Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume I Part 2

In the Royal Museum of Naples there may be found a large marble celestial globe, 65 cm. in diameter (Fig. 7), which the mythical Atlas bears on his shoulders, the statue itself being 1.86 m. in height, resting on one knee.[33] This very interesting and artistic object was transferred to Naples museum from the Farnese Palace in Rome, hence is generally referred to as the Atlante Farnesiano. Forty-two constellations are represented on its surface (Fig. 8), and the five wanting, including Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, probably owe their absence to the obliteration which time has brought about. From the position of the several constellations, relative to the intersecting points of the ecliptic with the equator, it is thought that it must have been constructed at least three hundred years before the Christian era. It seems therefore to date from about the time of Eudoxus, being then the oldest extant globe.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 7. Atlante Farnese, ca. 200 B. C.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 8. Atlante Farnese Constellation Figures.]

We learn from Cicero and from other early writers that Archimedes (ca.

287-212 B. C.), the celebrated geometrician of Syracuse, constructed a globe or contrivance for the purpose of demonstrating the movements of the heavenly bodies. Cicero's statements imply that the work of Archimedes was well known in his day, yet he thought it merited a special word of commendation from himself. "I shall propose nothing new to you," he says, "nor that which I have invented or discovered; but I remember C. Sulpicius Gallus, a very learned man, as you know, when this appearance (in the heavens) was spoken of, and he was, by chance, at the house of Marcellus, who had been consul with him, he described a globe among the spoils of that opulent and magnificent city of Syracuse, when captured, as the only thing among all the spoils which he ordered to be carried to his own house; about which globe I have often heard, on account of the fame of Archimedes, although the work itself was not very remarkable, for there was another far more beautiful and more honored by the common people, made by the same Archimedes, and placed in the Temple of Virtue by the same Marcellus. But afterward when Gallus began to explain scientifically the object of the machine, I thought there was more ingenuity in that Sicilian than human nature was capable of. For Gallus informed me that there was another ancient invention of a solid and elaborately formed globe which was made by Thales, the Milesian, to revolve. And afterward the same was, by Eudoxus of Cnidos, the disciple of Plato, adorned with the fixed stars of heaven, and with every ornament and embellishment, as described by Eudoxus, and was many years afterward celebrated by Aratus, not exactly in the scientific language of astronomy, but with the graces of poetry. This species of globe indeed, in which the sun and moon were made to revolve, and five of those stars which have been called travelers, and as it were wanderers, could not possibly be exhibited on that solid sphere. And more especially was that invention of Archimedes to be admired, for he had so contrived that one revolution of the machine served somehow to produce unequal and varied movements through their different paths. For when Gallus set the globe in motion, the moon succeeded the sun by as many turns of the bra.s.s wheel of the machine as days in the heavens, so that the globe represented in the heavens the same eclipse of the sun, when the moon arrived at a certain place or point, as the shadow of the earth did when the sun shone from the opposite region."[34]

Lactantius' allusion to Archimedes, at a later date, is perhaps derived from Cicero, but it is none the less interesting as indicating a belief that such a globe had existed. In his characteristic vein he refers to the mechanical device, finding therein a support for his theological arguments. "Was Archimedes of Sicily able to contrive a likeness and representation of the universe in hollow bra.s.s," he inquires, "in which he so arranged the sun and moon, that they effected, as it were every day, motions unequal and resembling the revolutions of the heavens, and that sphere, while it revolved, exhibited not only the approaches and with drawings of the sun or the increase and waning of the moon, but also the unequal course of the stars, whether fixed or wandering? Was it then impossible for G.o.d to plan and create the original, when the skill of man was able to represent them by imitation? Would the stoic, therefore, if he should have seen the figures of the stars painted and fas.h.i.+oned in that bra.s.s, say that they moved by their own design, and not by the genius of the artificer?"[35] Gunther notes that at the beginning of the seventh book of the collection of Pappus, geometrician of Alexandria, may be found a reference to those skilled in mechanical devices in which it is stated that "Mechanicians are those who understand how to construct celestial globes and to represent the heavens and the course of the stars moving in circles by means of like circular movements of water."[36] It has been thought that in this pa.s.sage we have a reference to a globe such as was probably constructed by Archimedes, although the reference is not to any particular example.

It seems not improbable that the globe of Archimedes was made to revolve by an hydraulic contrivance, and that it resembled a planetarium or orrery.[37] That the science of hydrostatics had been developed by Archimedes' time to a high degree is very certain.

Instruments for measuring angles and distances were very early employed in the field of astronomy as well as in the field of geography. Of these instruments the Egyptian _gnomon_ appears to have been the oldest.[38] In its best form it consisted of a bowl having a perpendicular rod or staff erected at the central point of the inner curved surface. This rod cast a shadow upon the inner surface of the bowl, which had been graduated, giving a reading in degrees which furnished to the observer the information desired. Time brought improvements and variations in the construction of simple instruments of this character. As early as the third century before the Christian era, adjustable rings, or armillae, for example, were employed by astronomers to aid them in the solution of their problems, which instruments later developed, as noted below, into the more elaborate and complex armillary spheres. The simplest form of such an instrument appears to have been but a single graduated circle. To this, at a very early date, a second was added, thus providing an instrument in which one of the circles was regarded as fixed in the plane of the equator, the other, intersecting this at right angles, served as a meridian circle, being movable around an axis which could be called the world axis, the axis of the celestial sphere, or the axis of the universe. The position of a celestial body in declination could be determined on the meridian circle, and its right ascension on the fixed or horizon circle.[39] It seems altogether probable that Eratosthenes made use of such an instrument in his efforts to measure the obliquity of the ecliptic. He tells us that in his time one of large dimensions hung in the portico of the academy of Alexandria.[40] With the addition of other circles, and of an adjustable view-tube, that more accurate and detailed measurements might be made, this device, in Hipparchus' day, came to be known as an astrolabe, and, after the addition of other rings in later years, to be known as an armillary sphere. Even in this last development it was not a true sphere on which could be represented the starry constellations, but an arrangement of circles forming a sort of imaginary sphere, the circles being intended to represent the relative position of the princ.i.p.al celestial circles. This instrument seems, at first, to have been suspended, when in use, but later was made to rest upon a base, the whole adjusted to revolve around an axis and within a graduated horizon circle. In the earliest examples, the earth at the center of the circles, it represented the Ptolemaic system (Fig. 9); in the later examples, having the sun at the center, it represented the Copernican system.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 9. Armillary Sphere according to Ptolemy.]

It is expressly stated by Ptolemy that a celestial globe was constructed by Hipparchus, who is reputed to have been the founder of spherical trigonometry,[41] and Pliny tells us that Hipparchus was the inventor of the astrolabe,[42] which statement probably means that he greatly improved the simple armillae used at an earlier date as an instrument for astronomical calculations.

Ptolemy, in his 'Syntaxis,' or 'Almagest' as it was called by the Arabs, devoted a chapter to the method of constructing, and to the use of the astrolabe, which must have closely resembled the armillary sphere, describing therein, in terms not altogether easy of comprehension, its several rings and cylinders, and the method of adjusting the same for purposes of determining the lat.i.tude and the longitude of celestial bodies. He tells us also how to construct a representation of the sphere of the fixed stars by means of a solid ball, how to place thereon the several constellations, and how to use the same in the study of astronomical problems. Such a globe, he says, "should be of a dark color, that it might resemble the night and not the day." His description is detailed as to the proper method of procedure in marking the position of the celestial circles on this globe, in arranging the movable rings of "hard and well polished material," in graduating the rings and adjusting them to move about an axis which is likewise an axis of the globe proper. In marking the position of the fixed stars, we are told that the proper method is to commence at some constant and invariable point of a certain constellation, and he suggests that the best starting point is the fixed star in Canis Major, that is, the so-called dog star, or Sirius. "The position of the other fixed stars, as they follow in the list, could easily be determined," he says, "by making the globe to turn upon the poles of the zodiac, thus bringing the graduated circle to the proper point of each. The stars could be marked with yellow or with such other color as one might choose, having due regard for their brilliancy and magnitude. The outline of each of the constellations should be made as simple as possible, indicating with light strokes, differing but little in color from that of the surface of the globe, the figures which the stars in the several constellations represent, preserving in this manner the chief advantage of such representation, which should be to make the several stars very prominent without destroying, by a variety of color, the resemblance of the object to the truth. It will be easy to make and to retain a proper comparison of the stars if we represent upon the sphere the real appearance or magnitude of the several stars. While neither the equator nor the tropics can be represented on the globe, it will not be difficult to ascertain the proper position of these circles. The first could be thought of as pa.s.sing through that point on the graduated meridian circle which is 90 degrees from the poles. The points on this meridian circle 23 degrees 51 minutes (_sic_) each side of the equator will indicate the position of the tropics, that toward the north the summer solst.i.tial circle, that toward the south the winter solst.i.tial circle.

With the revolution of the globe from east to west, as each star pa.s.ses under the graduated meridian circle, we should be able to ascertain readily its distance from the equator or from the tropics."[43]

That the Romans especially interested themselves in globes, either celestial or terrestrial, is not at all probable, because of their very practical inclinations. There is evidence, however, that in the time of the emperors celestial globes were constructed, especially in the studios of sculptors, but these were made largely for decorative purposes, having therefore an artistic rather than a scientific value.

In the year 1900 there was found in a villa at Bosco Reale, not far from Pompeii, an interesting fresco (Fig. 10), this being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of New York in the year 1903. It has been referred to as a sundial, but was clearly intended to represent, in outline, a globe exhibiting the prominent parallels and a certain number of the meridians. It is not at all improbable that such subjects were frequently selected for wall or floor decoration.[44] It appears that astrologers at times made use of globes in forecasting events.[45] It may further be noted that on certain early Roman coins there may be found the representation of a globe (Figs. 11, 12), which perhaps had as its prime significance the representation of universal dominion.[46]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 10. Bosco Reale Roman Fresco, ca. 50 A. D.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 11. Greek and Roman Coins.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 12. Roman Gems.]

Not until the day of the Byzantine Emperors do we meet with a real scholar who made a particular study of such astronomical apparatus, apparatus which he describes in a special treatise. Among historical scholars the work of Leontius Mechanicus seems not to have found the recognition which it deserves.[47] He appears to have been a practical man, very active within the field concerning which he wrote, and from his remarkably detailed description we are able to learn something of the extent to which globe technique was carried in the days of the early Eastern Emperors. We at any rate learn from him that globes were constructed in his workshop, which globes, in all important respects, were like those in use at the present time, being, for example, provided with a meridian circle adjusted to move through notches in a horizon circle. The information given us by Leontius, which here follows, is in free translation or paraphrase of his treatise, the whole being condensed. He appears to have been a student of astronomy, as represented by Aratus, for he tells us that he had endeavored to construct a globe on which the constellations and the circles could be made to conform to the records of the ancient poet astronomer. He tells us further that he constructed this globe for Elpidius, an estimable man of letters, and one full of zeal for study; that at the time of its construction, though he had the leisure, he did not prepare a description of the globe, but on the insistence of his friends such description he now proposed to write. This appears to be the _raison d'etre_ for his treatise. The importance of adhering closely to the statements of Aratus he insists upon, though admitting that writer's errors, being convinced that most of the globes of which one had knowledge in his day agreed neither with him nor with Ptolemy. Leontius first directs attention to Aratus' threefold plan in describing the several constellations, in which description that author speaks first of the relation which part bears to part in each; second, of the position of each constellation relative to the celestial circles, as, for example, to the tropics, and third, its position in the heavens relative to the constellations in the zodiac. He follows this statement with a somewhat lengthy reference to the constellation Ophiuchus, or the Serpent, in explanation of the method of description. After having the surface of the globe portioned out for the representation of the several constellations and the important circles, he then proceeds, as he states, to consider the execution, by which he means representing in proper color and outline the several figures, and the mounting of the globe. Upon a properly constructed support should first be placed the horizon circle, through which a second circle should be made to pa.s.s; this second circle will serve as a meridian. These circles, he observes, will enclose the ball, all the points of the surface of which should be equally distant from the inner surface of the horizon and meridian circles, that is, there should be a perfect adjustment of the enclosing rings and the enclosed ball. The surface of the sphere should be painted a dark color, as, for example, azure. He sets forth, with considerable detail, the proper method of procedure in locating the several princ.i.p.al circles, each of which should be graduated. The zodiac should be divided into twelve parts, and the constellations belonging to each of the several parts should be designated by name, beginning with Cancer, following this with Leo, Virgo, and so on, one after the other.

In giving the globe a position which actually conforms to the world, the pole should be set to the north, and the movement of the sky can then be imitated by turning the globe to the left. Leontius, by way of summary and definition, at the conclusion of his treatise, speaks of a sphere as a solid having a surface, from all the points of which, if straight perpendicular lines of equal length be drawn, they will reach a point within called the center. This center in the great sphere of the universe is the earth. The poles of the sphere are the extremities of the axis on which it turns. The horizon cuts the sphere into two hemispheres, the one superior and the other inferior to the earth. The sky, which is continually turning, encircles all, one half of it being above, the other below the earth, which is as far removed from the superior part of the heavens as from the inferior.[48]

NOTES

[30] Cicero's allusion to Thales, cited p. 16, is probably a reference to a tradition.

[31] Wolf, R. Geschichte der Astronomie. Munchen, 1877, p.

