Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

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Quadrant
Signed by Giovanni Antonio Magini
Late 16th century; Italian
Brass; 297 mm in radius

This very unusual and richly elaborated quadrant is essentially a planisphere, but very similar to the 'new' quadrant devised in the 13th century by Profatius Judaeus.

On one side is a projection of the heavens, in fact a folded astrolabe, indicating the equator, the tropics, the ecliptic and 37 stars. On the back of the quadrant is a stereographic projection of the northern hemisphere.

The instrument was probably not used for observation, but as a model of the heavens and as a calculating device for the same tasks as an astrolabe.

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Inventory number 31514

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