Can anyone bring me proofs from the Gemara that proves the world was round-and that this was known 2000+ years ago?
I have looked around and I can't seem to find any sources which prove this.
Answer
The Gemara in Avoda Zarah (41a) says:
כדור שתופש את עצמו תחת כל העולם כולו ככדור
It [The Idol] holds a ball as if to say it rules over the entire world like a ball
Tosfos explains why a ball is used as the imagery of ruling over the world (S.V K'kadur) says:
ככדור. שהעולם עגול כדאיתא בירושלמי שאלכסנדרוס מוקדון עלה למעלה עד שראה כל העולם ככדור ואת הים כקערה פי' ים אוקינוס שמקיף את כל העולם:
"Because the World is round"
Tosfos references a Yerushalmi which echoes this point:
"Alexander the Macedonian ascended on high until he saw the earth like a ball and the sea like a platter. The 'sea' refers to the ocean that encompasses the entire earth"
We see here that Chazal (as well as the Romans, as they were discussing Roman idols) had the knowledge that the world was round.
Without getting into claims of the veracity of the Zohar’s claimed authorship. The accepted traditional understanding is that it was authored by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who lived during the Tannaic period. Supposedly the Zohar makes the statement that the world is round (Though i have attempted to look for this source and have not been successful in locating it)
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