[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Literature, language and dating](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature) › [A History of Sanskrit Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.macdonell-1900) › c19.39 # A History of Sanskrit Literature c19.39 A History of Sanskrit Literature c19.39 - **Language:** English ### [c19.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.macdonell-1900.c19.39) Of Astronomy the ancient Indians had but slight independent knowledge. It is probable that they derived their early acquaintance with the twenty-eight divisions of the moon's orbit from the Chaldeans through their commercial relations with the Phœnicians. Indian astronomy did not really begin to flourish till it was affected by that of Greece; it is indeed the one science in which undoubtedly strong Greek influence can be proved. The debt which the native astronomers always acknowledge they owe to the Yavanas is sufficiently obvious from the numerous Greek terms in Indian astronomical writings. Thus, in Varāha Mihira's \*Horā-çāstra\* the signs of the zodiac are enumerated either by Sanskrit names translated from the Greek or by the original Greek names, as \*Āra\* for \*Ares\*, \*Heli\* for \*Hēlios\*, \*Jyau\* for \*Zeus\*. Many technical terms were directly borrowed from Greek works, as \*kendra\* for \*kentron\*, \*jāmitra\* for \*diametron\*. Some of the very names of the oldest astronomical treatises of the Indians indicate their Western origin. Thus the \*Romaka-siddhānta\* means the "Roman manual." The title of Varāha Mihira's \*Horā-çāstra\* contains the Greek word \*hōrā\*. - [Previous: c19.38](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.macdonell-1900.c19.38) - [Next: c19.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.macdonell-1900.c19.40) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.macdonell-1900.c19) ## Linked texts (2) - [Bṛhajjātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.hora.yavana.brhajjataka) — Varāhamihira, Sanskrit - [Romakasiddhānta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.siddhanta.early.romaka) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.macdonell-1900.c19.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.macdonell-1900.c19.39) · Pramāṇa