Modeling the Heavens: Sphairopoiia and Ptolemy’s Planetary Hypotheses

2016/01/07 by Elizabeth Hamm · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Historical Astronomy and Related Studies #Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies #Historical and Literary Studies

paper · doi:10.1162/posc_a_00214

openalex publication_date 2016/01/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/04/05

Abstract

This article investigates sphairopoiia, the art of making instruments that display the heavens, in Claudius Ptolemy’s Planetary Hypotheses. It takes up two questions: what kind of instrument does Ptolemy describe? And, could such an instrument have been constructed? I argue that Ptolemy did not propose one specific type of instrument, but instead he offered a range of possible designs, with the details to be worked out by the craftsman. Moreover, in addition to exhibiting his astronomical models and having the ability to estimate predictions, the instrument he proposed would have also shown the physical workings of the heavens. What emerges is both a clearer idea of what Ptolemy wanted the technician to build, and the purpose of such instruments.

Citations

• The Early History of the Astrolabe. Studies in Ancient Astronomy IX

Cited by

• Science in classical antiquity [wikipedia]

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