Myths and Marvels of Astronomy is a collection of essays by Richard A. Proctor on the legends, folklore, and strange fancies that have clustered around the stars, alongside wonders revealed by astronomical science. Written for general readers, it moves between old myths and modern discoveries, making the history of astronomy engaging and accessible.
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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
Transcriber’s Note
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. A list of corrections is found at the end of the text.
LILLY'S HIEROGLYPHS (PUBLISHED I
LILLY'S HIEROGLYPHS (PUBLISHED I
MYTHS AND MARVELS
OF ASTRONOMY
BY
RICHARD A. PROCTOR
AUTHOR OF
"ROUGH WAYS MADE SMOOTH," "THE EXPANSE OF HEAVEN," "OUR PLACE
AMONG INFINITIES," "PLEASANT WAYS IN SCIENCE,"
ETC., ETC.
NEW EDITION
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY
1896
Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co At the Ballantyne Press PREFACE. The chief charm of Astronomy, with many, does not reside in the wonders revealed to us by the science, but in the lore and legends connected with its history, the strange fancies with which in old times it has been associated, the half-forgotten myths to which it has given birth. In our own times also, Astronomy has had its myths and fancies, its wild inventions, and startling paradoxes. My object in the present series of papers has been to collect together the most interesting of these old and new Astronomical myths, associating with them, in due proportion, some of the chief marvels which recent Astronomy has revealed to us. To the former class belong the subjects of the first four and the last five essays of the present series, while the remaining essays belong to the latter category. Throughout I have endeavoured to avoid technical expressions on the one hand, and ambiguous phraseology (sometimes resulting from the attempt to avoid technicality) on the other. I have, in fact, sought to present my subjects as I should wish to have matters outside the range of my special branch of study presented for my own reading. RICHARD A. PROCTOR.
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