Advances in Historical Studies, 2023, 12, 163-178 https://www.scirp.org/journal/ahs ISSN Online: 2327-0446 ISSN Print: 2327-0438 DOI: 10.4236/ahs.2023.124012 Dec. 15, 2023 163 Advances in Historical Studies The Phenomenon of Tides in Byzantine Science Gianna Katsiampoura, Grigoris Spiliopoulos Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece Abstract In this work, we explore Byzantine scholars’ views and ideas on tides by re- vealing the fusion of their scientific, philosophical, and religious thought. In an attempt to bridge the Aristotelian and the Christian cosmology they attri- buted tides to lunar phases, terrestrial features, or metaphysical forces, weav- ing intricate interpretations. Our research revealed that lunar phases were linked to tidal rhythms by Eustathius of Antioch and Basil of Caesarea, in 4 th c. detailing lunar influence on atmospheric and oceanic patterns. Nikephoros Blemmydes, in the 13 th century, emphasized geomorphic explanations, while Nikon the “Metanoite”, in the 10 th century, attributed mystical symbolism to tides. References in Byzantine literature underscored the metaphorical relev- ance of tides. Ultimately, the study elucidates how Byzantine scholars grap- pled with integrating diverse worldviews to comprehend the enigmatic tidal phenomenon within their holistic understanding of nature and divinity. Keywords Byzantine Science, Tides, Lunar Phases, Cosmology, Natural Philosophy, Aristotelian Tradition, Christian Theology, Metaphysics 1. Introduction Byzantine science has attracted increasing scholarly attention in recent decades, evident in the growing number of publications, conferences, and research pro- grams dedicated to the field. This suggests that the study of Byzantine science is now an integral part of Byzantine history, and that the international communi- ty of Byzantine science historians is developing rapidly, formulating and ans- wering concrete questions of relevance to broader fields of inquiry (Katsiam- poura, 2022). There are many historiographical and epistemological problems to be consi- dered when it comes to the sciences and natural philosophy in Byzantium. Some of these problems are related to the general historiographical approach to By- How to cite this paper: Katsiampoura, G., & Spiliopoulos, G. (2023). The Phenomenon of Tides in Byzantine Science. Advances in Historical Studies, 12, 163-178. https://doi.org/10.4236/ahs.2023.124012 Received: October 8, 2023 Accepted: December 12, 2023 Published: December 15, 2023 Copyright © 2023 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access