Astronomy in Greece
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65074/5mv5ka17Keywords:
Greek Philosophy., Ptolemy, Greek Civilization, AstronomyAbstract
Received: 2026 / 05 / 23
Revision: 2026 / 06 / 06
Accepted: 2026 / 06 / 18
Published: 2026 / 09 / 30
Astronomy is considered one of the most important sciences that flourished in ancient Greek civilization. Greek philosophers and scientists played a significant role in establishing the early theoretical foundations for understanding cosmic phenomena and the movement of celestial bodies through rational observation and philosophical inquiry connected with scientific interpretations of nature. Astronomy in Greece witnessed remarkable development from the early stages of Greek thought, as philosophers sought to explain the origin of the universe and the structure of the heavens away from myths and traditional religious beliefs, contributing to the transformation of astronomical knowledge into an organized scientific discipline.
Several influential scholars emerged in this field, including Thales, Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, and Ptolemy, whose astronomical model remained influential for many centuries. The Greeks depended on mathematical calculations and astronomical observations to determine the positions of stars and planets. Astronomy was also used in various practical fields such as navigation, calendar organization, and the determination of seasons. Furthermore, Greek astronomical achievements contributed to the transmission of scientific knowledge to later civilizations, especially Islamic civilization, which further developed many astronomical theories and instruments.
Therefore, the study of astronomy in ancient Greece highlights the scientific and civilizational role of Greek civilization in establishing early scientific thought and demonstrates its influence on the development of natural and astronomical sciences throughout history.
References
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ثانياً: المصادر الأجنبية
1. David A. King, Astronomy in the Service of Islam, Variorum, London, 1993.
2. David C. Lindberg, The Beginnings of Western Science, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1992.
3. E. S. Kennedy, History of Astronomy from Thales to Kepler, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1956.
4. George Saliba, Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance, MIT Press, Cambridge, 2007.
5. John North, Cosmos: An Illustrated History of Astronomy and Cosmology, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2008.
6. Otto Neugebauer, A History of Ancient Mathematical Astronomy, Springer Publishing, Berlin, 1975.
7. Thomas S. Kuhn, The Copernican Revolution, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1957.
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