Con questa motivazione, nel 1996, il Comitato del Patrimonio Mondiale UNESCO riunito a Merida (Messico), ha inserito nella World Heritage List il castello, fatto realizzare da Federico II di Svevia  intorno al 1240. 
Il solo documento di epoca federiciana riguardante il monumento è un mandato del 29 gennaio 1240, con il quale il sovrano, da Gubbio, ordinava a Riccardo da Montefuscolo, Giustiziere di Capitanata, di acquistare calce, pietre e quant'altro fosse necessario "...pro castro quod apud Sanctam Mariam de Monte fieri volumus". In tale documento era usato il termine latino actractum, suscettibile di varie interpretazioni: pavimento, livellamento del terreno, lastrico di copertura, fino ad un più generico significato di materiale edilizio.

L'unica certezza, quindi, è che nel 1240 fossero in corso a Castel del Monte dei lavori, sul cui andamento Federico chiedeva peraltro di avere frequenti aggiornamenti. Sulla natura di tali opere, se in altre parole fossero di fondazione o di completamento, la critica appare discorde. Alcune osservazioni sembrerebbero tuttavia avvalorare la seconda ipotesi. Il castello sorge direttamente sul banco roccioso e non sarebbe stato effettuato alcun intervento di preparazione, o di livellamento del terreno, prima di avviare la costruzione. Sembra dunque più plausibile che il termine actractum indichi una copertura.

Poiché Castel del Monte compare come un edificio compiuto nello Statutum de   reparatione   castrorum   (1241-46)  ,  elenco   delle  strutture   castellari  bisognose di interventi di manutenzione,  ciò si giustifica solo anticipandone la fondazione rispetto al 1240.

Apparentemente isolato e periferico, in realtà il castello sorgeva non lontano dalla strada che collegava Andria ed il Garagnone (presso Gravina), importanti nuclei insediativi dell'epoca; la sua collocazione in cima ad una collina alta 540 metri sul livello del mare e ben visibile a distanza, faceva di Castel del Monte un elemento essenziale nel sistema di comunicazione all'interno della rete castellare voluta da Federico II, sebbene gran parte della critica abbia escluso una sua funzione militare per l'assenza di fossato, caditoie e ponte levatoio.

Tutt'altro che casuale, e non solo a livello strategico, appare quindi la scelta del luogo: una collina inondata dal sole in tutte le ore del giorno, con cui il monumento sembra costantemente in relazione. La luce del sole e le ombre che ne nascono, esaltano e definiscono le forme del monumento, regolarissime eppure sottilmente differenti, e ne valorizzano i colori, anch'essi uniformi e mutevoli insieme. 
Un rapporto, quello col sole, che nel Medioevo condizionava l'orientamento degli edifici sacri e che appare più che ovvio nel caso di Federico II, appassionato di astronomia e paragonato o addirittura identificato con l'astro. Così il figlio Manfredi ne annunciò infatti la morte: "E' tramontato il sole della giustizia, è morto il difensore della pace".

Oggetto di studio e diversamente interpretata è anche la destinazione d'uso del castello. Sebbene il termine castrum in ambito svevo si riferisca a strutture prevalentemente difensive, pur non escludendo utilizzi accessori,  nel caso specifico la presenza di bagni e camini ad entrambi i piani del castello, il lusso delle rifiniture, la raffinatezza del repertorio scultoreo rendono plausibile anche un uso residenziale e di rappresentanza, riservato probabilmente ad una ristretta cerchia di privilegiati molto vicini al re, viste le dimensioni dell'edificio.

E' altrettanto innegabile che per la sua posizione sopraelevata e per la particolarità della sua forma Castel del Monte, capace di affascinare anche l'uomo di oggi, fosse oggetto di enorme stupore ed ammirazione da parte di sudditi, alleati, nemici di Federico II. E che fosse, dunque, uno dei mezzi più efficaci da lui concepiti per esaltare la sua grandezza, il prodotto più rappresentativo della sua concezione di "arte al servizio del potere". 
Un insieme di funzioni, quindi, si può dire abbia caratterizzato questo eccezionale monumento, emblematica espressione della variegata personalità del suo committente, uomo del medioevo che a grandi pregi quali vastità di cultura, molteplicità di interessi, intelligenza, spirito di tolleranza e amore per la pace e la giustizia, unì anche grande orgoglio ed ambizione.

 (the Turdetanian 

Ituci), devoted to 

Caelestis Iuno Lucina, nowadays reconstructed 

in the Archeological Park of Torreparedones. The mountains of Jabalcuz and Ahíllo, in the 

eastern skyline, mark the position of the sunrise during the equinox and the winter solstice, 

respectively. Similar markers have been previously reported for other Iberian sanctuaries. http://revistaseug.ugr.es/index.php/cpag/article/viewFile/3111/3150

-henge, the complex solar sign was represented by two concentric circles joined by means of ten solar rays. The arc of the circle had a symbolic meaning, that indicated periods when the solar cults took place, or when the Sun phenomena 

occurred (solar cycle). The arcs of the circle had different measurements, and the reason for this might be an irregular phenomenon of the Sun.

