Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 1: Their History and Construction Including a Consideration of their Value as Aids in the Study of Geography and AstronomyStevenson, Edward Luther
History
Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 1: Their History and Construction Including a Consideration of their Value as Aids in the Study of Geography and Astronomy
Stevenson, Edward Luther
Geography -- History; Globes
The Roll and Reinhold globe belonging to the Osservatorio di
Capodimonte, according to Fiorini, is one especially worthy of
mention.[353] This is described as a hollow ball having a diameter of
about 21 cm. The sphere itself is made of copper, the remaining parts of
gilded brass. The horizon circle is composed of several overlapping
brass plates. A clockwork mechanism is supplied, by means of which the
sphere and certain circles may be made to revolve. The surface of the
copper sphere is artistically engraved, having numerous circles
representing the ecliptic system with its parallels and meridians, and
the equatorial system including its five zones. The Ptolemaic
constellations are represented, the figure of each being engraved in
outline with the name in Latin. The several stars are not named but near
each is an engraved number to indicate its magnitude, these numbers
ranging from 1 to 6. Nebulae are distinguished by small circles, and the
Milky Way by numerous dots. The meridian circle, in which the sphere
revolves, has the usual graduation from 0 to 90, but has in addition a
climatic graduation designed “Climata ex Ptolomeo,” and a division into
zones called “Torrida Zona,” “Zona habitabilis temperata,” and “Frigida
zona.” On the convex surface of the horizon circle we find engraved the
names of the four cardinal points, and on the upper surface of this
circle are engraved the Julian and the Gregorian calendars, the names of
the saints, the dates on which the sun enters the various signs of the
zodiac, and the ancient names of the principal winds. The globe
mountings, all of brass, are artistic and well preserved. Like the
Dresden example it rests upon a four-branched support, the extremities
of each branch representing the claws of the griffin. Including the
base, the instrument is 43 cm. in height. It seems not to be known when
or how this globe, constructed in Augsburg, found its way to the Naples
Museum, where it is treasured as one of the choicest of ancient
astronomical instruments.
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