Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Stars
(2,905 words)

1. Definition and introduction

Throughout human history, the stars have been a point of orientation, both literally and figuratively speaking. They were needed for the mathematical calculation of the religious festival calendar and holidays, as well as being an awe-inspiring wonder of nature and – in the form of constellations along the annual ecliptic (Zodiac) – a means of interpreting the present and future. At night, the…

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Sieglerschmidt, Jörn, “Stars”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 29 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_028259>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180208



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