Meteorology and the ancient Greeks

This paper seeks to explore the influence of meteorology on the ancient Greeks, as revealed in certain literary texts, such as Homer's Odyssey , Hesiod's Works and Days , and Aristotle's Meteorologica . The power of meteorology to capture the imagination of the poets is examined, followed by a consideration of the practical influence of the weather on farming, as shown in Hesiod's Works and Days . The final section looks at attempts to explain complex meteorological phenomena and considers the value of Aristotle's Meteorologica . The paper is necessarily a brief overview, intended for those without first‐hand knowledge of the classical background, but forms a basis for more detailed study of any of its key aspects. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society