This book explores the insights that Cultural Astronomy provides into the classical Roman world
by unveiling the ways in which the Romans made use of their knowledge concerning the heavens
and by shedding new light on the interactions between astronomy and heritage in ancient Roman
culture. Leading experts in the field present fascinating information on how and why the Romans
referred to the sky when deciding upon the orientation of particular monuments temples tombs
and even urban layouts. Attention is also devoted to questions of broader interest such as the
contribution that religious interpretation of the sky made in the assimilation of conquered
peoples. When one considers astronomy in the Roman world it is customary to think of the work
and models of Ptolemy and perhaps the Julian calendar or even the sighting of the Star of
Bethlehem. However like many other peoples in antiquity the Romans interacted with the
heavens in deeper ways that exerted a profound influence on their culture. This book highlights
the need to take this complexity into account in various areas of research and will appeal to
all those who wish to learn more about the application of astronomy in the lives and
architecture of the Romans.
