Born: Unknown, Greece
Died: Unknown
Country most active: Greece
Also known as: Aganice
Aglaonice is considered the first female astronomer in ancient Greece, regarded for her knowledge of the moon and its cycles. Plutarch wrote that she was “thoroughly acquainted with the periods of the full moon when it is subject to eclipse, and, knowing beforehand the time when the moon was due to be overtaken by the earth’s shadow, imposed upon the women, and made them all believe that she was drawing down the moon.” Her ability to predict lunar eclipses led to a reputation that she was a sorceress who could make the moon disappear from the sky. Several female astrologers, apparently also regarded as sorcerers, were associated with Aglaonice and were known as the “witches of Thessaly” and were active from the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE.