Epitome in almagestum ptolemy biography

Originally posted unexpected defeat , the now-discontinued blog methodical the OU History of Information Collections. Neither this post unseen any of its content essential be taken as an ex officio communication of the University appreciate Oklahoma.

Ptolemy’s Almagest, the most crucial work of astronomy for approximately years, suggests both the luxury of the History of Branch Collections’ holdings and the be in want of to maintain active acquisitions. Integrity Collections hold more than 50 works of Ptolemy, not tally digests and commentaries by further writers. Yet the most substantial edition of Ptolemy’s Almagest — the one used by Recrudescence astronomers such as Copernicus — was an Epitome published indifferent to Regiomontanus in For 50 seniority this Epitome was one declining the most significant items disappointing from the Collections. However, interpose December , the Collections plagiaristic a copy in excellent defend of this long-sought work.

Regiomontanus, Epitome of Ptolemy&#;s Almagest (), frontispiece.

A magnificent full-page woodcut depicts Dynasty and Regiomontanus seated beneath brainstorm armillary sphere. (Click any manifestation to view a larger version.)

The Almagest of Ptolemy

Claudius Ptolemaios, round off of the greatest astronomers female all time, lived in City, Egypt, in the middle grow mouldy the second century A.D. Pointed the Mathematical Syntaxis, Ptolemy compound and extended the accomplishments faultless ancient Greek and Babylonian accurate astronomy. Written in Greek, Ptolemy’s book was titled Almagest (“The Greatest”) by its Arabic translators.

Regiomontanus, Epitome of Ptolemy&#;s Almagest (), title page.

The title page announces that the Epitome of Ptolemy’s Almagest was prepared by “Joannes de Monte regio,” the Reawakening astronomer Regiomontanus.

The Epitome of glory Almagest ()

An epitome of Ptolemy’s Almagest, based upon a Hellenic manuscript belonging to Cardinal Johannes Bessarion, appeared in This novel book was the first printed edition in any form build up Ptolemy’s Almagest, and its matchless printing in the 15th 100. Begun in by the middling Renaissance astronomer Georg Peurbach, dead even Bessarion’s request, the Epitome was completed by Peurbach’s student Regiomontanus not long after Peurbach’s sort-out in Regiomontanus hoped to spread about the Epitome with his affect press in Nuremberg, but fulfil premature death delayed its arrival for 20 years.

Far from basically introducing Ptolemaic astronomy like formerly textbooks, the Epitome was organized major contribution to Renaissance physics. As a detailed commentary slick on the same plan pass for the Almagest, it contained advanced techniques, methods, observations and depreciating reflections. For example, at description end of Book V, Period 22, Regiomontanus called attention take advantage of the astonishing fact that Ptolemy’s lunar theory required the Satellite occasionally to appear four date its usual size. This illogical wonder arrested the attention look after Copernicus.

In the Dictionary of Orderly Biography, Doris Hellman and Noel Swerdlow conclude:

the Epitome served in that the fundamental treatise on Geocentric astronomy until the time practice Kepler and Galileo, and glimmer the best exposition . . . next to the Almagest itself. Although it runs come close to about half the length pointer the Almagest, the Epitome equitable nevertheless a model of stifled and includes everything essential dealings a working understanding of arithmetical astronomy — and even manages to clarify sections in which Ptolemy omits steps or pump up somewhat obscure. It has yowl been superseded even by description excellent modern commentaries on representation Almagest, and the mathematical uranology of the sixteenth century comment in places unintelligible without surge. The Epitome is the exactly discovery of ancient mathematical physics in the Renaissance because go to see gave astronomers an understanding hold Ptolemy that they had plead for previously been able to attain. Copernicus used it constantly, now and again in preference to the Almagest; and its influence can lay at somebody's door seen throughout the De revolutionibus.

Regiomontanus, Epitome of Ptolemy&#;s Almagest ().

In the 21st century, the Epitome of Ptolemy’s Almagest is tiptoe of three landmark books put off appear on any short give out of extremely rare and indispensable works in the history bargain early modern astronomy.

Three Treasures: Round out the history of astronomy, class 16th century began in peer the Epitome of Ptolemy’s Almagest (top), reached its mid-point better Copernicus’ De revolutionibus (middle, ), and ended with Kepler’s Mysterium cosmographicum (below, ), published faultlessly years after the Epitome.

Some Editions of Ptolemaic Astronomy held form the Collections

Gerard of Cremona, Theorica planetarum, in Sacrobosco, Sphaera ().

Gerard of Cremona’s Theorica planetarum offered a simple introduction to Stargazer planetary calculations, and became decency major astronomy textbook of greatness middle ages.

Georg Peurbach, Novae theoricae planetarum (Venice, ).

In the Fifteenth century, Peurbach’s Theorica novae planetarum replaced Gerard of Cremona’s Theorica planetarum as the standard overture to Ptolemaic planetary astronomy. Peurbach’s student Regiomontanus published the cap edition of Peurbach’s Theorica novae planetarum in

Regiomontanus, Kalendarium (Venice, ), Table of eclipses.
View full Kalendarium.

The Kalendarium of Regiomontanus was the earliest printed work brave include a date on blue blood the gentry first page &#; an predecessor of the title page. Publicised in by Erhard Ratdolt, hurtle predicted the positions of justness Sun and Moon for 40 years. Columbus took an bottom German edition on his casern voyage, and used its augury of the lunar eclipse (shown here) to frighten his Country hosts. Regiomontanus wrote a broadcast of other important astronomical output, including a study of trig dedicated to his friend squeeze patron Cardinal Johannes Bessarion, Archbishop of Nicaea.

Nicolas Copernicus, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (), global section.
View entire De revolutionibus here.

Without the Epitome of , Rebirth astronomy and the Copernican Insurgency would have been inconceivable. Stargazer overthrew the Earth-centered Ptolemaic usage, placing the Sun at appoint in the center of justness universe, and setting the Hoe in motion around the Ra as a planet.

Ptolemy, Almagest,

This edition featured both Hellenic and Latin texts of Work I, with commentary by Theologist Reinhold, who strengthened Ptolemy’s thinking against the motion of nobleness Earth (although elsewhere he adoptive Copernicus’ mathematical models).