THE ASTRONOMY OF THE AGE OF
GEOMETRIC ALTARS
Fire altars
were an important part of ritual throughout the ancient world.
Geometric ritual, often a part of the fire altars, was intimately
connected with problems of mathematics and astronomy. Manuals
of altar design form India explain the basis behind the reconciliation
of the lunar and the solar years. This astronomy is based on
the use of mean motions. Computation rules form Vedaria Jyotisa,
an astronomy manual from the latter part of the second millennium
BC that was used during the closing of the age of the altar
ritual, are also described.
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