Re: The wise men and their star

From: bivalve <bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com>
Date: Thu Jan 06 2005 - 19:19:49 EST

> The death of Herod in the year 4 BC and a conjunction of Jupiter and
> Saturn in 7 BC in the constellation of the fishes (symbolizing the
> Jewish people) led to the assumption that the "star of Bethlehem" was
> represented by this conjunction, Jesus being born about 7 BC, rather
> than in the year 1 (there being no year 0). But of course, a conjunction
> of two planets would not disappear and reappear to the wise men, nor
> would it "go before them", first towards northwest then south, then
> north, nor would it stop over a house, clearly designating the
> particular building in the compact town of Nazareth. My interpretation
> thus seems to imply a special, miraculous star.

The alignment of some astronomical object at its rising or setting, when viewed from the appropriate spot, might allow an object above the atmosphere to indicate a particular house.

    Dr. David Campbell
    Old Seashells
    University of Alabama
    Biodiversity & Systematics
    Dept. Biological Sciences
    Box 870345
    Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345 USA
    bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com

That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa
Received on Thu Jan 6 19:21:13 2005

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