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Sergei Rjabchikov

Publications and source records attributed to Sergei Rjabchikov.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2017

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: The Mamari Tablet Tells (Part 3)

One of main events on Rapanui before the cruel war (several wars) between the Hanau Momoko and Hanau Eepe was the annual election of the bird-man. Plainly, the local priest-astronomers, the descendants of immigrants from the Andean region of South America, could predict the day of the vernal equinox not only with the aid of the so-called "sun stones," but also counting the phases of the moon. The elements of the mathematical calculations of the astronomers have been deciphered. The astronomical basis of the Ahu Atanga (A Tanga) has been decoded, too.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2017

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: The Mamari Tablet Tells (Part 2)

The beginning of the calendar record inscribed on the Mamari tablet has been dated to the day of the summer solstice of December 20, 1680 A.D. The moon was not visible earlier at night. Because of a possible solar eclipse it was a perilous day, a precursor of the future misfortunes: the motion of Halley's Comet of 1682 A.D. and the rebellion of the western tribes. The new data about the watchings of the star Antares have been obtained, too.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2017

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: The Mamari Tablet Tells (Part 1)

The ancient priest-astronomers constantly watched many heavenly bodies. The record about Halley's Comet of 1682 A.D. has been decoded completely. Good agreement between it and the results of European astronomers is seen. The records about Halley's Comet of 1835 A.D. as well as about the sun, the moon, Mars and Saturn have been deciphered as well. The obtained information is the basis in order to understand some aspects of the bird-man cult.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2016

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: Aldebaran and the Pleiades

There is a good cause to assert that the Easter Islanders constantly watched Aldebaran and the Pleiades in the past. The Russian scholar Irina K. Fedorova and the American scholar Georgia Lee were the first who contributed significantly to the archaeoastronomical studies of these celestial bodies. I have decoded the Mataveri calendar completely. The ceremonial platform Hekii 2 was oriented on Aldebaran and nearby stars. The disappearance of the Pleiades during the dawn period in the north at the end of August could be an important mark before the arrival of sooty terns and before the elections of the next bird-man. The calculated dates of several solar eclipses have been used for composing the chronology of Easter Island from 1771 till 1867 A.D.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2016

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: Canopus and the Legendary King Hotu-Matua

Watchings of Canopus as a herald of the winter were important duties of ancient priests-astronomers on Easter Island. All the analysed data witness that this star was observed during the first and second voyages from Mangareva to the island. The names of king Hotu-Matua (Anua-Motua) and his father Tara tahi have been decoded. Several rongorongo records from the Esteban Atan manuscript have been deciphered advantageously. The new view at a painted barkcloth figurine connected with the bird-man cult has been offered. Some data about watchings of Aldebaran, the Pleiades, the sun, the moon, Venus and Mars have been collected as well.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2016

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: Kirch's Comet

A fragment of the folklore text "Apai" that was once put down on Easter Island contains a report about astronomical observations of Kirch's Comet or the Great Comet of 1680-1681 A.D. (C/1680 V1) and the partial solar eclipse of March 19, 1681 A.D. Some astronomical aspects of the local cult of bird-men have been discussed, too.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2016

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: Mars and Sweet Potatoes

The role of the monument Moai a Mata Mea at Easter Island in the fertility cult has been explained. The own late statue that belonged to the ruling Miru group can provisionally be dated back to ca. 1691 A.D. on the backbone of the archaeoastronomical studies as well as the written sources. Some data about watchings of the total solar eclipse of September 16, 1773 A.D. and Halley's Comet of 1682 A.D. are presented as well. A new information on the early settlement of Rapanui is of our interest, too.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2016

The Ancient Astronomy of Easter Island: Venus and Aldebaran

One additional position of the famous Mataveri calendar of Easter Island has been interpreted. New data on the watchings of Venus and Aldebaran have been rendered. Some reports about the sun, the moon as well as Sirius are of our interest, too.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2014

On the Observations of the Sun in Polynesia

The role of the Polynesian sun god Tagaloa has been studied. The Polynesian characters Maui-tikitiki, Tane and Tiki were related to the sun as well. The solar data of Easter Island are essential indeed. The rongorongo text on the Santiago staff about the solar eclipse of December 20, 1805 A.D. has been decoded. The Mataveri calendar was probably incised on a rock in 1775 A.D. So, a central event during the bird-man festval was the day of vernal equinox. The priests-astronomers watched not only the sun and the moon, but also some stars of the zodiacal constellations and other bright stars.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2014

A Note on the Rapanui Lunar Calendar

This paper is dedicated to the research of secrets of Easter Island (Rapa Nui), a remote plot of land in the Pacific; the article contains not only ethnological data, but also some results on the archaeoastronomy. This author examines both lunar calendar lists presented on the Mamari tablet as well as on a panel at Ahu Raai. Calendar records on different tablets have been investigated, too.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2014

The Astronomical and Ethnological Components of the Cult of Bird-Man on Easter Island

The bird-man cult remains the main secret of Easter Island (Rapa Nui), a remote plot of land in the Pacific. This paper includes not only necessary ethnological data, but also some results on the archaeoastronomy. The research of some lines marked on a stone calendar from the Mataveri area, an archaic zone of the bird-man cult, allows to insist that the natives watched at least the stars Canopus and Aldebaran. There are strong grounds for believing that, among others, the Sun, the Moon as well as Beta and Alpha Centauri were the matter for quasi-scientific enquiry. Several astronomical and calendar records in the rock art and in the script have been decoded.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

Some Notes on the Rapanui Archaeoastronomy

This paper is dedicated to the research of secrets of Easter Island (Rapa Nui), a remote plot of land in the Pacific; the work includes not only necessary ethnological data, but also some results on the archaeoastronomy. The analysis of several rock drawings lets us date them. The priests Hina Mango and Rahu (Rahi) were not only experts on the script, but also great astronomers. There is abundant evidence that the priests-astronomers used the astrolabe in their studies. The local astronomical terminology has been decoded. The observatory at the ceremonial platform Ahu Tongariki has been investigated carefully. The orientation of a female statue on the slope of the Rano Raraku volcano allows us to suggest that it was an image of the Moon (the moon goddess). A number of additional astronomical and calendar records in the rock art and in the writing have been deciphered.

physics.hist-ph↗