Dear listmembers,
I have lurked around this list for quite some time, and even though I
briefly introduced myself while I was a member long time ago, I have since
then signed off and now on again, and therefore repeat my little
introduction.
My name is Thomas Tsigaridas and I study History of Religion at the
university of Oslo, Norway. I am specializing in late antique/ early
medieval christianity and related topics. I am especially interested in the
transition of religious thought and tradition throughout this period, and
try (maybe not always successfully however) to reach over judaism,
christianity and also germanic tribal religion in pre-christian Europe.
My question to the group is related both to my fields of interest, but also
to the holy season we are entering at this time of the year. As I recall,
some astronomers claims that the Betlehem star was actually a conjunction
of three planets in our solar system, and that this conjuction follows a
cycle of exactly 800 years (I do not have any references, but I have read
it an article somewhere). It was further claimed that this 800 year cycle
was not "discovered" untill the 17th century by the renaissance
astronomers.
If it is correct that it is, or was, believed that the "star" of Betlehem
returned every 800 years, the first cycle after the birth of Christ
(according to tradition) should have been completed on the 25. december
800. On the exact same date Charlemagne was crowned emperor by Pope Leo
III. Is it possible that the presumably 800 year cycle of the Betlehem star
was known already to clergy under carolingian period, 800 years before the
renaissance astronomers is claimed to have discovered it? If so, it may
give the coronation of Charles another interesting aspect.
Thomas Tsigaridas, graduate student
Department of Cultural Studies
University of Oslo, Norway
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