PDF - Micah T. Ross

MICAH T. ROSS
[email protected]
(765) ­ 998­6003
HISTORIAN OF THE EXACT SCIENCES
Profile
Mailing Address
Born
Nationality
8490 E. 700 S.
Upland, IN 46898, USA
Marion, Indiana
24 October 1974
American
Research
Interests
History of Near Eastern and Egyptian astronomy and computation; Egyptian contexts of astronomy,
cosmology and astrology; Chronology; Cultural transmission of technical terms and practices;
Linguistic borrowing between incompatible scripts; Astronomical iconography
Education
Ph.D., Brown University
History of Mathematics
Sept. 2000 ­ May 2006
Dissertation: Horoscopic Ostraca of Medinet Madi
Advisor: †David Pingree
M.A., University of Toronto
Sept. 1998 ­ May 2000
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Ancient Studies Program
A.B., Brown University
Sept. 1993 ­ Dec. 1997
Classics (Greek and Latin); Mathematics
Dissertation
Summary
Horoscopic Ostraca of Medinet Madi presents thirty­four Demotic ostraca containing forty complete or
partial horoscopes. After the provenance and cultural background of the ostraca are laid out, a survey of
previous interpretations of the texts from Medinet Madi follows. Then, the previous methods of
establishing a date for the collection are examined. Next, introductions of mathematical, astronomical,
astrological and chronological concepts are made for the benefit of the non­specialist. Among these
discussions, the use of numbers and fractions is introduced. Necessary astronomical terminology is
defined and the causes of error in astronomical calculations are considered. A definition of horoscope is
presented and the elements of a horoscope are established. The compositional styles of Demotic and
Greek horoscopes are contrasted. The calendars of Greco­Roman Egypt are explicated. The varieties of
astrological and astronomical ostraca are defined and the results of a search for such texts among the
ostraca of Medinet Madi are reported. The documentary aspects of horoscopic ostraca are discussed and
the palaeography of Demotic zodiacal signs and planetary symbols is revisited. After these preliminaries
are fixed, the horoscopes are divided into four classes. A transcription, transliteration, translation and
commentary is presented for each ostracon. No separation is made between the astronomical and
philological commentary. In the conclusion, these ostraca are used to establish a more secure historical
dating for Medinet Madi. The range of astrological techniques is outlined and correspondences with the
Petosirian tradition are noted. Some tentative conclusions are drawn about the scope of astronomical
techniques used at Medinet Madi.
Research
Experience
Post­Doctoral Fellow, Center for General Education
National Tsing Hua University
Aug. 2013 ­ Jul. 2015
Supervisor: Kuang Tai Hsu
I collaborated with Professor Kuang Tai Hsu on the adaptation of European cosmologies and
astronomical terms into a Chinese context by Jesuit missionaries. Professor Hsu has studied the work of
Matteo Ricci and written extensively on elements of Chinese cosmology and physics. With Hsu, I
considered the Aristotelian physics and Ptolemaic models brought by Jesuits to China. This project
coordinated the text of the Qingkun Ti Yi by Ricci with its Latin source material.
Chercheur, Histoire des tables numériques
Nov. 2009 ­ Nov. 2013
Agence Nationale de la Recherche
Supervisor: Dominique Tournès Under the auspices of the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche, I worked with Professor
Dominique Tournès of Université de la Réunion in Saint­Denis. Professor Tournès has assembled an
international working group to study the development and the transmission of numeric tables. In this
project, I analyzed several Egypt as the setting for the development of Greek mathematical tables. I
compared the technical vocabular of tables and matheamatics in Egyptian and Greek contexts and
outlined the social dimensions of calculation by tables.
Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Nov. 2009 ­ Nov. 2011
Kyoto Sangyo University
Supervisor: Michio Yano
Through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, I collaborated with Professor Michio Yano.
Professor Yano has studied the transmission of Greek astronomical terms into Sanskrit astronomical
and astrological texts of India and the transmission of Sanskrit texts into Arabic. With Yano, I analyzed
several Egyptian and Near Eastern elements carried by Greeks into India. I also studied several of Yano’s
techniques for establishing linguistic connections between texts and am reapplying these methods to
the linguistic exchanges between Greece and Egypt. This project has culminated in JyotiWiki.com, a
site for the collaborative edition and electronic dissemination of Sanskrit texts on astral sciences. In
electronic form, the technical terms are easily searchable and statistical information is more easily
produced.
