Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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KingClinton
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Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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Post by KingClinton »


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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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Post by OzEclipse »


Clinton,
The early Australian indigenous astronomers saw the emu. You link says that early African, or South American peoples saw ostrich & rhea. Interesting.

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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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Post by KingNothing13 »


I love "The Emu", that's great - thanks for sharing that!
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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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Post by KingClinton »


It's a bit of a long read but for those with a interest here is some indigenous African thoughts on the night skies.


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... 6219199198
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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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Post by OzEclipse »


I wasn't aware until I read Clinton's article that the other southern hemisphere cultures also saw, not just a bird but ostrich & rhea, relatives of the emu. When I did the illustration early this year for a post of AF, I didn't draw the emu correctly. In traditional Aboriginal astronomy, the emu's legs are folded backwards as if it's running full speed.
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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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Post by KingClinton »


Stellarium also shows aboriginals sky lore.
I just cannot remember if it needs to be loaded separately or if it is already pre loaded in the software.
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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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OzEclipse wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 1:03 pm I wasn't aware until I read Clinton's article that the other southern hemisphere cultures also saw, not just a bird but ostrich & rhea, relatives of the emu. When I did the illustration early this year for a post of AF, I didn't draw the emu correctly. In traditional Aboriginal astronomy, the emu's legs are folded backwards as if it's running full speed.
Did a quick search related to my stellarium post above and found the image you mention.
Depending on the community there are two different depictions, the one you drew above appears to belong to the Boorong community, the other belongs to the Kamilaroi community.

See this link with the images.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... 6221326261
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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

#8

Post by mcolbert »


it's nice to have an article which suggests that we are one species and not a myriad of self interested groups.
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Re: Why do different cultures see such similar meanings in the constellations?

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Post by OzEclipse »


I drew my outline onto my photo as an illustration to an observing report I posted earlier this year on AF. I drew it without any reference to what it should look like, albeit knowing roughly the extent of the emu. So interesting that I came up with one of the indigenous interpretations independently. Must be something to this.

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Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site : http://joe-cali.com/
Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80.
Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's.
Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12
Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec.
Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari
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