arXiv subjects

Giulio Magli

Publications and source records attributed to Giulio Magli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The orientation of the Amazonian geoglyphs as a clue for their interpretation

Amazonian earthworks, also called geoglyphs, are thousands of man-made earthen structures, mostly of geometrical shape, which progressively emerged from the tropical forest due to progressive deforestation. They were probably built between the fifth century BC and the end of the first millennium AD, but archaeological investigation on the culture of their builders is yet at the beginning. Nevertheless, a ceremonial rather than practical function seems likely, at least for those having a very regular shape. In the present paper, simple remote-sensing technique, combined with the methodological approach of modern Archaeoastronomy, are applied to study for the first time their orientation. The analysis takes in consideration virtually all known squared and rectangular structures for a total of 326 earthworks. The results show without doubts a non-random choice for their orientation and a clear interest of their builders for the annual cycle of the Sun.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2024

The April 1, 2471 b.C. eclipse and the end of 4th Egyptian dynasty

On April 1, 2471 bC an impressive, unpredictable phenomenon occurred over the Delta of the Nile: a total solar eclipse, with totality band almost centered on the sacred city of Buto, and with the capital Memphis very close (>95%) to totality. This date is compatible with existing chronologies for the reign of Pharaoh Shepseskaf, who adopted a clamorous symbolic break with respect to the tradition of solarized kings started by Khufu. Indeed his tomb was not built in view from Heliopolis and was not a pyramid, but a kind of unique monument resembling the symbolic shrine at Buto. The aim of the present paper is to investigate in a systematic way the possibility that the origin of this historical break, which marks the end of the 4th dynasty, can be identified precisely in the 2471 bC eclipse, therefore furnishing a new astronomical anchor for the chronology of the Old Kingdom.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2022

Archaeoastronomy and the alleged < >

In a recent paper in Antiquity (Darvill 2022), the author has proposed that the project of the < > phase (stage 2) of Stonehenge (c. 2600 BC) was conceived in order to represent a calendar year of 365.25 days, that is, a calendar identical in duration to the Julian calendar. The aim of the present paper is to show that this idea is totally unsubstantiated, being based as it is on a series of forced interpretations and unsupported analogies.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2019

Gromatics illustrations from newly discovered pavements in Pompeii

In recent archaeological investigations of Pompeii Regio V houses, a series of new, rather enigmatic images on the floors of the entrance and of the Tablinium of the so called House of Orion have been unearthed. These images are presented here together with a tentative interpretation, which is based on a clear analogy of their content with the illustrations of the codexes of the Gromatics, the Roman agrimensores

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2018

Astronomy and Feng Shui in the project of the Tang, Ming and Qing royal mausoleums: a satellite imagery approach

The royal Chinese mausoleums of the Tang, Ming and Qing Chinese dynasties are astounding ensables of monuments, conceived and built to assure to the Emperors immortality in the afterlife and perennial fame on earth. To this aim, a series of cognitive elements were embodied in the funerary landscapes selected for such monuments, including astronomy, general topography, and traditional Chinese geomancy. Taking advantage of satellite imagery, we investigate here on this issue in a general manner. In particular, we develop and apply a rigorous approach to investigate if magnetic compass was used in the planning of such monuments.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2018

A possible explanation of the void discovered in the pyramid of Khufu on the basis of the pyramid texts

A recent exploration has shown the presence of a significant void in the pyramid of Khufu at Giza. A possible explanation of this space, interpreted as a chamber connected to the lower north channel and aimed to contain a specific funerary equipment is tentatively proposed. According to the Pyramid Texts, this equipment might consist of a Iron throne, actually a wooden throne endowed with meteoritic Iron sheets.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2017

Archaeoastronomy of the Sun path at Borobudur

The world famous Javanese temple of Borobudur is located at the westernmost end of a straight line which includes two satellite temples, Mendut and Pawon. Originally, the three buildings were probably connected by a processional path running along this line. It is shown here that the alignment points, at the horizon, where the sun sets in the days of the zenith passages. This orientation is likely intentional and related to a ritual procession which connected the three temples, mimicking the path of the sun in the sky.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2017

