Re: Terraspace

>Just a curious comment on the geocentric version of the earth based on
>Ptolemy's views. In the renaisance, the planets were kept in orbit because of
>crystal spheres. These are not the spheres in spelljammer, but a layer of
>concentric spheres which kept the planets in their orbit. Now, based on this
>view, I think it would be quite difficult to spelljam here because off all the
>spheres in the way. Another problem is that Earth was corrupted by sin due to
>the fall, but the heavens were perfect. It wasn't until Gallileo looked at the
>moon and found mountains there that their view was challanged. The heaven's
>were God's domain and thus humankind was not allowed there.y

Yes,  the Greeks viewed the orbits as "crystal spheres",  but I doubt they
ever considered whether they were solid or not.  The name came from their
knowledge that these spheres had to be transparent.  As far as the
corrupted by sin thing,  well, Ptolemy was a pagan who had never heard of
Christianity:),  much of that was added much later.  However,  the Ancient
Greek astronomers did see the planets as perfect ethereal spheres. I don't
really see that as a problem.  The theory was wrong historically,  whose to
say parts of it aren't wrong in my mythical Terraspace?:)  I wanted a
sphere where I could fit thehistoric/Mythic sources from the HR series,  in
this sphere they might have gotten many things wrong,  but some things
(like the orbits) they got right.

"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

westermeyer.3@???.edu
Paul William Westermeyer