Almagest Collection

Northern hemisphere star chart, 1537
Northern hemisphere star chart, 16th century. Star chart (planisphere) of the northern hemisphere, based on Albrecht Durers star charts of 1515. The illustrations show the constellations

Southern hemisphere star chart, 1537
Southern hemisphere star chart, 16th century. Star chart (planisphere) of the southern hemisphere, based on Albrecht Durers star charts of 1515. The illustrations show the constellations

Celsus, Roman encyclopaedist
Aulus Cornelius Celsus, Roman encyclopaedist who lived in the first centuries BC and AD. He gathered together the learning of the Greeks and published it in eight books

ARMILLARY SPHERE, 1543. Ptolemy (left), the Alexandrian astronomer, and the German mathematician and astronomer Johann Muller Regiomontanus seated beneath an armillary sphere with a zodiac

Zodiacal diagram from a Latin edition of Ptolemys Almagest, 1528
PTOLEMY: ALMAGEST. Zodiacal diagram from a Latin edition of Ptolemys Almagest, 1528

PTOLEMY, Claudius Ptolemaeus ( c. AD 100 - c. AD 170). Egyptian astronomer, mathematician and geographer. Almagest

Ptolemy, Greek-Egyptian astronomer. This woodcut was made by Albrecht Durer (1471-4582) in 1515. Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus, AD90-170) wrote four major books, the most influential being Almagest

Ptolemy (c. 90-c. 168)
Ptolemy, astronomer, geographer and mathematician who lived in the Greek culture of Roman Egypt. Ptolemy is one of the most famous astronomers of antiquity

Claudius Ptolemaeus, Greek astronomer
Claudius Ptolemaeus (Greek: Κλαύδιος Πτολεμα-ος Klaudios Ptolemaios; (c. AD 90 - c. 168), known in English as Ptolemy, was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek

PTOLEMY: ALMAGEST, 1490. List of star positions from an English ms. Latin translation of Ptolemys Almagest, 1490

ARMILLARY SPHERE, 1543. Ptolemy (left), the Alexandrian astronomer, and the German mathematician and astronomer Johann Muller Regiomontanus seated beneath an armillary sphere with a zodiac

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"Almagest: Unveiling the Celestial Mysteries of Ptolemy" Step into the world of ancient astronomy with the Almagest, a remarkable Northern hemisphere star chart from 1537. This intricate masterpiece allows us to peer into the heavens as seen by astronomers centuries ago. But don't stop there. Explore further and discover its Southern hemisphere counterpart, another stunning star chart also from 1537. These celestial maps were invaluable tools for early astronomers seeking to understand and navigate the vast expanse above. Celsus, a Roman encyclopedist, once said that knowledge is power. And indeed, it was through works like the Almagest that scholars gained profound insights into our universe. The armillary sphere from 1543 depicts Ptolemy on one side and a German mathematician on the other – two great minds united in their pursuit of astronomical understanding. The Zodiacal diagrams found within Latin editions of Ptolemy's Almagest offer yet more glimpses into this ancient wisdom. Dating back to 1528, these diagrams reveal how early civilizations interpreted constellations and their significance in astrology. Claudius Ptolemaeus, commonly known as Ptolemy, was an Alexandrian astronomer who lived between AD 100 - c. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for much of what we know about celestial movements today. Through his meticulous observations and calculations presented in his magnum opus – you guessed it – "The Almagest, " he revolutionized our understanding of planetary motion. So let us marvel at this extraordinary compilation of knowledge passed down through generations; let us appreciate those who dedicated their lives to unraveling cosmic mysteries; let us honor Claudius Ptolemaeus and his timeless contribution to humanity's quest for enlightenment.