Wind, Sand and Water. The Orientation of the Late Roman Forts in the Kharga Oasis (Egyptian Western Desert)

The chain of late Roman fortified settlements built in the Kharga Oasis, in Egypt Western Desert, represents an interesting case study to analyse how the ancient Roman town planners interacted with the landscape. A peculiar feature of the site is the existence of a prevailing, north westerly wind, and it is possible to identify the average azimuth of the wind by measuring the central axes of the halfmoon shaped sand dunes which characterize the landscape. Using the methods of Archaeoastronomy, we compared these azimuths with the orthogonal layout of both the settlements and the agricultural installations and showed that these are oriented on the prevailing wind. A description and the possible implications of this < > are discussed in this article.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2017

Royal mausoleums of the Western-Han and of the Song Chinese dynasties: a contextual approach

The mausoleums of the emperors and of some members of the royal family of the Western Han Chinese dynasty, popularly known as Chinese pyramids, are a spectacular ensemble of tombs covered by a huge earth mounds, spread in the outskirts of modern Xian. Their inspiring model is the world famous tomb of the first emperor Qin, who reigned immediately before the Han, and in turn they were of inspiration for the much later mausoleums of the Song dynasty. Using satellite data we investigate here on cognitive aspects of the project of these two groups of monuments, with particular attention to the problem of their orientation and of their placement in the landscape; in particular, the presence of two distinct patterns of orientation, both connected with the polar region of the sky, arises. The analysis includes the cultural relationships of astronomy with orientation and topography, as well as a negative test of the possible influence of the Feng Shui tradition in the Western Han period. The special, much relevant case of the funerary landscape of emperor Wen of Han is also discussed.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2016

Archaeoastronomy and the chronology of the Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek

One of the most complex architectural feats ever conceived is the magnificent temple of Jupiter at Baalbek, Lebanon. Several issues remain unsolved about this site, and in particular the chronology and dating of the two podia and the true nature of the cult. We present here some hints coming from orientation and from other features of the temple, which seem to point to a unified project of both podia, originally conceived under Herod the Great.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2016

Astronomy and landscape at the prehistoric settlement Villaggio dei Faraglioni, Ustica, Sicily

The placement of the Middle Bronze Age settlement Villaggio dei Faraglioni on the Ustica island, one of the best preserved prehistoric village of the Mediterranean area, is analyzed from a cognitive point of view, taking into account archaeoastronomy and landscape archaeology aspects. It turns out that the place might have been selected because of its privileged position with respect to the landscape, better than conforming to utilitarian/defensive considerations, as instead occurs for contemporary, for instance Mycenaean, sites. From the village it was indeed possible to follow the rising and setting of the sun in the months close to the winter solstice on the two elevated peaks existing on the opposite side of the island, in a symmetric way. As a consequence, the inhabitants could determine the day of the winter solstice with an approximation of a few days, using this partial calendar for agricultural and navigational purposes. A possible astronomical orientation of the urban layout is also analyzed

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2016

Archaeoastronomy in the Khmer heartland

The heartland of the Khmer empire is literally crowded by magnificent monuments built in the course of many centuries. These monuments include the world-famous state-temples, such as Angkor Wat, but also many other temples and huge water reservoirs. Using Google Earth data as well as GIS data and reconstructing the ancient sky with Stellarium, we investigate here on the relationships of astronomy with orientation and topography in a systematic fashion, following the methods of modern Archaeoastronomy and strictly keeping at a bay vague or esoteric proposals put forward by many authors in the past. As a result, a very clear pattern of cardinal orientation and alignment arises, connected with the temple's symbolism and the management of power by the Khmer kings. As a bonus, the comparison with the Angkor monuments allows to put forward a explanation for the anomalous orientation of the unique two peripheral state temples of Cambodia.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2016

