On the Astronomical Orientation of Apamea and Gerasa

8 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2016

See all articles by Amelia Carolina Sparavigna

Amelia Carolina Sparavigna

Polytechnic University of Turin - Department of Applied Science and Technology

Date Written: July 26, 2016

Abstract

The ruins of several ancient towns of the East are showing impressing long colonnaded streets. These streets, named with the Roman terms of "decumani" and "cardines", crossing each other at right angles, are cutting the towns in four main parts. Of such towns with colonnaded streets, here we are discussing Apamea and Gerasa, founded under the rule of the Macedonian Empire. Planned having a regular layout, they seem oriented along a direction which had been established according to an astronomical orientation. Apamea is aligned along the cardinal direction of the true North and Gerasa along the direction of the sunrise on winter solstice.

Keywords: Archaeoastronomy, Satellite Images, Architecture, Modern Ephemerides

Suggested Citation

Sparavigna, Amelia Carolina, On the Astronomical Orientation of Apamea and Gerasa (July 26, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2814539 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2814539

Amelia Carolina Sparavigna (Contact Author)

Polytechnic University of Turin - Department of Applied Science and Technology ( email )

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