Brill’s New Pauly

Get access
Search Results: | 27 of 57 |

Planets
(5,243 words)

I. Astronomy

[German version]

A. General points

Because of their peculiar motions, which differ significantly from the regular motions of the fixed stars (so called because they seem to be attached to the vault of the heavens), the planets were conceived by the Greeks as wandering stars (οἱ πλάνητες/hoi plánētes and οἱ πλανῆται/hoi planêtai; lat. planetae) from the earliest periods of planetary observations (traceable from the 5th cent. BC). The Greeks and Romans knew of five planets only: Mercury, V…

Cite this page
Jori, Alberto (Tübingen) and Hübner, Wolfgang (Münster), “Planets”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e926780>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



▲   Back to top   ▲