The Firmament - Revision history

User: Source Genesis and Nut; separate historical cosmologies; remove unsupported literary example and improve navigation

2026-10-09T16:10:23Z

Source Genesis and Nut; separate historical cosmologies; remove unsupported literary example and improve navigation

User: Improve categories, browsing and internal links

2026-09-09T04:20:20Z

Improve categories, browsing and internal links

User: Formatting cleanup: standardise headings and lists, remove em dashes, and tidy whitespace

2026-08-16T12:58:50Z

Formatting cleanup: standardise headings and lists, remove em dashes, and tidy whitespace

User: /* Modern Flat Earth Theory */

2023-03-29T11:17:25Z

Modern Flat Earth Theory

User: /* The Firmament */

2023-03-29T11:16:18Z

The Firmament

User: /* Modern Flat Earth Theory */

2023-03-20T18:44:25Z

Modern Flat Earth Theory

User: /* Modern Flat Earth Theory */

2023-03-20T18:44:08Z

Modern Flat Earth Theory

User: /* Biblical Firmament */

2023-03-20T18:36:17Z

Biblical Firmament

User: /* The Firmament */

2023-03-20T18:26:58Z

The Firmament

User: /* Modern Flat Earth Theory */

2023-03-11T18:19:32Z

Modern Flat Earth Theory

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-[[File:Andrew_TAustin_on_the_second_day_God_created_the_firmament.png|400px|right]]"And, what's up?" The firmament is what is up, also known as the expanse, is a term used in ancient cosmology to describe the vast, seemingly solid dome that was believed to encircle and separate the Earth from the heavens above. This concept has been a prominent feature of many ancient cultures, including those of the Middle East, Greece, and China.
+[[File:Andrew_TAustin_on_the_second_day_God_created_the_firmament.png|thumb|300px|right|An illustration of the separation of the waters in Genesis.]]
-In ancient Hebrew texts, the firmament is described as a solid structure that separates the waters above from the waters below, as mentioned in the book of Genesis. In Greek mythology, it was believed to be the home of the gods, while in ancient China, it was described as the "heavenly vault" that held the sun, moon, and stars.
+This article concerns the language and imagery of a world above, a boundary, and an ordered sky. Different historical cosmologies should be identified separately, rather than combined into one model supposedly shared by all ancient cultures.
 == Idioms ==
@@ Line 50: / Line 47: @@
 == Ancient Egypt ==
-In ancient Egyptian mythology, the firmament played a significant role in the cosmology and religious beliefs of the people. Known as Nut (also Nuit, Nuith), the goddess of the sky, the firmament was personified as a heavenly goddess who was believed to arch over the earth and encompass the universe.
+The Egyptian sky goddess Nut provides a comparison with a personified sky. On the coffin of Wedjarenes, the Met describes her protective wings and imagery of the sun passing through her body at night and being reborn at dawn. This is a specific Egyptian religious image, not simply another name for the Hebrew firmament.<ref name="nut">[https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/550801 Metropolitan Museum of Art, Coffin of Wedjarenes]. Accessed 9 October 2026.</ref>
 == Modern Flat Earth Theory ==
-[[File:Andrew_T_Austin_a_model_of_the_flat_earth_showing_the_domed.png|400px|right]]In modern flat earth theory, the firmament is a key component of the moronic belief that the earth is not a globe, but a flat disc surrounded by a dome or barrier known as the firmament. According to this theory, the firmament is a physical barrier that separates the earth from the rest of the universe and serves as a foundation for the stars, sun, and moon.
+[[File:Andrew_T_Austin_a_model_of_the_flat_earth_showing_the_domed.png|thumb|300px|right|An illustration of a flat-earth dome claim, not a scientific model of Earth.]]
+Some modern flat-earth accounts invoke the biblical firmament as a physical dome. This is a modern claim about the Earth's structure and should be distinguished both from historical textual interpretation and from astronomy. Reading the imagery of Genesis does not supply empirical evidence for a flat Earth.
 == Literary Examples ==
-The concept of the firmament has been a popular literary theme throughout history, appearing in works of fiction, poetry, and even religious texts. Here are a few examples of great literary works that feature the firmament:
+The biblical passages above offer specific textual starting points. When extending the comparison to Milton, Dante or other writers, identify the actual passage and distinguish the author's imagined cosmos from the Genesis account. A painting of the night sky and a description of a solid boundary may invite different readings even when both are described as a ''firmament''.
 == Related pages ==
 * [[The Sun]]
 * [[Rainbows]]
 == Browse the library ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:20, 9 September 2026
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−	~~=The Firmament=~~
−
	[[File:Andrew_TAustin_on_the_second_day_God_created_the_firmament.png\|400px\|right]]"And, what's up?" The firmament is what is up, also known as the expanse, is a term used in ancient cosmology to describe the vast, seemingly solid dome that was believed to encircle and separate the Earth from the heavens above. This concept has been a prominent feature of many ancient cultures, including those of the Middle East, Greece, and China.		[[File:Andrew_TAustin_on_the_second_day_God_created_the_firmament.png\|400px\|right]]"And, what's up?" The firmament is what is up, also known as the expanse, is a term used in ancient cosmology to describe the vast, seemingly solid dome that was believed to encircle and separate the Earth from the heavens above. This concept has been a prominent feature of many ancient cultures, including those of the Middle East, Greece, and China.

