the left side of the screen to locate the Pleiades by typing the name. Once you have located it, you can zoom in using the Page Up key.
Is the open star cluster visible from Ogygia as indicated by Homer, during the autumn? Is it located nearer the East or the West? How many light years (one light year is the distance light travels in a vacuum in one year) away is this group of stars located? (You can obtain this information on the left-hand corner of the screen. It is the number in brackets next to Distance).
Next, locate the star constellation of “Boötes”. A constellation is a group of stars that looks as if they form a shape in the sky. The ancient civilisations associated many figures and myths to these star groups. For example, the ancient Greeks named this particular constellation Boötes, meaning “herdsman” (the keeper of domesticated animals). To see this, click on the Constellation names, Constellation labels and Constellation art icons at the bottom of the screen.
Unlike open star clusters like the Pleiades, the stars forming a constellation usually do not have any actual direct association to each other and can be located at vastly different distances. As the distances are so large, to our eyes the stars seem as if they are lying on the same plane forming a shape.
Is Boötes visible from Ogygia as suggested by Homer, during the autumn? The poet also describes the constellation as “late-setting”, meaning that it sets, i.e. falls below the horizon, late in the day. Is this justified by what you see on Stellarium?
Next, locate the 'Bear' constellation which is known as 'Ursa Major'.
What does Homer mean when he says that the Bear is the one “who turns about in a fixed place and looks at Orion, and she alone is never plunged in the wash of the Ocean”? Hint: Progress time (this can also be done from the icon at the bottom right corner) and see how the position of the Ursa Major constellation in the sky changes; you will also see Orion the Hunter appear. For this, you may have to zoom out a bit.
Finally, check that that the 'Bear' is always located approximately to the North.
Knowing the approximate position of the 'Bear' is to the North, when Odysseus is instructed “to make his way over the sea, keeping the Bear on his left hand”, does this mean that he should travel eastwards or westwards? Justify your answer. By checking the relative positions of Gozo and Ithaca (the Greek island not the one in the United States!) on a modern-day map, check if Kalypso’s instructions to Odysseus are correct.
