Strange Skies and Disasters
Greece and Rome: Strange skies
Strange Skies and Disasters pages that draw on Greece and Rome, each with the sources shown. Start with Armies in the clouds over Jerusalem (66 CE), Livy's ships in the sky, Pliny's burning shield, Solon and the priests of Sais.
Events · Greece and RomeArmies in the clouds over Jerusalem (66 CE)Before the Roman war on Judea, the historian Josephus reports chariots and armed troops running among the clouds around cities. He admits it would sound like a fable if eyewitnesses had not told it. Tacitus, writing from the Roman side, mentions similar armies clashing in the sky. What explains two accounts of one sight?Events · Greece and RomeLivy's ships in the skyRome's official list of omens for the winter of 218 BCE includes a baby shouting a victory cry, an ox climbing to a third floor and the likeness of ships shining in the sky. These reports went to the Senate. Livy repeats them, and also warns that fear made people believe too easily.Events · Greece and RomePliny's burning shieldPliny the Elder recorded a burning shield, scattering sparks, running across the sky at sunset from west to east. The year is pinned down by the consuls named, which gives 100 BCE. Astronomers see a fireball. UFO writers see a flying object. What exactly did the Roman encyclopedia say, and how careful was he?Events · Greece and RomeSolon and the priests of SaisAn aged Egyptian priest told the Athenian lawmaker Solon that Greeks are children with no old men among them. He said the world has been wrecked by fire and flood many times, and Egypt kept the records. Plato is the only source for this meeting. What did the priest say really happened to Phaethon?Events · Greece and RomeThe silver jar at Lucullus' battleTwo armies in Phrygia were about to clash when, Plutarch says, the sky burst apart and a flaming object shaped like a wine jar and colored like molten silver fell between them. Both sides drew back, and no battle took place. Was it an omen, a meteor or something else? Plutarch wrote it down long afterward.
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