Timeline: Ancient Cultural Beliefs About Space

3100 BCE

The Ancient Egyptions

Beginning at around 3100 BC, the ancient Egyptians had a goddess named Nut. She held up the heavens with her back. Her body was said to be black and covered with stars. She married the earth god, Geb. Although the sun god did not allow Nut to give birth.

1800 BCE

Polynesian mythology

In around 1800 BC the Polynesian settlers came around. They had a god named Maui. Maui’s mother didn’t have enough time to do her work during the day. So Maui cut off the sacred tresses of his wife to catch the sun. He brought the sun down to earth and beat him up so the sun would move slower. Then his mother had more time in the day to finish her work.

1500 BCE

Hindu Moon Goddess

Hinduism started in around 1500 BC. Hinduism belief states that there is a moon goddess that rides across the sky in a chariot drawn by white horses. It is also believed that the moon is used to store magical elixir. Only the gods can drink the magic elixir because it gave them eternal life.

753 BCE

The Romans

In 753 BC, the time of the Romans came around. They believed that the Titans rose up and defeated the gods. Then Jupiter defeated Atlas and made him carry the skies on his shoulder. Atlas was told that Jupiter’s son would steal the magical golden apples guarded by his daughters. In anger, Atlas showed no hospitality and because of that Jupiter turned him to stone.

350 BCE

Aristotle

In 350 BC, Aristotle (384-322 BC), a Greek scientist, had a theory. He argued that the earth is round and not flat. He said that because of the way the shadow is cast on the moon by the earth during a lunar eclipse. He also noticed that when someone travels North or South, the different stars are visible in the sky. Some believed him and it turned out to be true.

140

Ptolemy's space theory

In around AD 140, an Egyptian astronomer named Ptolemy wrote a book. During this time there was not a lot of the tools used for astronomy that we have today. The book described the movements of the sun, moon, earth, and stars. These ideas were accepted for centuries. It was later found out that these ideas were wrong.

Jan 1, 1201

Aztecs

In the 13th Century, the Aztecs have a moon goddess. Her name is Coyolxauhqui. Her name means golden bells. Coyolxauhqui convinced her four hundred sisters to overthrow her mother. Her mother gave birth to Huitzilopochtli who cut off Coyolxauhqui’s head. Her head then formed the moon.

Jan 1, 1500

Indigenous Australia

During the 1500s the Indigenous people of Australia believed a story of how the Milky Way was formed. A blind man told his wife to go find some emu eggs to eat. After his wife returned with the emu eggs, the man got angry because she didn’t get enough. His wife went out later to get some more but never returned. Later, the man then ate some berries and regained his sight and discovered his wife had been killed by the emu. He then banished the emu to space, thus creating the milky way.

Jan 1, 1543

Copernicus

In 1543 a Polish astronomer named Copernicus published a book. This book stated that the planets including earth orbit around the sun. During that time, few believed him but later we discovered he was right. They found that out with the help of some new technology.

Jan 1, 1609

Galileo's Discovery

Thinking back to Copernicus, an Italian astronomer named Galileo started to discover different theories about space as well. With the help of the newly discovered telescope, he looked to the sky. He noticed that Venus had phases just like the moon. This must mean Venus orbits around the sun as well. So the sun must be the center of the universe, not the earth. This proved that Copernicus was right.