193; Ga.s.sendi, P. Opera Omnia. Leipzig, 1658. Vol. V, p.

375. See statement by Cicero, cited below, p. 17.

[32] Aratus' poem bore the t.i.tle, "Phaenomena." See, for an excellent edition of this poem, Prince, C. L. Phenomena. A literal translation of the astronomy and meteorology of Aratus. Lewes, 1895. In his "Bibliographical remarks," the translator refers to one hundred and nineteen editions of this poem, dating from the first printed at Bonn in the year 1474. See also n. 19 (48), below.

[33] Pa.s.seri, G. B. Atlas Farnesia.n.u.s Marmoreus insigne vetustatis monumentum. (In: Gori, A. F. Thesaurus gemmarum antiquarum astriferarum. Firenze, 1750. Vol. III.); Denza, P. F. Globi celesti della Specola Vaticana. (In: Publicazioni della Specola Vaticana. Torino, 1894. pp.

xx-xxiii.)

[34] Cicero. De Republica. Bk. I, chap. xiv. The citation is from the translation by Hardingham, G. G. The Republic.

London, 1884.

[35] Lactantius. Inst.i.tutiones divinae. Bk. II, chap. v.

[36] Pappus. Collectionum mathematicarum. Edited by Commandino. Urbino, 1588. Bk. VII. See especially the introduction.

[37] Hultsch, F. uber den Himmelsglobus des Archimedes. (In: Zeitschrift fur Mathematik und Physik. Leipzig, 1878. Bd.

22. Hist. Litt. Abteilung, p. 106.); Same author.

"Archimedes." (In: Real-encyklopadie der kla.s.sischen Alterthumswissenschaft.)

[38] Wolf, op. cit., pp. 122-124.

[39] Wolf, op. cit., pp. 160-166.

[40] Wolf, op. cit., p. 130.

[41] Ptolemy, C. Syntaxis. (Almagest.) Various editions. Bk.

VII, chap. 1. This work was first printed in Venice, 1496; the first Greek text in Basel, 1538. See Hues, Tractatus de Globis, for an a.n.a.lysis of this work.

[42] Pliny. Historia Naturalis.

[43] Ptolemy, op. cit., Bk. V, chap. i; Bk. VII, chap. v; Bk. VIII, chap. iii. Ptolemy mentions by name forty-eight constellations, all of which he probably obtained from the earlier Greeks. These constellations, the names being still retained, are:

_The Zodiac._

Aries Cancer Libra Capricornus Taurus Leo Scorpio Aquarius Gemini Virgo Sagittarius Pisces

_The Northern Hemisphere._

Andromeda Corona Lyra Ursa Major Aquila Cygnus Ophiuchus Ursa Minor Auriga Delphinus Pegasus Sagitta Bootes Draco Perseus Ca.s.siopeia Equuleus Serpens Cepheus Hercules Triangulum

_The Southern Constellations._

Ara Cetus Crater Lupus Argo Navis Centaurus Erida.n.u.s Orion Canis Major Corona Australis Hydra Piscis Australis Canis Minor Corvus Lepus

[44] Visconte, P. E. Nota intorno ad un' antico globo celeste scolpito in marmo porino. Roma, 1835; Gaedechens, R.

Der marmorne Himmelsglobus des furstlich Waldechschen Antikenkabinettes zu Arolsen. Gottingen, 1862.

[45] Schanz, M. Geschichte der romischen Litteratur bis zum Gesetzgebungswerk des Kaisers Justinian. Munchen, 1890. See p. 75 for a reference to the astrologer Nigidius Figulus.

[46] Coins on which there appears a representation of a globe were numerous. Attention may also here be called to the imperial insignia, a part of which was a globe, which the emperor was represented, in the pictures of the day, as holding in his hand. See King, C. W. Antique Gems and Rings.

Vol. II, plates xxvi and x.x.xviii.

[47] Weidler, J. F. Historia astronomiae. Vitembergae, 1741.

This author is of the opinion that Leontius lived in the eighth century, p. 201; Susemihl. Geschichte der Griechischen Litteratur der alexandriner Zeit. Leipzig, 1891. See Vol. I, p. 294, for a statement of the belief that Leontius lived in the seventh century.

[48] Halma, N. Les Phenomenes d'Aratus de Soles, et de Germanicus Cesar; avec les Scholies de Theon, les catasterismes d'Eratosthenes et la sphere de Leontius traduit ... par l'Abbe N. Halma. Gr. avec Fr. Paris, 1821.

pp. 65-73.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Egyptian Gnomon. _From pen drawing_]