Ancient Testimony for a Comet-like Venus
| Scientific Paper | |
|---|---|
| Title | Ancient Testimony for a Comet-like Venus |
| Read in full | Link to paper |
| Author(s) | Ev Cochrane |
| Keywords | Venus, comet, Inanna, Eye, cosmic disaster |
| Published | 2011 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the NPA |
| Volume | 8 |
| No. of pages | 6 |
| Pages | 121-126 |
Read the full paper here
Abstract
The paper summarizes literary and iconographic evidence for a comet-like Venus in ancient sources. In the earliest writings from Mesopotamia the planet Venus is denoted by a pictograph which shows a spiraling "comet-like" image. A very similar form is attested in the earliest religious texts from ancient Egypt?the so-called Pyramid Texts?wherein it is employed to denote a comet-like celestial phenomenon, one associated with Venus. The question arises as to how to explain such testimony? Is it possible that the planet Venus formerly presented a comet-like form?