Astronomical support for Pellech's interpretations of the eposes of the Argonauts and the Odyssey
Dr. Christine Pellech
Austria
Summary: Astronomical support is presented for the historical interpretations by Pellech, of the eposes of the Argonauts and the Odyssey, that they are real accounts of circumnavigation of earth. The support in the form of depictions includes the formation of a constellation and archaeological representations of constellations that commemorate the voyages. Additional support is provided in the form of a variety of independent determinations of the era of the voyages.
Evidence of the occurence of the voyage of the Argonauts includes the formation of the constellation Argo, which was the largest ever created. Also, a Mesopotamian cuneiform depiction of part of Argo and the constellation Canis Major represents an event of the epos. The era of the oyage is established with the evidence of the creation of Argo and a quartet of zodiacal constellations, and ceremonies with the star Sirius which is indicated in the epos. Also, the era is marked by the egress of the conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn from the constellation of Aries, which relates to the ram with the Golden Fleece.
Evidence of the occurence of the Odyssey includes a depiction of the same part of the Argo and Canis Major, mentioned above, in the astronomical display at Dendera, Egypt. The era of the Odyssey occurs about the time of the emergence of the Phoenicians as a seafaring power, and coincides with the use of Sirius to mark the summer solstice and the formation of another quartet of zodiacal constellations.