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	These works demonstrate the enduring fascination with the firmament throughout history and the many different ways in which writers and artists have sought to capture its mystery and beauty. Whether through poetry, prose, or visual art, the firmament has inspired some of the greatest works of literature and art, and continues to captivate our imaginations today.		These works demonstrate the enduring fascination with the firmament throughout history and the many different ways in which writers and artists have sought to capture its mystery and beauty. Whether through poetry, prose, or visual art, the firmament has inspired some of the greatest works of literature and art, and continues to captivate our imaginations today.
		+
		+	== Related pages ==
		+	* [[The Sun]]
		+	* [[Rainbows]]
		+
		+	== Browse the library ==
		+	[[:Category:Air and weather\|Air and weather]]
		+
		+	[[Subject index]] \| [[Stories and literature]] \| [[Special:AllPages\|All articles A-Z]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Air and weather]]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Today, the term "firmament" is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to any kind of barrier or limit that separates one realm from another. For example, a person might speak of the "firmament of politics" that separates one political ideology from another, or the "firmament of technology" that separates one field of technological advancement from another.
-==Idioms==
+== Idioms ==
 Here are a few examples:
@@ Line 41: / Line 40: @@
 ::'''"In the dead of night"''' - This phrase describes something that happens in the middle of the night, when the sky is dark and quiet.
-==Biblical Firmament==
+== Biblical Firmament ==
 [[File:And_God_said_Let_there_be_a_firmament.png|400px|right]]The biblical firmament, also known as the "vault of heaven" or "heavenly expanse," is a concept found in the book of Genesis and other parts of the Old Testament. The King James Bible, one of the most widely read English translations of the Bible, contains several passages that describe the firmament and its role in creation.
@@ Line 53: / Line 51: @@
 While the biblical concept of the firmament is no longer accepted as a literal description of the structure of the universe, it has played an important role in shaping religious and philosophical thought throughout history. The King James Bible's beautiful and poetic language has helped to make the concept of the firmament a powerful symbol of divine power and order.
-==Ancient Egypt==
+== Ancient Egypt ==
 In ancient Egyptian mythology, the firmament played a significant role in the cosmology and religious beliefs of the people. Known as Nut (also Nuit, Nuith), the goddess of the sky, the firmament was personified as a heavenly goddess who was believed to arch over the earth and encompass the universe.
@@ Line 65: / Line 62: @@
 In ancient Egyptian funerary texts, the firmament was seen as the gateway to the afterlife, through which the soul of the deceased had to pass in order to reach the divine realm. The Egyptian Book of the Dead describes the soul's journey through the firmament and the challenges it must overcome in order to reach the ultimate reward of eternal life.
-==Modern Flat Earth Theory==
+== Modern Flat Earth Theory ==
 [[File:Andrew_T_Austin_a_model_of_the_flat_earth_showing_the_domed.png|400px|right]]In modern flat earth theory, the firmament is a key component of the moronic belief that the earth is not a globe, but a flat disc surrounded by a dome or barrier known as the firmament. According to this theory, the firmament is a physical barrier that separates the earth from the rest of the universe and serves as a foundation for the stars, sun, and moon.
@@ Line 75: / Line 71: @@
 Believers in the flat earth theory also use the concept of the firmament to explain a number of other phenomena, such as the apparent motion of the sun and moon, the lack of curvature of the earth's surface, and the behavior of the stars and constellations.
-==Literary Examples==
+== Literary Examples ==
 The concept of the firmament has been a popular literary theme throughout history, appearing in works of fiction, poetry, and even religious texts. Here are a few examples of great literary works that feature the firmament:

