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Eco-Psych Journal 26 Sept 2024






From a South African Text Book:

"𝗧𝗡𝗲 π˜π—²π—Ώπ—Ί π‘Ίπ’†π’π’†π’Žπ’†π’π’‚ is a Sesotho and Setswana word that refers to π‘π‘™π‘’π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘  (also called the 𝑆𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 π‘†π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ ), which are a bright cluster of stars that appear in the evening sky in spring. These stars were used by traditional farming communities in South Africa to help them plan their planting season and once they became visible it was time to start ploughing the fields. They are known as π‘‡π‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘™π‘Ž in Venda, π‘†β„Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘™π‘Ž in Tsonga and π‘–π‘ π‘–πΏπ‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘™π‘Ž in Xhosa and Zulu. The suffix – π‘™π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž (-π‘™π‘–π‘šπ‘Ž in Nguni languages) means to plant, cultivate and - π‘šπ‘’π‘™π‘Ž means to grow (referring to plants/crops). The Khoikhoi call them πΎβ„Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’π‘‘π‘– or πΎβ„Žπ‘’π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘’β„Ž meaning "rain stars". In Xhosa the stars are referred to as the "digging stars" or β€œthe hoeing stars”. Some believed that they die in winter and are reborn in the rainy season, an indication that the fields have to be prepared for planting in anticipation for summer rains. In East Africa they are called πΎπ‘–π‘™π‘–π‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘Ž, which also means "ploughing stars" or " digging stars". Ancient Mayans in Mexico and Central America also used them to mark the start of their rainy season.
According to Greek mythology when π‘‚π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘œπ‘› (one of the constellations), who was a hunter, fell in love with the π‘ƒπ‘™π‘’π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘  (seven sisters) and began to pursuing them, Zeus (the sky and thunder god) scooped them and placed them in the sky.

π–π«π’π­π­πžπ§ 𝐛𝐲 Gosiame Goitsemodimo (Anthropology Department) and Nthaopa Ntheri (Palaeontology Department).


π—₯π—²π—³π—²π—Ώπ—²π—»π—°π—²π˜€

https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-7/historical-development-of-astronomy/20-historical-development-of-astronomy (Accessed 17 and 18/02/2022)

Gardening by the stars. September 1, 2010. https://www.maropeng.co.za/news/entry/gardening_by_the_stars (Accessed 18/02/2022)



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