Abstract
The Universe encompasses Earth and the celestial bodies. What are the shapes and structures of heaven and Earth? Based on our everyday experience, the Earth seems flat and the horizon seems to extend to infinity, but the motions of the Sun, the Moon and the stars suggest that heaven is spherical. The flat Earth/domed heavens model was a common cosmological model of ancient civilizations. However, this model also raised questions such as “where does the Sun go at night?” and “why is there a special direction called north?”
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsAuthor information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kwok, S. (2017). Ancient Models of the Universe. In: Our Place in the Universe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54172-3_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54172-3_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54171-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54172-3
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)