Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings: Astronomy and the Archaeology of Power - Softcover

Krupp, E.C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471329754 ISBN 13: 9780471329756

Publisher: Trade Paper Press, 1999

Synopsis

Discover the celestial myths and cosmic rituals of ancient priests and kings . . .
Drawing on intimate knowledge of the more than 1,300 ancient sites he has visited, E. C. Krupp, acclaimed writer and preeminent researcher, takes you to the world's essential sacred places and celestial shrines. Join him on a rich narrative journey to see where the rulers of old communed with the gods of the sky.
""Highly recommended to everyone interested in the culture of astronomy and those peoples who practiced it in their own ways.""-Sky & Telescope
""A lively account of the ways in which our ancestors conceived of and used the heavens.""-New Scientist
""There can be no doubt that this imaginative and readable work by a widely read and widely traveled author will strike a chord in the minds of a great many modern readers.""-Isis
""The fact that the book is written by an expert in his field comes through on every page, as does his enthusiasm for the subject.""-Astronomy Now
""Krupp's indispensable volume is fascinating, well-illustrated, and covers much territory.""-Parabola

About this title

From the Publisher

A preeminent writer and researcher in archaeoastronomy, Krupp has visited and photographed over 1,300 ancient and prehistoric sites all over the globe. He presents a fascinating survey of the astronomical beliefs and myths of ancient cultures all over the world, such as how the world was created, celestial powers that govern natural processes, and man's place in the cosmos. Describes the intriguing rituals each culture developed to worship the gods of the sky and how these rituals led to the field of modern astronomy. Contains new, previously undisclosed research on sites in Egypt, China, Tibet, India, the American Southwest, and other countries. Includes 150 photos, drawings, and illustrations--many of which have never been seen before.

From the Inside Flap

Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings Since the dawn of civilization, we have searched the sky for clues with which to interpret the forces that govern our lives. In Skywatchers, Shamans, and Kings, acclaimed author E. C. Krupp takes us on a fascinating journey to all corners of the world to visit the shrines and temples, tombs and caves where ancient priests and rulers communed with the gods of the sky. These are the sacred places where the magical power of the celestial spheres was encountered and the secrets of the planets and stars were divined. The tomb of the Maya ruler Six Sky served as a compass of cosmic power, built at the center of the Maya cosmos where the First Father was said to have given order to the world. The King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Egypt contained a narrow portal through which King Khufu ascended to rule over the Imperishable Stars. From the Terrace for Managing Heaven, hosts of skywatchers attended Khubilai Khan and devised masterful calendars of celestial events that confirmed his divinely sanctioned right to rule. Drawing on his intimate knowledge of more than 1,300 ancient sites he has visited, E. C. Krupp, one of the world's foremost experts on ancient astronomy, takes us to the essential sacred places-as well as celestial shrines far off the beaten path-in an evocative narrative richly enhanced by more than 150 photographs and illustrations. Through vivid descriptions of the important sites and their ritual meanings, he reveals how the rulers of ancient peoples from the Aztecs to the Mongols built monuments and practiced rituals with which they harnessed the power of the sky and sanctified their authority over their worlds. He decodes enigmatic inscriptions on temples and tombs, interprets the haunting imagery of sand paintings and petroglyphs, and traces the elaborate astronomical alignments according to which monuments and whole cities were constructed so that they mirrored the structure of the cosmos and permitted contact with its power. He describes the constellations and sky gods envisioned by the ancients and recounts the stories told about the characters painted in the stars. We meet shaman-chiefs and storm lords, pharaohs and imperial rulers, medicine men and rain kings, and we learn how the rituals they practiced expressed intriguing beliefs about the cosmic order, from how the celestial powers governed nature-presiding over the rhythms of time in the progression of days and seasons-to the way in which the world was created and what our place is in the sacred landscape. Even as we move today into a high-tech twenty-first century, we are still entranced by the mystery, beauty, and power of the celestial spheres. In Skywatchers, Shamans, and Kings, we can reach back to our early ancestors and discover the myriad ways in which the powers of the sky invested meaning and order in their lives.

About this edition

• Publisher: Trade Paper Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0471329754
• ISBN 13: 9780471329756
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 364