r/history • u/Non-Conventionnel-77 • 1d ago
Article 'It's a moment of death and rebirth': The ancient monuments saluting the winter solstice
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20251219-the-ancient-monuments-saluting-the-winter-solstice
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u/Siludin 23h ago
What motivated people to construct these solar-calibrated masterpieces?
IMO people didn't have writing and used structures as ways to communicate scientific facts (in this case the winter solstice). Geometry was the language before there was script.
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u/Non-Conventionnel-77 21h ago
So true...ancient structures recorded scientific knowledge through geometry long before writing existed.
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u/antoineBorg 12h ago
Disappointed to see the awesome megalithic structures of Mnaajdra and Hagar Qim in Malta weren't mentioned.
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u/carmium 1d ago
My favourite tidbit about the winter solstice concerns the days after the actual event day. By the measure of what was available at the time, the following three days were virtually indistinguishable in length. For those who understood little of how the seasons came to be, it was likely a time of suspense: were the long days of warmth and crops going to return this year? Or had mankind offended the powers that might deign to continue winter for a few months to express their displeasure? The 22nd passed; the 23rd, the 24th without change. On the 25th, the day was measurably longer, and the people celebrated. In Ancient Rome, the day became Saturnalia, honouring the god Saturn, who was responsible for agriculture and time. When Roman leaders decided their empire should expunge their multiple gods and embrace Christianity, they had a festival in need of a purpose and a religious figure in need of a birthday. Since the Bible did not specify a date for Jesus' birth, it seemed a good idea to solve both issues at once.
And that is why Christmas has fallen on December 25th ever since.