AURORAE IN AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL TRADITIONS

Abstract: Transient celestial phenomena feature prominently in the astronomical knowledge and traditions of Aboriginal Australians. In this paper, I collect accounts of the Aurora Australis from the literature regarding Aboriginal culture. Using previous studies of meteors, eclipses, and comets in A...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Duane W. Hamacher
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Subjects:
Cultural Astronomy
ethnoastronomy
geomythology
Aboriginal Australians
Aurora Australis
and Space Science
New Zealand
aurora australis
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.692.4668
http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2013JAHHvol16/2013JAHH.16.207H.pdf
Description
Summary:Abstract: Transient celestial phenomena feature prominently in the astronomical knowledge and traditions of Aboriginal Australians. In this paper, I collect accounts of the Aurora Australis from the literature regarding Aboriginal culture. Using previous studies of meteors, eclipses, and comets in Aboriginal traditions, I anticipated that the physical properties of aurora, such as their generally red colour as seen from southern Australia, would be associated with fire, death, blood, and evil spirits. The survey reveals this to be the case and also explores historical auroral events in Aboriginal cultures, aurorae in rock art, and briefly compares Aboriginal auroral traditions with other indigenous groups, including the Maori of New Zealand.

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