.

there is a charming town on the sea, Manfredonia, which houses an early Christian basilica: S. Leonardo. Here you can watch the summer solstice: a ray passes through a hole in the ceiling, illuminating the altar apse.It's very impressive!

 

 is the study of how people in the past have observed the phenomena in the sky, and how they have used these phenomena to role their culture.

In Italy, as well as in many other world countries there are a lot of sundials.  
We can use this example of archeoastronomy 

-          in history to introduce students to ancient cultures and societies and different strategies people applied in the past to measure time, in order to organise daily activities and jobs.

-          In science to introduce students to earth’s motions

-          In math to introduce students to angles and measure’s system. 

http://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/oldest-known-calendar-europe-based-orion-constellation-006296

Vučedol culture existed at the time of the Sumerian period in Mesopotamia, the Old Kingdom of Egypt (the Age of the Pyramids) and wounds three (I and II. Period). The full range of ornaments on Vučedol vessels is based on the Sun and astral symbolism and Venus and Mars.

Engraved decoration on the vessel which was found in Vučedol layer in Vinkovci and whose emergence is dated before 2600 BC shows the most complete European (Indo-European) calendar based on astral symbolism with the relevant constellations for all four seasons. The calendar was created at the same time as the Sumerian and Egyptian calendars, but in no case does not present their rebuttal because it is based on sjevernijoj, the 45th parallel. Climatic conditions that correspond to the latitude result in four seasons.

Determination of the seasons can best be understood on the basis of the position and attitude of certain of symbols that denote significant constellation of individual parts of the year.

Compared to the Sumerian-Babylonian, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian and other ancient calendars, constellations can be clearly defined, and the zones or belts that some vessels are divided, indicate the specific year period. Constellations that symbolize the different seasons are shown at the time of dusk and the first features of the evening sky (Orion, the Pleiades, Gemini, Pisces / Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Cygnus). Of course, the usual symbolism of the Sun (without any depiction of the Moon) shows the complete absence of lunar symbolism, which is Indo-European feature.

Near the main entrance there’s a sundial on the floor. A ray of sunlight from a hole on the opposite wall strikes the clock, shining the bronze tongue on June 21, the summer solstice, and the meridian on the winter solstice, December 21. Though ancient (it was placed in Milan Duomo in 1768 by astronomers from the Accademia di Brera) the sundial is surprisingly precise – even used to regulate clocks throughout the city!
I could visit the Cathedral with my students and I could start telling them to think some hypotesys about the uses of that object .  Then I could help them to  discover what is and what was built for.

The unique grade system of Mithras’ Mysteries had seven tutelary deities for each of the seven grades. The Mithraeum of Felicissimus at Ostia is famous for its striking mosaic pavement, which has contributed significantly to our knowledge of the Mithraic grades of initiation. The seven panels contain symbols of the Mithraic initiatory grades: (1) Raven (Corax); (2) Bridegroom (Nymphus);(3) Soldier (Miles); (4) Lion (Leo); (5) Persian (Perses); (6) Runner of the Sun (Heliodromus); (7) Father (Pater). As shows this mosaic pavement, the gods for each rank were the seven planetary deities which are found presiding over the days of the week, thought not in the same order. The symbols of the grades are juxtaposed with symbols of the tutelary planets in a sequence of squares extending ladder-like up the aisle. 

Lunar eclipses allowed for another key understanding about our home here on Earth. In 3rd Century B.C., Aristarchus of Samos reasoned he could figure out the size of the Earth based on information available during a lunar eclipse. The diagram at the bottom illustrates a translation of his work. The large circle is the sun, the medium circle is the Earth and the smallest circle is the moon. When the Earth is in-between the sun and the moon it causes a lunar eclipse and measuring the size of the Earth's shadow on the moon provided part of the information he needed to calculate its size.

The archaeological site "Su Nuraxi" (Sardinian term for "The Nuraghe") lies at the foot of the Parco della Giara, near Barumini. Nuraghes are the main type of megalithic edifice found in Sardinia, and the use of these beehive-like buildings still remains unknown. Most archaeologists assume they were used as religious temples, meeting halls, or military strongholds.
 
 Built somewhere around the twelfth century BC, Su Nuraxi is located along the road that leads from Barumini to Tuili. It was declared World Heritage by UNESCO (http://whc.unesco.org/) in 1997, and it is certainly the most important monument of the old civilization in Sardinia.

