The history, legend and mythology of a star cluster associated with women for aeons of human history. Munya captures the richness of the mysterious constellation Pleiades and explains the recurring significance of these celestial sisters who animate the myths of cultures as diverse as Classical Greece and Aboriginal Australia.
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Summary
The history, legend and mythology of a star cluster associated with women for aeons of human history. Munya captures the richness of the mysterious constellation Pleiades and explains the recurring significance of these celestial sisters who animate the myths of cultures as diverse as Classical Greece and Aboriginal Australia.
Description
Around the world, people looked to the skies to tell them when to sow and harvest their crops, and when the rains would come. The ‘sailing stars’ have guided explorers and endless migrations of people. In Old Europe, among the Ainu of Japan and in Indigenous Australia the Pleiades were associated with water and birds. They become Oceanids, Ice Maidens, Water Girls and the Subaru. The Parthenon in Athens, the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and the Mayan Temple of the Sun in Cuzco, are all said to be aligned with the Pleiades. The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades will amaze and awe you, and above all will remind you that all of humanity shares the night skies.
Awards
Short-listed for Lambda Literary Awards (Spirituality) 2005
Critic Reviews
“"Fascination with the Pleiades... spreads over many cultures, as Andrews notes. In ancient Egypt, they were regarded as the Seven Fates who 'foretold the destiny of every newborn'; in India they still influence the game of dice; and a cluster of dots on the Lascaux cave paintings in France, more than 17,000 years old, is perhaps the world's oldest representation of these haunting stars..." Tony Maniarty, The Australian.”
About the Author
Munya Andrews is a Bardi woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. She trained as a lawyer and has worked in academia and in comedy. Among her interests she lists parachuting, bungee jumping and flying.
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