Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

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Astrolabe
Unsigned
Later 16th century; Spanish
Gilt copper; 85 mm in diameter

The throne is made up of a double block. To the middle of this is fixed the attachment for the ring. The outer part of the side bears the initials of the months, the day of the month on which the sign is entered, and the symbol for the sign. The limb is graduated from 90? to 0?, 0? to 90?, repeated twice. The back of the astrolabe presents the Rojas projection, which occupies three quarters of its surface. The meridians depart from the cap with the inscription 'ARTICVS'. They are traversed by the inscription 'HORAE ANTE MERIDIEM', and some, which are marked with points, are numbered from 1 to 11. The central strip bears the parallels and the signs of the zodiac, indicated by their symbols. In the lower portion, the meridians, some of which are pointed and numbered from 6 to 1, ending at the cap with the inscription 'UMBRA VERSA RECTA'. The instrument is completed by a bar, hinged to its ends, graduated from 90? to 15? and 15? to 90? in 15? intervals.

The mater has no markings and contains plates for latitudes of 37? and 40?.

See M. Miniati, Museo di Storia della scienza: Catalago (Florence, 1991), p. 8.

Mara Miniati

Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Firenze
Inventory no. 1108

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