Queen Seondeok of Silla (c. 595 ~ 610 - 647), 27th ruler of one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632-647, who brought about a renaissance in culture and science and built the Cheomseongdae moon and star-gazing observatory. This is the anniversary of her death.
Known for her intelligence, wisdom & benevolence, stories survive of her curiosity & cleverness even as a child. 🧵
https://minouette.etsy.com/listing/715048000
#linocut #printmaking #sciart #histsci #womenInSTEM #Seondeok #mastoArt
When her father the King was gifted peony seeds from China she remarked that it was a pity the lovely flowers had no scent. The astonished adults asked her how she knew; she had noted that the painting of the flower did not show bees or butterflies & had corrected deduced that they were unscented.
She was introduced to #astronomy by her tutor when young. When her father died she became Queen. After lifting peasants’ taxes for a year & helping orphans & elderly, she set to work 🧵2/
building a 9m tall moon & star-gazing tower Cheomseogdae, which survives today, the oldest standing observatory in East Asia, perhaps the world. The capital became a centre of culture & science, math, astronomy & astrology flourished. The observatory is believed to have been the centre of an entire scientific district.
The building itself represented knowledge; the number of stones represents days of the year. 🧵3/4
Ele Willoughby, PhD
hanktank61