The Pillars of the Earth and the Sky

Ancient cities were strategically designed to align with cosmic order, particularly the sun's solstitial movements. A comparative study of four 'solstitial' cities—Thebes (Egypt), Hattusha (Hittite Empire), Carthago Nova (Carthaginian dominions in Iberia), and Petra (Nabataean Kingdom)—reveals a shared pattern: their geographical positions, orography, and monumental orientations were deliberately linked to solar benchmarks. This suggests that Mediterranean societies with strong solar cults or symbolism employed similar urban planning principles, connecting sacred spaces with solstitial orientations. The research uses archaeoastronomy to analyze how these cities integrated astronomical observations into their layouts, offering insights into the religious and cultural significance of solar hierophanies in ancient urban development.

Belmonte, J. A., & González-García, A. C. (2015). The Pillars of the Earth and the Sky. Journal of Skyscape Archaeology, 1(1), 9–38. https://doi.org/10.1558/jsa.v1i1.26952