Journal:Archaeologia Baltica
Volume 10 (2008): Astronomy and Cosmology in Folk Traditions and Cultural Heritage, pp. 195–199
Abstract
The so-called ‘Neo-Pythagorean Basilica’ at Porta Maggiore in Rome is one of the most famous and most discussed hypogeal monuments in Rome. It was certainly in use for a short time during the first half of the first century AD, but its purpose is still far from clear. The most probable interpretation is that it was a temple dedicated to Neo-Pythagorean cults. We describe here the preliminary results of a detailed archaeoastronomical study of the Basilica undertaken in order to contribute to the understanding of the role of this fascinating monument.
Journal:Archaeologia Baltica
Volume 10 (2008): Astronomy and Cosmology in Folk Traditions and Cultural Heritage, pp. 110–113
Abstract
The supernova explosions of 1006 AD and 1054 AD are, probably, the astronomical events most carefully studied through the analysis of historical sources. But contradictions are still present in several sources concerning SN 1054 and the historical records are not consistent with the astronomical data. This short analysis aims to highlight all these aspects.
Journal:Archaeologia Baltica
Volume 10 (2008): Astronomy and Cosmology in Folk Traditions and Cultural Heritage, pp. 94–98
Abstract
Since Clark and Stephenson (1977) proposed that the supernova remnant (SNR) G315.4-2.3 should be identified with the historical supernova (SN) seen by Chinese observers in the year A.D. 185, a great deal of work has been done by theoreticians and observers to test the hypothesis. Some authors have proposed the SNR G320.4-1.2 as a better candidate, while, on the basis of a reinterpretation of the Houhan-shu original text, even the very nature of the A.D. 185 event has been questioned, leading to the hypotheses of a cometary transit (Chin and Huang 1994) or a combination of Comet P/Swift-Tuttle and a nova (Schaefer 1995, 1996). In fact, a cometary transit was apparently registered in one of the Priscilla Catacomb frescoes, an ancient Roman artwork dating from the end of the second century. During our examinations of Roman Catacomb frescoes in an attempt to discover representations of “guest star” apparitions in Imperial Rome, we also discovered what seems to be a record of SN 369, indicating that this may have been the explosion which originated Cas A.