2017/12/18 by Giulio Magli, Magli, Giulio
Arts and Humanities · Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #FOS: Physical sciences #Historical Astronomy and Related Studies #Historical and Architectural Studies #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies #physics.hist-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1712.06486
Archaeoastronomy/history of Astronomy
arxiv created 2017/12/18 · openalex publication_date 2017/12/18 · arxiv updated 2017/12/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The world famous Javanese temple of Borobudur is located at the westernmost end of a straight line which includes two satellite temples, Mendut and Pawon. Originally, the three buildings were probably connected by a processional path running along this line. It is shown here that the alignment points, at the horizon, where the sun sets in the days of the zenith passages. This orientation is likely intentional and related to a ritual procession which connected the three temples, mimicking the path of the sun in the sky.