Invité, Institute d'Etudes Avancées
Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme
Mar. 2008 ­ Jun. 2008
Supervisor: Yves Duroux
During the spring of 2008, I conducted a series of seminars which evaluated the Greek accounts of
Egyptian astronomy from two distinctly different approaches. First, I compared Greek reports of
Egyptian astronomical and mathematical development with respect to the available (but unpublished)
Egyptian evidence. Also, working with only the Greek accounts, I analyzed the development and
rhetorical use of several less credible Greek accounts of Egyptian wisdom.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Université Paris 7
Sept. 2006 ­ Sept. 2007
Recherches Epistemologiques et Historiques sur les Sciences Exactes et les Institutions
Scientifiques
Supervisor: Karine Chemla
Within the REHSEIS research group at Université Paris 7, I collaborated with Christine Proust on the
types of mathematical texts used in antiquity. We compared the contexts in which these texts were found
and the development of larger texts from smaller corpuses. These considerations have resulted in our
on­going contributions to Dominique Tournès’ project on the history of mathematical tables.
Teaching
Experience
Adjunct Professor, Center for General Education
National Tsing Hua University
Feb. 2014 – Jun. 2015
The Scientific Revolution:1550 – 1700
Designed and taught a two credit­hour course introducing the Scientific Revolution to undergraduate
students. This course introduced pre­modern scientific theories to undergraduates and then outlined the
changes in these ideas in relation to the development of European society. After its first offering, this
course was incorporated as an elective in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship program of National
Tsing Hua University. Over the three semesters which this class was offered, enrollment increased from
67 students to 129 students.
Second Reader, Institute of History
Feb. 2014 – Jun. 2015
National Tsing Hua University
Fettering the Stars: Islamic Navigational Knowledge in Ming China
Served as the second reader for "Fettering the Stars: Islamic Navigational Knowledge in Ming China," a
Master's thesis by Sandy Lin. This thesis compares navigational methods known from Chinese sources
with navigational techniques known from Arabic sources, Indian traditions, and a handful of surviving
navigational instruments. In this capacity, I met regularly with Lin over eighteen months to read
primary sources, guide English composition, and oversee documentation of sources.
Edited
Volume
From the Banks of the Euphrates: Studies in Honor of Alice Louise
Slotsky
Eisenbrauns (2007).
Publications
Belephantes to Alexander: An Astrological Report to a Macedonian
King?
In press.
The Linguistic Status of Mathematics
Mathematics, Substance and Surmise: Views on the Meaning and Ontology of
Mathematics, Springer, in press.
Eclipses and the Precipitation of Conflict: Deciphering the Signal to
Attack
The Religious Aspects of War, Brill, in press.
Tables in Antiquity (with Mathieu Ossendrijver, Christine Proust and
Nathan Sidoli)
History of Numeric Tables, Springer, in press.
Demotic Horoscopes
Ancient Astronomy in Its Mediterranean Context (300 BC–AD 300): A Brill Companion,
Brill, in press.
Egyptian Planetary Theory
Ancient Astronomy in Its Mediterranean Context (300 BC–AD 300): A Brill Companion,
Brill, in press.
Various renderings of πιναξ in Greek and Demotic in the Medinet Madi
ostraca (with D. Greenbaum)
Culture and Cosmos, in press.
A Study in the Early Iconography of Gemini
Culture and Cosmos, in press.
The Role of Alexander in the Transmission of the Zodiac
Alexander the Great and Egypt: History, Art, Tradition, Philippika 74, Harrassowitz
(2014), 287­307.
Mathematics Education in Antiquity (with A. Bernard and C. Proust)
International Handbook on History of Mathematics Education, Springer (2014), 27­55.
The Categorization of Numeric and Magical Texts as Exemplified by
OMM 170+796+844 (with F. Naether)
Acts of the 10th International Congress of Demotic Studies, Orientalia Lovaniensia
Analecta 231, Peeters (2014), 165­206.
Demotic
Encyclopedia of Ancient History, Blackwell, 2012.
Nechepso and Petosiris (with D. Greenbaum)
Encyclopedia of Ancient History, Blackwell, 2012.
A Provisional Conclusion to the Horoscopic Ostraca of Medinet Madi
Egitto e Vicino Oriente, 34 (2011), 47–80.
Survey of Graphical and Numerical Tables in Egypt
Oberwolfach Reports, 12 (2011), 650–652.
