Globes, celestial

Sciara glanced over at the great armillary sphere, the terrestrial globe from Gerardus Mercator, a celestial globe that is reputed to be by Nicolaus Copernicus but probably isn t, the equatorium, cross-staffs, and so on, but did not bother to go closer. Where is Filippo Nostradamus ... 

One divides Fire into three kinds, the Celestial, the Terrestrial, or Simple, and the Artificial. The first is the principle of the other two and is divided into Universal and Particular. The Universal diffused everywhere, excites and puts in movement the forces of bodies it warms and preserves the germs of things infused into our globe, destined to serve as their makers. It develops the particular Fire it mixes the elements and gives form to matter. 

Sylvester II, the first French pope, was known to have studied various Hermetic arts in Spain before his Papacy. This would make him, along with Abbot Dunstan of Glastonbury, one of the earliest alchemists in the west. Despite his reputation as a necromancer (he was said to have made a pact with the devil to assure his rapid promotion to the pontificate) he was also a strong Pope who was a tireless supporter of science, music and mathematics, and was a pioneer of the abacus, terrestrial and celestial globes and the preservation of the manuscripts of classical antiquity. 

Visitors are always impressed by the atelier, though— the double desk, the examination couch, the great armillary spheres, globes both terrestrial and celestial. Sanudo was too dignified to stare at the alchemical bench or the wall of books, but he certainly noticed them in passing and would know that this room was the Maestro s own, not just borrowed for the morning. 

The Temple of Virtue was vowed by Marcellus (the conqueror of Syracuse) after the battle of Clastidium in 222 bce and built by his son (also Marcus Marcellus, consul in 196 and father of the consul of 166). The globe dedicated in the temple was a sohd celestial sphere the one kept by Marcellus was clearly an orrery. 

THALES of MILETUS (seventh—sixth century). One of the Seven Sages and the first known natural philosopher. He is credited with being the first to explain eclipses (28 May 585) and the first creator of a celestial globe. 

The sun and planets (to say nothing of the fixed stars) may have influence here below distinct from their heat and light. On which supposition it seems not absurd to me to suspect, that the subtil, but corporeal, emanations even of these bodies may (sometimes at least) reach our air, and mingle with those of our globe in that great receptacle or rendevous of celestial and terrestrial effluviums, the atmosphere." ... 

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