This Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere was crafted in 1562 by Gualterus Arsenius in Louvain, Belgium. Made of brass and silvered brass, there are 8 total rings fixed with small pins surrounding a terrestrial globe in the center. There are 2 vertical rings that are fixed perpendicular to each other and 5 parallel horizontal rings of the Arctic and Antarctic poles, the tropics, and the equator. There are zodiac names and symbols every 1° on the outermost vertical ring. The 8 rings are encased in a planetary cage that allows all the separate rings to rotate within and around each other. On the very top of the sphere there is a plate that is labeled with the 24-hour clock.
The sphere is mounted in a cradle that is resting on a horizon circle with the zodiacal calendar divided with names and symbols. On the same circle, there is also a Latin calendar which is divided into days. The horizon circle is supported by 4 arms with pierced strapwork and lions heads at the end where the arms connect with the cradle.
The plate is supported by 4 torsos, 2 male satyrs and 2 female busts with decorative crowning on the bottom half. They surround a circular plate on the very bottom of the sphere that contains a silvered central magnetic compass rose with a blue needle and 8 points on it.
Internal ecliptic axis. Similar to another armillary sphere dated 1575 in the Musée de Cinquantenaire, Brussels.
Materiale
"NEPOS GEMMAE FRISV LOVANY FECIT ANNO 1562 GA" Wheels read "IN 7000 ANNI CIRCVMVOLVITVR"
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