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M-10

Armillary Sphere: Ptolemaic

This Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere was crafted between 1600-1650 in Italy by an unknown maker. Made of brass, the internal ecliptic axis is a radius of the outer sphere and is attached to it. The sphere contains the typical rings of an armillary sphere, denoting the equator, tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and Arctic and Antarctic circles. The civil calendar is not correctly shifted with respect to the zodiacal one. The ecliptic band also runs backwards and is more crudely engraved than the rest of the instrument, meaning it is likely a replacement. In the center of the sphere, there are curved arms topped by brass balls that rotate around the ecliptic axis and represent the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Each ball is incised with the planet’s symbol. Half of the moon is blackened and it turns within its own meridian circle. The planetary system is mounted in a rotating sphere with equinoctial and solstitial colures divided every 1°. There is an hour circle with a pointer attached to the meridian, and this also may be a replacement since the engraving on it is slightly different. The sphere is mounted in a cradle with a horizon circle that is engraved with the zodiacal calendar with names and symbols, a properly shifted Latin civil calendar, and an 8-point Italian wind rose. The horizon circle is supported by 4 arms attached to a base with 4 scrolling feet. The feet stand on a square plate with chamfered, scalloped edges. The plate is mounted on 4 turned feet with finials. At the center of the plate there is an 8-point wind rose with an inset silvered magnetic compass rose. Internal ecliptic axis.

Unsigned.
/ Unsigned

Italy

	Imperial(in)		Metric(cm)
Height			41
Width			28
Depth			28
Diameter
Circumference

	Imperial(in)		Metric(cm)
Height
Width
Depth
Diameter