 

 The importance of the Nuraghe of Barumini, which stands on a small plateau at a level of about 230 metres, is shown by its complexity. Su Nuraxi has an excellent state of preservation, especially the proximity of the huge fortress, which consists of several towers. A central tower is surrounded by a rampart with four towers, which in turn are surrounded by seven towers in a hexagonal. 

cosmological and astronomic foundations of the architecture of Neolithic and

Chalcolithic enclosures of South Portugal. This approach was, for the first time in Portugal, developed in the complex of 

enclosures of Perdigões (Valera, 2008a), and we intent to extend it to a set of new

enclosures that have been recently discovered, in order to test and validate this

interpretative proposals.

Both its small dimensions (just 8.5 m long, 3.85 wide and 6 high) and its architectural style mozarabic make it a singular work within the pre-Romanesque in the north of the Iberian Peninsula.

Its orientation is such that it captures the light of the rising sun at the equinoxes of spring and autumn.

It brings us an excellent opportunity to work combining Mathematics, History and Art about calendars and its construction. During the Renaissance many tables were compiled to calculate the date of Easter, some of them depending on the golden number, which is as well amazingly present in the proportions of this chapel.

I like to gather images of equipment and screens (in the case of software) and then get students to find out what these technologies do, what else they could be used for and what they would do if they could play with the kit. The really interesting follow up is the ‘if only we had technology to ….’ So the learners come up with ideas for technologies of the future that are tools of discovery.

The archaeoastronomists think that the symbols below the reliefs that resemble the letters H and I found on one of the stitched stones that make up the Göbeklitepe are the symbols of the Sun and Moon. In these figures, Moon is depicted as a crescent and the Sun is depicted as a hollow in the center

The archeoastronomists working on the temple are discussing various theories that are similar to the constellation of Orion (Avcı) and similar astronomical evidence, since the number of the temple stones is 12, similar to H.

One of the theories on the agenda is that the Göbeklitepe temples may have been built to celebrate the birth of the Sirius star, which is "heralded by the winter months". Looking at this evidence, perhaps the Göbeklitepe temples were the first religious temple and an observatory ... The answers to these questions will be found in the developments in the field of archeoastronomy.

Other important location is the summit of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman province, the moon and star figures on the relief of the lion from the remnants of the Commagene Kingdom, which had existed 2,000 years ago, draw attention and this remains is referred to as the "lion's horoscope".

The lion's horoscope has a crescent relief on its neck and many star reliefs on its body. In these reliefs, unlike the stars expressed in 8 beams, there are three great shapes with 16 beams, and these are determined by arkeoastronomes, which are planets of "Jupiter, Mercury and Mars", which can be seen with their naked eye and their movements can be watched easily. Again with modern astronomy techniques, the moon and the angles that these three planets made with each other are taken into consideration, and the most suitable date is calculated to match this sequence of sky is BC July 17.

Una indagine dei templi delle rovine di Pompei ha mostrato come molti di questi edifici sacri siano stati costruiti in modo da essere allineati al sorgere di determinate stelle o con la posizione di Sole o Luna in giorni di particolare rilevanza, in maniera piuttosto inusuale per una città dell'Antica Roma.

Infatti, essa ha rivelato che su 11 templi  pompeiani, almeno 9 di questi siano stati costruiti per essere allineati con il sorgere di determinate stelle o con la posizione di Sole o Luna in  giorni di particolare rilevanza. L’orientamento di questo tipo negli edifici religiosi è piuttosto inusuale nelle usanze romane.

La ricerca sui templi è stata condotta da Vance Tiede, dell’agenzia di ricerca Astro-Archaeology Surveys di Guilford, Connecticutis, e si è basata su modelli digitali di elevazione combinati con immagini satellitari, rilievi a terra e mappe delle passate posizioni delle stelle. Tiede ha presentato il proprio lavoro la scorsa settimana in una riunione dell’American Astronomical Society a National Harbor, in Maryland.

In Portugal, there is a megalithic monument (near Évora) - the Almendres Cromlech . The menir indicates the sunrise on the summer solstice  (the greatest day of the year).

Almendres Cromeleque is the largest Neolithic plant in the Iberian Peninsula, with 92 partially worked menhirs forming circles and alignments related to astronomical ephemeris. (geographical coordinates: 38 ° 08 ° 33.45291'N 03.67664'W).

The megalithic temple on the Rock of Cefalù, known as the name of the Temple of Diana, has a main entrance direct to the west, through which starts a corridor leading to the rocky cistern characterized by a dolmenic coverage. Excavations, made by Pirro Marconi in the first half of the twentieth century,  allowed to acquire more informations about the age of the temple and the cistern. The first complete archaeoastronomical study of the building, has allowed to find out how the facility would serve as vestibule to the cistern of proto-historic age, and in particular how the megalithic architecture is a real sun temple. The front door of the temple is indeed oriented to the point where the sun sets at the equinoxes. 

 

 

It is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe. It is from 6000 b.C (3000 years before Stonehenge). This archaeological site consists of several megalithic structures: cromlechs, and menhir stones, the first belonging to the so-called "megalithic universe of Évora".