Persian astronomy
astronomy in ancient Persian history
Persian astronomy or Iranian astronomy refers to the astronomy in ancient Persian history.
Pre-Islamic history
Ancient Persians celebrated the vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice through a variety of different festivals and traditions.
Vernal equinox
Nowruz is the day of the vernal equinox and the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator has been calculated for years. Nowruz was an important day during the Achaemenid period and continued in importance through the Sasanian dynasty.
Summer solstice
Tirgan is an ancient Iranian festival celebrating the summer solstice.
Autumnal equinox
Mehregan is an ancient Zoroastrian and Persian festival celebrating the autumnal equinox since at least the 4th century BC.
Winter solstice
Yaldā Night is an ancient Iranian festival celebrating the winter solstice of the Northern Hemisphere.
Star systems
Some old Persian names in astronomy have barely survived; the names of the four Royal stars that were used by the Persians for almanacs are Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares and Fomalhaut, and are thought by scientists to equate to the modern-day star systems of Alcyone, Regulus, Albireo, and Bungula (Alpha Centauri) for almanacs.
Planets
Tablet inscriptions set forth observations of Jupiter from the 43rd year of the reign of Artaxerxes II to the thirteenth year of Alexander the Great. The positions of the planets throughout the year were determined using astrological charts.
After Muslim conquests
After the Muslim conquest of Persia, much of Persian astronomy and astrology became intertwined with the astronomy in the medieval Islamic world, paving way for the Islamic Golden Age.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Persian astronomy” is astronomy in ancient Persian history. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Persian, astronomy and ancient, not as a finished interpretation.
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