The site of the Varian Temple of Elagabal in Rome: topographical and astronomical approach to the question

Details The site of the Varian Temple of Elagabal in Rome: topographical and astronomical approach to the question The site of the Varian Temple of Elagabal in Rome: topographical and astronomical approach to the question

Mar 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005slali..47...89d&link_type=abstract

Studies in language and literature. Language, vol. 47, pp. 89-124

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Archaeoastronomy, Heliacal Ortus, Baetyl

Scientific paper

Ancient historians refer to a temple in Rome, dedicated to the Syrian sun god Elagabal, by his high priest, the Roman emperor called Varius (204-222AD, commonly called Elagabalus or Heliogabalus). On the basis of their texts, it has been thought that Varius either built a new temple, or rededicated an existing one, expropriated from some other deity, in order to house his god's principal cult object: a large black meteorite, or baetyl, which Varius brought from its temple at Emesa, in Syria, to Rome. In this paper we analyze the hypothesis that the site of the Varian Temple of Elagabal may have been that now known as the Vigna Barberini. A stratigraphic analysis shows that the Vigna Barberini is an artificial platform, built on the rubble of earlier hillside structures, dating from prehistoric times to the Julio-Claudian period. The platform, with more or less its present shape, is of Flavian date, and at that time contained a portico surrounding a central garden. On top of these, a Severan level corresponds to the base of the foundations of a temple that are very solid and go very deep. The azimuth of the temple wall oriented south-east is about 113°. Using a computer program, we have thoroughly scan ned the night sky in AD 1-250, looking for celestial objects that may have been worshipped in the temple. After taking into account the effects of precession, the main candidate for a celestial body worshipped from this site appears to be the star Sirius. In several Mediterranean cultures, the heliacal ortus, or earliest pre-dawn sighting of Sirius (when Sirius again rises into visibility after being hidden by the Sun's light for about 70 days) was thought to have astrological significance. We have compiled the relevant astronomical data for the heliacal ortus of Sirius in the time span 0-250 AD. During that period of time, it falls between 18th and 20th July. The azimuth angle of Sirius, when rising on the heliacal ortus day ci rca 150 AD, is about 111°. Being realistic and taking into consideration the topographical conditions surrounding the location of the temple our analysis suggests that the alignment is too accurate (113° vs. 111°) to be mere coincidence, and that the platform was very probably erected before Varius reign. Based on the astronomical modeling evidence, it appears very likely that the foundations of the temple where erected following the heliacal ortus of Sirius.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The site of the Varian Temple of Elagabal in Rome: topographical and astronomical approach to the question does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The site of the Varian Temple of Elagabal in Rome: topographical and astronomical approach to the question, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The site of the Varian Temple of Elagabal in Rome: topographical and astronomical approach to the question will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1568406