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Meteorology Beyond Borders:
Ancient and Modern Reflections

organized by Giouli Korobili and Teun Tieleman

On July 6-8, 2022 the international conference Meteorology Beyond Borders: Ancient and Modern Reflections, organised by Dr. Giouli Korobili (UU) and Professor Dr. Teun Tieleman (UU), took place both in person, at Utrecht University (Sweelinckzaal), and online. This conference and its outcomes form part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project “GEOANATOMY. The Body as a Model in Greco-Roman Conceptions of the Earth and the Environment” (grant agreement no. 897785), directed by Giouli Korobili.

Scholars from all around the world were excited to be part of this event, which introduced a novel yet must-anticipated approach exploring the diverse manners in which ancient Greek and Roman authors understood and explained the weather and particular natural phenomena by attempting to bridge their views with explanations provided in modern meteorological (and other, e.g. seismological, hydrological, geological etc.) accounts. For this reason two experts in modern science, Dr. Dr. Susanne M. Hoffmann (Astronomer, Jena) and Garry Toth (M.Sc., Operational Meteorologist) gave presentations in the form of commentaries on each one of the individual papers presented.

Below you can find the programme of the conference as well as the recordings of the speakers' presentations.

the original website is archived in the Internet Archive

Program (PDF)

Keynote: Liba Taub

And now for the weather...

Abstract

Cloud with Silver Lining

Sculpture Circle

Session I.1

July 6 - 10:30 to 12:00

Moon Stages

Christian Tolsa

(University of Barcelona)

Greek Astral Meteorology and the Late Babylonian Tradition (online)

Hurricane Map

Garry Toth

(Independent Researcher)

How Modern Meteorology works

Susanne M. Hoffmann

(University of Jena)

Commentary on Tolsa:

Connections between Stars and Wind Directions (Late Babylonian Texts)

Abstract

Sculpture Circle

Session I.2

July 6 - 12:00 to 13:30

Darcy Krasne

(Columbia University)

Driving Winds and Wind-Driven meteora in Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica. With an
excursus on Lucretius

Anne-Sophie Meyer

(University of Basel)

Weather Predictions in Lucan’s Bellum Civile

Garry Toth

(Independent Researcher)

Commentary on Krasne and Meyer

Abstract

Abstract

Sculpture Circle

Session I.3

July 6 - 15:00 to 16:30

Shooting Star

Robert Mayhew

(Seton Hall University)

De signis §§ 13 & 37 and Problemata physica 26.23 in the context of Peripatetic meteorology: Shooting stars as weather signs

Susanne M. Hoffmann

(University of Jena)

Commentary on Mayhew:

Shooting stars, Meteor streams and seasons

City Walking Tour

Socializing

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract Gold Flower

Session II.1

July 7 - 09:30 to 11:30

buecherstapel_frei+transp.png

Malcolm Wilson

(University of Oregon)

Meteorology as a Prefiguration of Life in Aristotle

Tyson Sukava

(University of Delaware)

Heavenly Dreams: Astronomical Elements in Oneirocritica

Dimitra Eleftheriou

(University of Ioannina)

Mice’s Livers: Wonder Prodigies and Meteorology in Paradoxography

Abstract Gold Flower

Session II.1 (cont.)

Commentaries

Marble Surface

.

Smoke

Garry Toth

(Independent Researcher)

Commentary on Wilson:
Climate Change and Effects on Life. An Analogy

Susanne M. Hoffmann

(University of Jena)

Commentary on Wilson, Sukava and Eleftheriou:

The Moon, the Seasons and the Soul

Abstract Gold Flower

Session II.2

July 7 - 11:30 to 12:30

Galaxy

Hussien Soliman

(Manuscript Museum,
Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

Philoponus’ Rejection of the Aristotelian Milky Way

audio record (no slides)

Susanne M. Hoffmann

(University of Jena)

Commentary to Soliman:
The Milky Way - past and present

Abstract

Abstract Gold Flower

Session II.3

July 7 - 12:30 to 14:00

Landscape Photography

Frédéric Le Blay

(Nantes University)

Volcanology within Ancient Meteorology: Some Epistemological Issues

Statue of Mary

Andrew Hill

(Trinity College Dublin)

The Adoption of Demeter and Kore by the Carthaginians in 396 BC: A Climatological Perspective

Volcano Hiker

Garry Toth

(Independent Researcher)

Commentary on Le Blay and Hill:
Volcanos' influence on global and local climate

Susanne M. Hoffmann

(University of Jena)

Commentary on Hill:
Constellation Virgo - a product of culture

Earth View at Night

Session II.2 (cont.)

Commentaries

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Earth View at Night

Session III.1

July 7 - 09:30 to 11:30

dawning+iris.png

Frederik Bakker

(Radboud University)

Divergent Notions of Probability in Aristotelian and Epicurean Meteorology

John Hall

(University of Cambridge)

Can the meteorology of Posidonius be called "science"?

GSH+Mond+Ori_Feb2018.JPG

Colin Murtha

(University of Trier)

A Stratified World: Avicenna’s Model of the Sublunary Strata

Earth View at Night

Session III.1 (cont.)

Commentaries

Marble Surface

.

Garry Toth

(Independent Researcher)

Commentary on Bakker, Hall and Murtha:

Some ideas from Aristotle to Avicenna

Susanne M. Hoffmann

(University of Jena)

Commentary on Hall:
How science works - Past & Present

Earth View at Night

Session III.2

July 7 - 12:00 to 14:00

Frances Foster

(University of Cambridge)

Floods and Fires: A treacherous journey to Gaul

Paul Ziche

(Utrecht University)

Atmospheres as methodological and aesthetic devices: Intangibility, omnipresence and epistemic emotions around 1800

Abstract

Abstract

Earth View at Night

Session III.2 (cont.)

Commentaries

Garry Toth

(Independent Researcher)

Commentary on Foster and Ziche

Susanne M. Hoffmann

(University of Jena)

Commentary on Foster:

Rising and Setting Constellations

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