Podcast: History Fuzz: Episode 01: Professor Giulio Magli. Intentionality vs Chance in Archaeoastronomy
In this episode, I interview Professor Giulio Magli, a leading astrophysicist and archaeoastronomer who heads the Department of Mathematics at the Polytechnic University of Milan. Magli, a prominent figure in Italy’s archaeoastronomy community, combines his expertise in astrophysics and ancient architecture to explore how ancient societies integrated celestial phenomena into their built environments. This discussion uncovers the intricate blend of religious, mythological, and practical factors that shaped these remarkable structures, revealing the sophisticated ways ancient peoples wove astronomy into their daily lives [1].
Figure 01: Episode Title Graphic.
Magli’s journey into the intersection of mathematics, architecture, and celestial observations began with his background in relativistic astrophysics. Over the past 25 years, he has applied mathematical principles to understand the alignments and orientations of ancient monuments and landscapes. His research has unveiled profound connections between the cosmos and the built environment, revealing how ancient societies intertwined their architectural achievements with their religious and mythological beliefs.
A central focus of Professor Giulio Magli's research is the archaeoastronomical alignments of Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s famous temple complex and the largest religious edifice ever constructed. At the beginning of this episode, Magli references my contributions to the field, particularly my discovery of the oldest Khmer prime meridian from the early 10th century. In 2016, I proposed that King Suryavarman II, in the 12th century, selected sites for Angkor Wat and Prasat Kamboch based on solstice alignments at 65.6° and 245.6°, originating from the Phnom Bok and Phnom Dei hill temples, respectively, built by his predecessor, King Yasovarman I.
Figure 02: Map presented in Ashley Cowie’ 2016 work Lost Meridian of the Khmer Kings.
My research indicates that King Jayavarman VII deliberately positioned Angkor Wat and Prasat Kamboch so that the summer solstice sun rose from behind Yasovarman I’s hilltop temples, reflecting a significant reverence for his predecessor’s earlier meridian. The Angkor Wat meridian not only honors Yasovarman I’s temples but it also creates a new alignment with a similar length, fusing both dynastic continuity and the integration of sacred geographical templates.
These alignments symbolically incorporated the solar year into a highly engineered agricultural and sacred landscape, and reveal efforts to connect the celestial with the terrestrial, functioning as both a timekeeping device and a spiritual conduit to Hindu mythology. By embedding celestial events into the landscape, these alignment demonstrates the sophisticated integration of astronomical knowledge into the design and symbolism of ancient Khmer architecture [2].
Also in this interview, we scrutinize some of the more controversial proposed building alignments, distinguishing between intentional design and coincidental alignment. Guilio emphasizes that while many scholars have proposed deliberate alignments, it is crucial to approach such claims with a critical eye. Magli’s preference for rigorous mathematical analysis over numerological interpretations leads him to challenge speculative theories, advocating instead for a more grounded understanding of ancient astronomical alignments [3].
