Astronomy in Roman urbanism: a statistical analysis of the orientation of Roman towns in the Iberian Peninsula

DOI
10.1177/0021828618785664
Rodríguez Antón, A.; González García, A. C.; Belmonte J. A
Bibliographical reference

JOURNAL FOR THE HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY 49 (2018) 363-87

Advertised on:
9
2018
Number of authors
3
IAC number of authors
2
Refereed citations
0
Description
The work presented in this article is part of a wide-ranging and ambitious project, started few years ago, to study the role of astronomy in Roman urban layout. In particular, the main aim is to check whether Roman cities present astronomical patterns in their orientations. The project emerged from ideas on how to properly orientate the main streets of a Roman town, as attested in a number of ancient texts and later discussions led by contemporary scholars. We present here the final conclusions of a particular study developed in the Iberian Peninsula (Roman Hispania), where the urbanism that we tend to characterize as properly Roman flourished during both the Republic and the Empire. The sample analysed includes 81 measurements of Roman urban entities spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula and is the largest dataset obtained in a specific region so far. Our results present suggestive orientation patterns that seem to point towards an astronomical intentionality.
Related projects
Spring equinox sunset at the Obelisks in Jabal Madbah, in ancient Petra
Archaeoastronomy

The main objective of this project is to study the importance of astronomy as a fundamental part of human culture and civilization from Paleolithic to the present day. Our interest is mainly devoted to the people of the ancient Mediterranean cultures from the Atlantic to the Middle East, with a special dedication to Spain, its geographical

Juan Antonio
Belmonte Avilés
In progress
Type
Refereed
Archaeoastronomy
Exoplanetary Systems & Solar System (SEYSS)

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