The Role of Egypt in the Development of the Horoscope (with D.
Greenbaum)
Egypt in Transition: Social and Religious Development of Egypt in the First Millennium
BCE, Czech Institute of Egyptology (2010), 146–182.
Review of The Other Mathematics: Language and Logic in Egyptian and
in General by Leo Depuydt
Aestimatio 6, (2010), 176–179.
Further Horoscopic Ostraca from Medinet Madi
Egitto e Vicino Oriente, 32 (2009), 61–91.
OMM 1010: Un document du règne de Septime Sévère
Actes du IXe Congrès International des Études Démotiques, Bibliothèque d'étude 147,
Institut français d'archéologie orientale du Caire (2009), 299–304.
Interlude: A Series Containing a Hemerology with Lengths of Daylight
(with F. Naether)
Egitto e Vicino Oriente, 31 (2008), 51–90.
La Circulation des Savoirs Astronomiques dans l’Antiquité
Pour la science, 373 (2008), 140–143.
A Survey of Demotic Astrological Texts
Culture and Cosmos, 11 (2007), 1–31.
A Continuation of the Horoscopic Ostraca of Medinet Madi
Egitto e Vicino Oriente, 30 (2007), 153–171.
All’s Dur that Ends Twr
From the Banks of the Euphrates: Studies in Honor of Alice Louise Slotsky
Eisenbrauns (2007), 245–255.
Review of Unexpected Links between Egyptian and Babylonian
Mathematics by Jöran Friberg
Centaurus 51 (2007), 5–6.
Brève chronologie de l’histoire des mathématiques en Egypte
CultureMATH, (2006).
An Introduction to the Horoscopic Ostraca of Medinet Madi
Egitto e Vicino Oriente, 29 (2006), 147–180.
Presentations
A Tale of Two Tails
Astrology as Art, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Bath, England, 27–28 Jun.
2015.
An Arabic Perspective on the Needham Question
Workshop of Multiculturalism of Monsoon Asia: Visual Representation in Pre­Modern
Science and Technology, National Tsing Hua University, 23 May 2015.
A New World Precedent and Portuguese Tables
History of Mathematical Sciences: Portugal and East Asia V, National Tsing Hua
University, Taiwan, 7–9 Nov. 2014.
A Case Study in Morphology
12th International Congress of Demotic Studies, Universität Würzburg, Germany, 31 Aug.–
4 Sept. 2014.
Chinese Celestial Cartography as a Route for Jesuit Science into Japan
Workshop of Multiculturalism of Monsoon Asia: Transmission of Scientific Knowledge:
Continuity and Change, National Tsing Hua University, 5 Jun. 2014.
Zodiacal Iconograpy of Leo in Antiquity
Cosmology, Magic, and Divination, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 28 May 2014.
Deciphering the Signal to Attack: Eclipses and the Precipitation of
Conflict
Religious Aspects of War, Ateneum University in Gdańsk and University of Gdańsk
University, Faktoria, Pruszcz Gdańsk, Poland, 16 ­ 18 May 2014.
On Matteo Ricci’s Mention of ‘38 端’in His Qingkun Ti Yi (with Kuang­
tai Hsu)
10th Symposium on the History of Science (第十屆科學史研討會), Academia Sinica,
Taipei, Taiwan 29­30 Mar. 2014.
Belephantes to Alexander: An Astrological Report to a Macedonian
King?
Alexander the Great and the East: History, Art, Tradition, University of Wrocław,
Wrocław, Poland, 14 Sept. 2013.
Tables in Egypt until the Greco­Roman Era
Third Annual Workshop "History of Numerical Tables", Domaine des Ormes, Dol de
Bretagne, 1 May 2013.
The Metamorphoses of Apuleius
Guest Lecture for History 404/504: Civilization of Ancient Rome, University of Idaho,
Moscow, Idaho, 18 Apr. 2013.
A Brief History of Astrology
PechaKucha Night, vol. 2.0, Prichard Art Gallery, Moscow, Idaho, 14 Jul. 2012.
Various renderings of πιναξ in Greek and Demotic in the Medinet Madi
ostraca (with D. Greenbaum)
Astrology in Time and Place, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Bath, England,
23–24 Jun. 2012.
A Study in the Early Iconography of Gemini
Astrology in Time and Place, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Bath, England,
23–24 Jun. 2012.
