Is the Universe spherical or rectangular? Cosmas Indicopleustes and his cosmographical interpretation

Abstract

This paper aims at unveiling why and how was possible, during the 6th century AD that the Greek ancient spherical vision of the universe could have been replaced for a while by a cubic/rectangular vision. We will refer to Cosmas Indicopleustes’ work Christian Topography which was written by 550-552 AD. Our paper has two parts: a first one shortly refers to the spherical form of the universe theorized by the ancient Greek philosophers and a second part, more extended, is centred on Cosmas’ theory of the rectangular/cubic form of the universe. Cosmas Indicopleustes’ work is Christian Topography and it was written by 550-552 AD.