The role of astronomy in the anomalous orientations of two khmer state-temples

Among the magnificent temple complexes built during the Khmer empire, two single out both for their distance from the Angkor heartland as well as for their anomalous, not cardinal, orientation: Koh Ker and Preah Khan of Kompong Svay. Their orientations are shown here to be connected with two relevant astronomical phenomena, namely the zenith passages of the sun and the rising of the Moon at the northern maximal standstill, respectively.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2015

Understanding the meaning of Greek temples' orientations. Akragas Valley of the Temples as a case study

The issue of the orientation of Greek Temples has been the subject of several debates since the end of the 19 century. In fact, although a general tendency to orientation within the arc of the rising sun is undeniable, specific patterns and true meaning remain obscure. With the aim of shedding light on this problem we present here a new complete, high precision survey of the temples of Akragas, the so called Valley of the Temples UNESCO site. Our results include a important temple which was essentially yet unpublished, and most of all show that very different reasons influenced the orientation choices, some symbolical, but others by far more practical, besides the general rule of orienting to the rising sun. In particular, the existence of temples orientated in accordance with the towns grid, as well as to the cardinal points irrespectively from the sun's declination associated to true east at the uneven horizon, is evidenced. Finally, for two temples having anomalous orientations a stellar and a lunar proposal are made respectively

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2014

The Giza "written" landscape and the double project of King Khufu

In recent years, different scientific disciplines, from Physics to Egyptology, from Geology to Archaeoastronomy, evidenced a series of clues pointing to the possibility that the original project of the pyramid complex of Khufu at Giza included also the project of the second pyramid complex at the same site, that of Khafra. The aim of the present paper is to discuss this issue in a systematic fashion and to explore its consequences on the way the ancient Egyptians conceived and built monuments and entire landscapes during the Old Kingdom.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2013

Nero's "solar" kingship and the architecture of Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea, Nero's last "palace" constructed in the very heart of ancient Rome, is a true masterpiece of Roman architecture. We explore here symbolic aspects of the emperor's project, analysing the archaeoastronomy of the best preserved part of the Domus, the Esquiline Wing. In particular, we study the so-called Octagonal Room, the huge vaulted room which is in many respects a predecessor of the Pantheon. The project of the room turns out to be connected with astronomy, as will be that of the Hadrian's Pantheon 60 years later. Indeed, the divinization and "solarisation" of the emperor placed at the equinoxes as a point of balance in the heavens are shown to be explicitly referred to in the rigorous orientation of the plan and in the peculiar geometry of the design of the dome.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2013

Qualitative analysis of collapsing isotropic fluid spacetimes

The structure of the Einstein field equations describing the gravitational collapse of spherically symmetric isotropic fluids is analyzed here for general equations of state. A suitable system of coordinates is constructed which allows us, under a hypothesis of Taylor-expandability with respect to one of the coordinates, to approach the problem of the nature of the final state without knowing explicitely the metric. The method is applied to investigate the singularities of linear barotropic perfect fluids solutions and to a family of accelerating fluids.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Under Augustus sign: the role of Astronomy in the foundation of Augusta Praetoria Salassorum

Augusta Praetoria Salassorum, modern Aosta, was founded around 25 BC to celebrate the victory of Augustus army on the Salassi. Aosta is a city of the founder under many respects; for instance, one of the two twin temples of the forum was devoted to Augustus, and a huge triumphal arc to the ruler still welcomes the town visitors. Recently, a sculpted block has been uncovered, still in its original position, on a corner of one of the town towers. The block carries reliefs, such as a plough and a spade, which are clearly related to the town foundation ritual. As a consequence, we carried out an archaeoastronomical analysis of the original urban plan taking into account the complex natural horizon of the Alps in which Aosta valley is nested. The results show that the town was very likely oriented in such a way as to pinpoint Augustus associations with the cosmic signs of renewal: the winter solstice and the Capricorn.

physics.hist-ph↗