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> > The ancients speculated on what it was; some guessed it was a vast assemblage of stars (Democrates, Pythagoras, even Ovid) > I don't think there are any te
by cubefox 2y ago
> > The ancients speculated on what it was; some guessed it was a vast assemblage of stars (Democrates, Pythagoras, even Ovid)
> I don't think there are any texts attributed to Pythagoras, but we might have a text that says he thought so, or that the Pythagoreans thought so.
It would be remarkable if the Egyptians thought so as well. Especially as they were much earlier.
- thaumasiotes 2y agoWhy does being earlier make it more or less remarkable? There were no relevant developments over the intervening period.
- cubefox 2y agoEarlier discoveries are always more remarkable.
- thaumasiotes 2y ago(A) How? (B) This wouldn't be a discovery in either case.
- cubefox 2y ago(A) Inventing / discovering calculus in the 16th century is very impressive, doing the same in the 20th century much less so. (Indeed this has happened several times.) (B) It would be a remarkable anticipation, which is similar.