Intermediary Report on Egyptian Numerical Tables
History of Numeric Tables, Centre International de Rencontres Mathématiques,
Marseilles, France, 26–30 Mar. 2012.
Alexander in Astrological Sources
Alexander the Great and Egypt: History, Art, Tradition, University of Wrocław, Wrocław,
Poland, 18–19 Nov. 2011.
Various renderings of πιναξ in Greek and Demotic in the Medinet Madi
ostraca (with D. Greenbaum)
11th International Congress of Demotic Studies, Merton College, Oxford University, 29
Aug.–1 Sept. 2011.
Survey of Graphical and Numerical Tables in Egypt
History of Graphical and Numerical Tables, Oberwolfach Mini­Workshop, Oberwolfach,
Germany, 27 Feb.–5 Mar. 2011.
Sources for Egyptian Seasonal Hours: Problems and Approaches
Source Materials in History of Science and Technology and Their Interpretation:
Problems and Approaches, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 3 Dec. 2010.
Why Are There Twenty­Four Hours in a Day?
Science Dialogue, Fujishima Senior High School, Fujishima, 23 Feb. 2010.
Development and Transmission of Egyptian Decans
History of Science Society of Japan, Kyoto Branch, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, 24
Jan. 2010.
The Role of Egypt in the Development of the Horoscope (with D.
Greenbaum)
Social and Religious Development of Egypt in the First Millennium BCE, Charles
University, Prague, 1–4 Sept. 2009.
Fractional Tables and Water Clocks in Egypt
XXIII International Congress of History of Science and Technology: Ideas and
Instruments in Social Context, Symposium 35: History of Numerical Tables, Budapest
University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, 28 Jul.–2 Aug. 2009.
Evidence for the "Egyptian" Cosmology of Macrobius
4th London Ancient Science Conference, University College London, 6 Dec. 2008.
A Series Containing a Hemerology with Lengths of Daylight (with F.
Naether)
10th International Congress of Demotic Studies, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven
and Brussels, 26–30 Aug. 2008.
Nombres positifs et négatifs dans des textes grecs
Histoire et Philosophie des Mathématiques, Recherches Epistemologiques et Historiques
sur les Sciences Exactes et les Institutions Scientifiques, Université Paris 7, 2 Jun. 2008.
"The Series itself says as follows :..." K939A rev. 8
Histoire des sciences, Histoire du texte, Recherches Epistemologiques et Historiques sur
les Sciences Exactes et les Institutions Scientifiques, Université Paris 7, 23 May 2008.
Greek Representations of Egyptian Knowledge, Practice, and Education
of Astronomy
Histoire des sciences en Asie, Recherches Epistemologiques et Historiques sur les
Sciences Exactes et les Institutions Scientifiques, Université Paris 7, 13 May 2008.
Egyptian Calculation of Inferior Planets
Institut d'Etudes Avancées, Maison Suger, Paris, 25 Mar. 2008.
Historiographie des circulations autour de l'Egypte
Histoire des sciences en Asie, Recherches Epistemologiques et Historiques sur les
Sciences Exactes et les Institutions Scientifiques, Université Paris 7, 11 Dec. 2007.
Enuma Anu Enlil, son développement et ses rédacteurs
Histoire des sciences, Histoire du texte, Recherches Epistemologiques et Historiques sur
les Sciences Exactes et les Institutions Scientifiques, Université Paris 7, 27 Nov. 2007.
The Egyptian Calendar, Censorinus, and Theon
3rd London Ancient Science Conference, University College London, 2 Nov. 2007.
A Survey of Demotic Astrological Texts
Ancient Astrology Workshop, Warburg Institute, London, 16–17 Feb. 2007.
Déchiffrer Medinet Madi: les problèmes historiographiques et l’histoire
des mathématiques
Histoire des sciences en Asie, Recherches Epistemologiques et Historiques sur les
Sciences Exactes et les Institutions Scientifiques, Université Paris 7, 6 Feb. 2007.
Les calculs sexagesimaux cachés dans les textes démotiques
Histoire et Philosophie des Mathematiques: Calcul sexagesimal, Recherches
Epistemologiques et Historiques sur les Sciences Exactes et les Institutions Scientifiques,
Université Paris 7, 18 Dec. 2006.
OMM 1010: Un document du règne de Septime Sévère
IXe Congrès International des Études Démotiques, Paris, 31 Aug.–3 Sept. 2005.
Micah T. Ross — [email protected]
(765) ­ 998­6003