The Role of Comets between Historical Events and Natural Disasters

A Philosophical Perspective from Ibn Bāǧǧa’s ‘Commentary on Aristotle’s Meteorology’

Abstract

Comets were historically linked with signifi­cant events and celestial omens. However, they were not considered noteworthy in ancient times, as they were simply regarded as being irregular phenomena caused by exhalations near the Earth’s surface. In his ‘Commentary on Aristotle’s Meteorology’, Ibn Bāǧǧa mentions the destruction of Byzantine cities, likely Helike and Boura, along with a comet in 373 BC. Although ancient authors have reported this event with mystification, Olympiodorus, Avicenna, and Averroes mentioned it in their comments on Aristotle’s ‘Meteorology’ without acknowledging the presence of a comet. This article explores why Ibn Bāǧǧa mentions the comet and how he organised me­teorological events like this into a coherent system that presupposes regular movements, from which apparent irregularities follow.