Decoding Astronomy in Art and Architecture

Dr. Dolan received her BS, MFA and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in medieval manuscripts, minoring in medieval architecture and history of astronomy. She taught at the University of Pittsburgh and Carlow University for many years. Now an independent scholar, she continues her research on the transmission of astronomical knowledge and lectures on art history at the NSU Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where she also serves as a docent. Archaeoastronomy has been a lifelong area of study; she has taught the subject many times, including aboard a ship during a cruise around the world as faculty member for Semester at Sea based at the University of Virginia, where she was able to observe firsthand and to teach students at many historic sites.
Dr. Dolan has studied astronomical manuscripts in the libraries of Europe, specializing in the surviving Aratea manuscripts. Her research was published in the book Astronomical Knowledge Transmission Through Illustrated Aratea Manuscripts (Springer, 2017). 

Part I: History of Cosmic Symbolism in Art and Architecture.- Chapter 1: Introduction to the Book Topics.- Chapter 2: Basics of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy.- Chapter 3: World's Earliest Art and Astronomy.- Chapter 4: Neolithic Art, Architecture and Astronomy.- Chapter 5: Art, Architecture and Astronomy in Ireland.- Chapter 6: Art, Architecture and Astronomy in England.- Part II: Astronomical Art and Architecture of Southeast Asia.- Chapter 7: Hinduism and Cosmology in India.- Chapter 8: Art, Architecture and Astronomy at Angkor Wat Temple.- Chapter 9: Art, Architecture and Astronomy of Buddhism.- Part III: Astronomical Art and Architecture of China.- Chapter 10 Art, Architecture and Astronomy in China.- Part IV: Astronomical Art and Architecture of the Classical World.- Chapter 11: Art, Architecture and Astronomy in Classical Greece.- Chapter 12: Art, Architecture and Astronomy of Petra.- Chapter 13: Art, Architecture and Astronomy in the Roman Empire.- Part V: Astronomical Art and Architecture of Early Europe.- Chapter 14: Art. Architecture and Astronomy during the Middle Ages.- Chapter 15: Art, Architecture and Astronomy during the Renaissance.- Part VI: Astronomical Art and Architecture of the New World.- Chapter 16: Art, Architecture and Astronomy at Teotihuacan.- Chapter 17: Art, Architecture and Astronomy in South America.- Index.

"I enjoyed reading this book. I revelled in the ancient art, I was amazed by many of the old buildings, I was pleased to see the extensive lists of references to the hard work of archaeologists and archaeoastronomers. But I was left wondering whether the town planners, the artists, or the architects ... knew much about astronomy. ... The reader needs convincing before trying to decode something that might not even be present." (David W. Hughes, The Observatory,June, 2022)

"This book is certainly the most accessible survey of worldwide archaeo-astronomy that has been published of late. It is enhanced by scores of photographs, all in colour ... . Dolan has done a tremendous service to the oft-maligned and misunderstood study of archaeoastronomy. And with its broad remit in both time and space, this will remain for many years a valuable planet-wide survey of sites from the prehistoric to the Renaissance." (Clifford Cunningham, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, VOl. 24 (4), 2021)