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 ==Modern Flat Earth Theory==
-[[File:Andrew_T_Austin_a_model_of_the_flat_earth_showing_the_domed.png|400px|right]]In modern flat earth theory, the firmament is a key component of the belief that the earth is not a globe, but a flat disc surrounded by a dome or barrier known as the firmament. According to this theory, the firmament is a physical barrier that separates the earth from the rest of the universe and serves as a foundation for the stars, sun, and moon.
+[[File:Andrew_T_Austin_a_model_of_the_flat_earth_showing_the_domed.png|400px|right]]In modern flat earth theory, the firmament is a key component of the moronic belief that the earth is not a globe, but a flat disc surrounded by a dome or barrier known as the firmament. According to this theory, the firmament is a physical barrier that separates the earth from the rest of the universe and serves as a foundation for the stars, sun, and moon.
 Flat earthers believe that the firmament is a solid, impenetrable structure that stretches over the entire earth. Some flat earth believers see the firmament as a giant dome or crystal, while others describe it as an impenetrable barrier made of metal or other materials.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 =The Firmament=
-[[File:Andrew_TAustin_on_the_second_day_God_created_the_firmament.png|400px|right]]The firmament, also known as the expanse, is a term used in ancient cosmology to describe the vast, seemingly solid dome that was believed to encircle and separate the Earth from the heavens above. This concept has been a prominent feature of many ancient cultures, including those of the Middle East, Greece, and China.
+[[File:Andrew_TAustin_on_the_second_day_God_created_the_firmament.png|400px|right]]"And, what's up?" The firmament is what is up, also known as the expanse, is a term used in ancient cosmology to describe the vast, seemingly solid dome that was believed to encircle and separate the Earth from the heavens above. This concept has been a prominent feature of many ancient cultures, including those of the Middle East, Greece, and China.
 In ancient Hebrew texts, the firmament is described as a solid structure that separates the waters above from the waters below, as mentioned in the book of Genesis. In Greek mythology, it was believed to be the home of the gods, while in ancient China, it was described as the "heavenly vault" that held the sun, moon, and stars.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 11 March 2023
Line 74:		Line 74:

	Believers in the flat earth theory also use the concept of the firmament to explain a number of other phenomena, such as the apparent motion of the sun and moon, the lack of curvature of the earth's surface, and the behavior of the stars and constellations.		Believers in the flat earth theory also use the concept of the firmament to explain a number of other phenomena, such as the apparent motion of the sun and moon, the lack of curvature of the earth's surface, and the behavior of the stars and constellations.
		+
		+	==Literary Examples==
		+
		+	The concept of the firmament has been a popular literary theme throughout history, appearing in works of fiction, poetry, and even religious texts. Here are a few examples of great literary works that feature the firmament:
		+
		+	::'''"Paradise Lost" by John Milton''' - This epic poem tells the story of the fall of Adam and Eve, and includes vivid descriptions of the heavens and the firmament.
		+
		+	::'''"The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri''' - In this epic poem, Dante describes the different levels of heaven, including the firmament, where the sun, moon, and stars are located.
		+
		+	::'''"The Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh''' - Although not a literary work per se, this famous painting is often cited as an example of the beauty and wonder of the firmament.
		+
		+	::'''"The Book of Enoch"''' - This ancient religious text describes the firmament as a solid dome, separating the heavens from the earth.
		+
		+	::'''"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams''' - In this satirical science fiction novel, the characters travel through space and encounter a variety of bizarre and surreal environments, including a planet where the inhabitants believe that the firmament is made of solid gold.
		+
		+	These works demonstrate the enduring fascination with the firmament throughout history and the many different ways in which writers and artists have sought to capture its mystery and beauty. Whether through poetry, prose, or visual art, the firmament has inspired some of the greatest works of literature and art, and continues to captivate our imaginations today.