Ancient Greek Philosopher Theophrastus Wrote One of History’s First Weather Guides

Statue of Theophrastus successful Palermo, Italy. Credit: Orto botanico di Palermo, CC BY-SA 2.5

Greek philosopher Theophrastus (c. 372 BC, Eresus, Lesbos — c. 287) was a Greek philosopher and pupil of Aristotle and possibly the archetypal upwind forecaster successful the world.

His publication On Signs, written successful the 4th period BC, was the archetypal effort to stitchery upwind lore into a azygous volume. Aristotle created a mentation of upwind successful his publication Meteorology, but his successor attempted to springiness guidance connected applicable upwind prediction, making him possibly the archetypal published upwind forecaster.

One of Theophrastus’s principles was that upwind divides into complementary halves truthful that 1 information is typically followed by its opposite. Hence a bedewed wintertime precedes a adust outpouring and a adust May goes earlier a bedewed June.

Theophrastus besides recorded dozens of signs indicating wind, storms, rainfall and different conditions ahead. Some are reasonably obvious, specified arsenic the reflection that being surrounded by lightning means rainfall is imminent. Others are little so, specified arsenic the formation of cranes being a predictor of just weather, David Hambling writes successful The Guardian.

Weather tips from Theophrastus

Here are immoderate of his observations published successful his publication On Signs

“The signs of rainfall look to beryllium arsenic follows: astir unmistakable is that which occurs astatine dawn, erstwhile the entity has a reddish quality earlier sunrise; for this usually indicates rainfall wrong 3 days, if not connected that precise day. Other signs constituent the aforesaid way: frankincense a reddish entity astatine sunset indicates rainfall wrong 3 days, if not before, though little surely than a reddish entity astatine dawn,” Theophrastus wrote.

He adds: “If the prima sets successful a unreality successful wintertime oregon spring, this mostly indicates rainfall wrong 3 days. So too, if determination are streaks of airy from the south, while, if these are seen from the north, it is simply a little definite sign. Again, if the prima erstwhile it rises has a achromatic mark, oregon if it rises​ retired of clouds, it is simply a motion of rain; while, if astatine sunrise determination are rays​ shooting retired earlier the existent rising, it is simply a motion of rainfall and besides of wind. Again if, arsenic the prima sinks, a unreality forms beneath it and this breaks up its rays, it is simply a motion of stormy weather. Again, if it sets oregon rises with a burning heat, and determination is nary wind, it is simply a motion of rain.”

He continues:

“It is simply a motion of rainfall erstwhile a crow puts backmost its caput connected a stone which is washed by waves, oregon erstwhile it often dives oregon hovers implicit the water. It is simply a motion of rainfall if the raven, who is accustomed to marque galore antithetic sounds, repeats 1 of these doubly rapidly and makes a whirring​ dependable and shakes its wings. So excessively if, during a rainy season,​ helium utters galore antithetic sounds, oregon if helium searches for lice perched successful an olive-tree.

“And if, whether successful just oregon bedewed weather, helium imitates, arsenic it were, with his dependable falling drops, it is simply a motion of rain. So excessively is it if ravens oregon jackdaws alert precocious and scream​ similar hawks. And, if a raven successful just upwind does not utter his accustomed enactment and makes a whirring with his wings,​ it is simply a motion of rain.”

“A canine rolling connected the crushed is simply a motion of convulsive wind. A fig of cobwebs successful question portends upwind oregon storm…If successful autumn sheep oregon oxen excavation holes and prevarication keeping their heads adjacent to 1 another, it indicates a terrible winter.”

You tin work excerpts from the Greek philosopher’s book here

Theophrastus was 1 of the fewer Peripatetics who afloat embraced Aristotle’s doctrine successful each areas of metaphysics, physics, physiology, zoology, botany, ethics, politics, and past of culture.

He came to Athens astatine a young property and initially studied successful Plato‘s school. After Plato’s death, helium attached himself to Aristotle who took to Theophrastus successful his writings. When Aristotle fled Athens, Theophrastus took implicit arsenic caput of the Lyceum.

Theophrastus presided implicit the Peripatetic schoolhouse for thirty-six years, during which clip the schoolhouse flourished greatly. He is often considered the begetter of botany for his works connected plants.