Remembering the Great Comet
David Talbott
How did it happen that the tranquil and predictable planet Venus inspired memories of terror throughout the ancient world? Within all of the well documented cultures, astronomical traditions describe Venus in the language of a comet. Given the specialized focus of historians, few indeed have noted this remarkable and universal pattern. But the collective, seemingly preposterous memory is now established beyond any reasonable doubt: the sciences cannot afford to ignore the implications.
