The Meteorology of Posidonius

This volume describes the meteorology of the Stoic philosopher Posidonius from the existing fragments, discussing his methodology and relation to the ideas of earlier thinkers on meteorological phenomena. Suitable for students and scholars working on ancient philosophy and science, particularly meteorology.

Autorentext

J.J. Hall read Classics at Trinity College, Cambridge, and then did research, gaining a Ph.D. for a dissertation on ancient theories of wind. His career was spent on the staff of Cambridge University Library. Now retired, and still in Cambridge, U.K., he has written this book.

Inhalt

1. The definition of "meteorology" used in this book; 2. The biography and later reputation of Posidonius; 3. Sources for the study of Posidonius' meteorology; 4. The history of Greek meteorology before Posidonius; 5. Earlier authors on meteorology used by Posidonius; 6. The region in which meteorological phenomena occur; 7. Climatic zones; 8. Thunder and lightning; 9. Lights in the sky: comets, the Milky Way and other phenomena; 10. Exhalations; 11. Winds; 12. Earthquakes and volcanoes; 13. The sea and its tides; 14. Rain, snow, hail and cloud; 15. Rivers: the Nile floods; 16. Rainbows, haloes and mock-suns; 17. Weather prediction and divination; 18. Meteorology and Providence; 19. Epicurean meteorology compared with that of the Stoics; 20. The place of meteorology among the different branches of knowledge; 21. Sources and methods in Posidonius' meteorology; 22. Assessment of the meteorology of Posidonius and his successors.