Astronomy terms
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Theme: Astronomy terms
Competencies
Competence in Linguistic Communication
Multilingual Competence
Mathematical competence in science, technology and engineering
Personal, social and learning to learn competence
Competence in cultural awareness and expressions
Subjects and year by Educational System
Spain > Classical culture > 1st ESO > The survival of classical languages. Language and lexicon
Enunciation
Aglaonice of Thessaly was an astronomer from the 2nd century BC. She had an outstanding knowledge on lunar cycles and how to predict eclipses.
1- Read the Wikipedia entry on Aglaonice and answer the questions:
a) When and where did Aglaonice live?
b) Where is it believed she acquired her knowledge on astronomy? Why?
c) Why was she considered a witch?
d) What Greek proverb refers to her skill?
e) What are "the witches of Thessaly"?
f) What element in the Solar Systen is named after Aglaonice?
2- Astronomy terms.
a- The word eclipse comes from the Greek ἔκλειψις. meaning "abandon, go missing". In Greek, "moon" and "sun" were σελήνη and ἥλιος , respectively. Find derivates of these terms in your language and explain their meaning using the following model:
b- The words planet and comet also come from Greek, from the words πλανήτης y κομήτης, respectively. Find out their ethymology and why they were given that name.
Observations and context
Aglaonice was the first woman known to have devoted herself to the study of astronomy. However, in ancient Greece, many women played an important role in different fields of knowledge, such as Phanostrate, midwife and physician; Pythias of Assos, biologist and embryologist who collaborated with her husband, Aristotle, in studies on embryology and in the preparation of an encyclopaedia on Natural History; Agnodica of Athens, an important gynaecologist; Artemisia II of Caria, expert in medicinal herbs; her namesake Artemisia I, also queen of Caria and captain of a fleet; Aspasia of Miletus, philosopher, logographer and teacher of rhetoric; Hypatia of Alexandria, mathematician and astronomer, among many others
This activity has been assigned to 1st ESO, but it can also be done in other courses. A very useful tool is the Online Etymology Dictionary.
Description
After reading a text about Aglaonice, students are encouraged to reflect on some words of Greek origin which are related to astronomy.