2020 CAP Virtual Sessions / Sessions virtuelle de l'ACP 2020

Session

Sarah Symons invited talk + DHP business meeting (rescheduled from June 10)

F-DHP

12 Jun 2020, 13:30

Virtual Platforms

10. Did ancient Egyptians do 'scientific' astronomy?

Dr Sarah Symons (McMaster University), Dr Robert Cockcroft (Western University)

12/06/2020, 13:30

History of Physics / Histoire de la physique (DHP)

Invited Speaker / Conférencier(ère) invité(e)

We look for evidence of recognisably 'scientific' astronomy three to four thousand years ago, in ancient Egypt. In this talk we will present some texts, objects, and instruments that demonstrate ancient Egyptian interest in the way the night sky functions. We will start by discussing an autobiographical text that recounts the invention process of a new time-keeping instrument, a...