The Solstice has occurred, spectacularly, with a full lunar eclipse. Cloud cover prevented me from seeing it with my own eyes, but there are plenty of images online.
We are on the upside -- although a frozen driveway is a little inconvenient. We're expecting more ice and snow.
We recently viewed a movie, Agora, which was about life in 4th Century Alexandria, Egypt. Hypathia was the main character. She would have been able to predict the eclipse, as she was a preeminent astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher. Respected among the elite, she didn't hesitate to consult with the politicians and intellectuals in the cosmopolitan city. She taught at the Museum of Alexandria, which housed the written treasures of the world prior to being burned down in a struggle for political dominance. Although history is somewhat debatable when it comes to the details of Hypathia's life, there is no debate that she was influential. She seemed to be indifferent to religion and is usually considered to have been a Neo-Platonist (philosophy) rather than a "pagan" in the sense that she probably did not worship any gods in the true sense. Nevertheless, she was murdered by a mob of Christians -- that is not debated. although some have claimed that the reason was more political than religious.
If you are interested in history and especially history which concerns women, you may enjoy this movie. At any rate, it would be good entertainment while you are cooped up inside with the snow building up.
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