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Ptolemy Of Alexandria - Papers

Ptolemy Of Alexandria

was the most influential astronomer of the
ancient world. The books and theories Ptolemy developed served as a major
basis for future astronomers. It was during the Renaissance period that
his work became thoroughly studied and revised.

Ptolemy collected all ancient knowledge of astronomy and geography
including it in his book Almagest around 140 A.D. It follows, he then
wrote a four volume astrological study known as the Tretrabiblos. Ptolemy
claimed that the scribes of Babylon had been instructed since 750 B.C to
keep detailed astronomical diaries. These diaries were written for seven
hundred years on clay tablets. The tablets depicted night-sky events along
with river level ...

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"ephemeris". Mathematics
could now not only be used to predict but to demonstrate whether a
particular theory was correct or not.

Ptolemy developed several theories of his own contrary to the beliefs
of many other Greek astrologers at the time. He upheld that the "heavens"
consisted of bodies orbiting the earth in a celestial path - this idea was
supported for some time. Though his views were altered by the Renaissance
(the sun was now placed at the centre), orbital concepts remain in modern
astronomy. Ptolemy was familiar with a early type of astroblade. A
skeleton star map which could be rotated above a solid plate engraved with
day-curves and hour lines for a specific geographic latitude. Ptolemy
became the first person to locate places on the earth's surface by latitude
and longitude.

Ptolemy often complained about the poor quality of Babylonian
planetary data. Eclipses and other lunar events were timed with water
clocks. Other phenomena were not always ...

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Ptolemy Of Alexandria. (2004, November 21). Retrieved November 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Ptolemy-Of-Alexandria/17835

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 11/21/2004 11:48:48 AM
Category: Biographies
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 512
Pages: 2

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