As a result of Frostburg State getting a new planetarium (to open in 2014), I am writing scripts for a number of new programs.
The new facility will be called the Multi-media Learning Center (MLC); it will have a 40 foot wide dome with tilted seats, facing in one direction. The central projection facility will allow us to have full dome programs.
The new programs will be mostly multidisciplinary, integrating history and an accurate representation of the night sky up to 10,000 years into the past.
Our first program of this type will be “Great Events and Skies of the First Century.” In this program, the great events will be the life of Jesus, the peak of the Roman Empire and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE.
This program will feature an outline of the key events, the accompanying night skies then and dramatic reactions of the people of those times to these events. We will turn the MLC into a time chamber, transporting our audience 2,000 years back in time.
Later programs of this genre will be based on the American Civil War, the American Revolutionary War and World War II.
What was it like to live in Roman-occupied Palestine in the first century?
Author Scott Korb considers a number of different sources (Roman and Jewish historians, archeology and the New Testament) to arrive at some likely views about how the Jews lived, their relationship to the Romans, and their faith views (including the break-away Christians). Korb’s book is “Life In Year One,” published in 2010 by Riverhead Books with ISBN 978-1-59448-899-3.
It’s important to realize how the rulers of Palestine interacted with the Romans.
Herod was appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate in 40 BCE; with the aid of Roman forces, Herod took Jerusalem as his capital three years later with a ruthless slaughter of the previous ruling family and all the people in the city.
While Herod had a magnificent temple built in Jerusalem, he also built a temple to a Roman god elsewhere in Judea. Herod’s palatial seaport was Caesarea Maritima, named after Caesar.
After Herod’s death in 4 BCE, his kingdom was split among his sons. In 6 CE, Judea became part of the Roman Empire and a Roman Procurator was appointed.
About 35 years after Christ’s crucifixion, tension between the Jews and Romans led to the start of a four year war, in which the temple was destroyed and more Jews lost their lives than Americans in our Civil War.
It’s estimated that only 3 per cent of Judeans in the first century were literate. Those who lived in small villages (like Nazareth) would scarcely have any contact with Romans.
The villagers did most of their trade by barter rather than coins. Only half of Palestinians survived infancy. About 70 per cent of the average person’s calories were from bread. The cleanliness of Palestinians would depend on where they lived.
Inland villagers would not likely be able to use much water for cleaning while those who lived near water could have an occasional bath. The Galileans were regarded as peasants by those who lived in Judea.
The Samarians who lived in between Galilee and Judea were despised by both groups. An average Jew would go to the Jerusalem Temple three times a year: the grain harvest, Passover and Pentecost.
While most Palestinians spoke Aramaic, the most common language used in crowds was “Koine,” a corrupted form of Greek. Jesus likely spoke to crowds in this language.
SKY SIGHTS THIS WEEK: Tomorrow a very slender crescent moon may be seen very low in the western dusk. By Tuesday, the crescent moon will appear just below the bright star Spica.
Above Spica is the planet Saturn. To the left of the Spica — Saturn pair is the planet Mars. By this Friday, the evening moon will appear half full. This is the best moon shape to see the moon’s craters and mountain ranges with binoculars held steadily.
Bob Doyle invites any readers comments and questions. E-mail him at rdoyle@frostburg.edu . He is available as a speaker on his column topics.
Bob Doyle - Astronomy
Related Photos
-
Bob Doyle
Let’s look at life in first-century Palestine
- Bob Doyle - Astronomy
-
-
Here are curious facts about Earth’s moon
Several weeks ago, we had our annual STEM Faire at Frostburg State University. STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics.
-
Guide to the universe has much to offer
Early this year, I purchased the new Smithsonian atlas, “Universe — the Definite Visual Guide” published by Dorling-Kindersley.
-
Sir Isaac Newton was a ‘philosopher by fire’
My last two columns have reviewed Isaac Newton’s upbringing, his great inventiveness (both practical and theoretical) and his reluctance to share his discoveries (fearing lesser minds would have the gall to challenge him.)
-
Sir Isaac Newton a troubled genius
Last week’s column reviewed the youth of Isaac Newton, the founder of mechanics (force and motion) still used today in the design of most mechanical devices.
-
Isaac Newton is still at the top of his class
In teaching physics at the
first year and second year college
level, the discoveries of
Isaac Newton are the foundation
for
motion,
forces and
how they
interplay. -
Fast or slow, all of our animals are interesting
I always consider books in terms of their attractiveness to beginners, particularly those containing instructive graphics and images. The publisher that excels at fine introductory science books is Dorling Kindersley or DK.
-
Manned trip to Mars would be a bad idea
One of the most interesting space missions was Apollo 8, when astronauts first orbited the moon in December 1968.
The mission lasted six days; there was an oral reading of the first verses of Genesis as the crew viewed the lunar surface at close range on Christmas Eve. -
Hard as it may seem, you can lose weight
I have had some problems with my legs and back for about a year. In the process, I have gained about 10 pounds. This might not sound like much, but my weight has stayed nearly constant for decades.
-
Book offers excellent introduction to skies
A few weeks ago, I purchased a new book on space, of which I have a number. Even in the book store, I was struck by the excellent illustrations and accompanying text (on nearly every page).
-
It’s easy to explore the moon with binoculars
Last week, the slender crescent moon and a modest comet (PAN STAARS) appeared in the western dusk sky.
- More Bob Doyle - Astronomy Headlines
-
Here are curious facts about Earth’s moon
