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Mathematical Treasure: Ptolemy's Almagest per Regiomontanus

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (Pennsylvania State University)

In 1550, Regiomontanus (Johann Müller) published In Ptolemaei magnam compositionem (Ptolemy’s Great Composition, or The Almagest.) This translation and commentary, intended to defend the theories of Ptolemy, was comprised of thirteen “books”.

The first page of Regiomontanus’ translation of Ptolemy:

Examples of propositions as given in Book I:

The second book deals with spherical geometry:

The use of instruments in determining the position of the sun is discussed:

The images above are presented courtesy of the Boston Public Library and are available via Internet Archive.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Ptolemy's Almagest per Regiomontanus," Convergence (July 2018)