Ptolemy project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Claudius ptolemaeus circa 100circa 170, known as ptolemy, was an astronomer, mathematician, and geographer of greek descent who lived and worked in the egyptian city of alexandria. The manual copying of maps is fiendish work, however, and. Klaudios ptolemaios, known as ptolemy in english, lived in alexandria, egypt, in the second century c. Unfortunately, it is marred by numerous mistakes see diller and the place names are given in latinised forms, rather than in the original greek. Arguably, ptolemys geography has been the most lastingly influential of all works in the earth sciences. Adieta infuperabeodem scholia, quibus exoleta urbium no mina ad noftrifecu li more expo nuntur. The aim of this treatise is to reexamine the scienti. Ptolemys almagest is one of the most influential scientific works in history.
The most recent scholarly treatment in english of ptolemy s cartography is a chapter by oswald a. This is a most useful volume, destined to be a primary source for classical scholars as well as for historians of science. Ptolemy s geography is a treatise on cartography, the only book on that subject to have survived from classical antiquity. Starting from the translation of theoretical books, e. Geography of the alexandrian astronomer and geographer klaudios ptolemaios henceforth. Ptolemys geography and the tabulae modernae chnt vienna. The only complete english translation of ptolemys geography is that by edward luther stevenson, published by the new york public library in 1932. He used a system of grid lines to plot the latitude and longitude of some 8,000 places on a map that. Ptolemys geography is the only book on cartography to have survived from the classical period and one of the most influential scientific works of all time. In 2006, a new edition of ptolemys geographia was published in switzerland, the first complete greek text published since the 1840s. These books can take me from 2 to 10 hours to create. This amounts to a reduction of ptolemys longitudes by 28. For over 1,400 years, it constituted the major map of the western world, yet until now there has been no adequate translation into english. An expensive edition, limited to 250 copies, it was long out of print until reissued as a dover paperback in 1991.
Ad 170 was a greek who probably lived and worked in alexandria, egypt. Translated into english and edited by edward luther stevenson, ph. An annotated translation of the theoretical chapters. He is famous for his work on astronomy and geography. Geography ptolemy project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Tetrabiblos four books, also known in greek as apotelesmatika, and in latin as quadripartitum, is a text on the philosophy and practice of astrology, written in the 2nd century ad by the alexandrian scholar claudius ptolemy. Two generations of english speaking readers thus know the geography only through stevensons translation, which is very flawed. This was not due to the almagest so much as a later treatise, hypotheseis ton planomenon planetary hypotheses. Relevant famous people plato 375 philosopher alexander the great 330 conquered babylon strabo 10 geography pliny 70 natural history plutarch 100 concerning nature the face in the moon marinus of tyre 120 geography ptolemys source later famous astronomers and ptolemy influenced every one of. Ptolemys comprehensive treatises on astronomy and geography were influential for nearly two millennia. It allows us to see not only the region through ptolemy s eyes in the second century ad.
Ptolemys geography and a tabula moderna or tabula nova from the 16th century. Claudius ptolemy, in his geographia, gives a list of geographic coordinates of. The text of ptolemys geography was translated into latin by 140609 by jacopo angeli da scarperia and dedicated successively to popes gregory xii and alexander v. Unfortunately, the only complete english translation by e. Ptolemy simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Full text of the geography of ptolemy elucidated internet archive. Lennart berggren and alexander jones entitled ptolemys geography. Wikipedia article, commons category, wikidata item. Ptolemy harmonics translation and commentary brill. Ptolemy s is the first known projection of the sphere onto a plane. Ptolemys geography at lacuscurtius english translation, incomplete extracts of ptolemy on the country of the seres china english translation geographia the balkan provinces, with old maps at sorin olteanus ltdm project books 1almagest the complete text of heibergs edition pdf greek. In berggren and jones ptolemy has, at long last, found his ideal exponents. Ptolemy shows magna germania at the vistula river vistula being the gothic name and verifies the recorded history of tacitus who in 98 ad recorded the britons and the germanic people in the agricola and the germania. Ptolemy geography selected passages introduction and translation by john sheldon.
This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for. May 19, 2019 in 2006, a new edition of ptolemys geographia was published in switzerland, the first complete greek text published since the 1840s. He is considered one of the most important scientists of the later classical era, with two major treatises in the areas of astronomy and geography. Ptolemys cosmographica geography, without a doubt, is a landmark in the history of cartography, one of the great books if we may still use the term in the western canon of science. His name claudius ptolemaeus indicates that he was a roman citizen. The cosmography of ptolemy, latin translation by ja. Ptolemy s geography is the only book on cartography to have survived from the classical period and one of the most influential scientific works of all time. Last week, around 30,000 people downloaded books from my site 8 people gave donations. Written in the second century ad, for more than fifteen centuries it was the most detailed topography of europe and asia available and the best reference on how to gather data and draw maps ptolemy championed the use of astronomical. Each red arrow on my map is an average over a five by five degree area.
Ptolemy was preeminently responsible for the geocentric cosmology that prevailed in the islamic world and in medieval europe. Equally influential was his treatise on harmonics, the ancient science which combined and brought to completion the study of philosophy and science. A fully indexed and hyperlinked pdf file with embedded type 1 fonts. This is the only complete english translation of ptolemys most famous work. Copies of the book are now widely available for purchase such as the english translation by j. Apr 02, 2002 ptolemy s cosmographica geography, without a doubt, is a landmark in the history of cartography, one of the great books if we may still use the term in the western canon of science. Dilke with additional material supplied by the editors by the time of marinus of tyre fl. For instance, many place names in that translation are latinised unnecessarily. This page was last edited on 6 september 2016, at 23. Based upon greek and latin manuscripts and important late fifteenth and early sixteenth century printed editions, including reproductions of the maps from the ebner manuscript, ca. Ptolemy geography was not rediscovered until the mid 1500s. Geographical guidance, also known by its latin names as the geographia and the cosmographia, is a gazetteer, an atlas, and a treatise on. Hamm institute for the history and philosophy of science and technology university of toronto 2011 this study comprises a translation and commentary of book i of the planetary. Lennart berggren, alexander jones ptolemys geography is the only book on cartography to have survived from the classical period and one of the most influential scientific works of all time.
Greek text and english translation of the opening portions of the crucial nal book 8 of ptolemys geographical directory gd, followed by a full tabulation of both traditions of the gd book 8 data which diller so thoroughly established for the 1 st time in history. Ptolemy definition and meaning collins english dictionary. An english translation of book one, part a of the planetary hypotheses with introduction and commentary elizabeth a. Qcinqvaginta illae qvoqve cvm ueterum tum recentium tabule adnetuntur, uarys. Toomers new english edition of ptolemys classic treatise is more than just. Translations and editions of the geographia ptolemys world. An annotated translation of the theoretical chapters 2001. Stevenson ptolemy 1991 has long been known to be of remarkably poor quality diller 1935. Ptolemys geography at lacuscurtius english translation, incomplete extracts of ptolemy on the country of the seres china english translation geographia the balkan provinces, with old maps at sorin olteanus ltdm project books 1almagest the complete text of. He wasan astronomer and mathematician, as well as a. For a good summary of his work, though, try ptolemy, the man. It allows us to see not only the region through ptolemys eyes in the second century ad.
As it is known, the importance of ptolemys geographia had declined for almost 10 centuries coming back in th c. Ptolemy s geograp hy at lacuscur tius english transla tion ex tracts of pt olemy on the country of the ser es china english tra nslation 1st crit ical edition of geography book 8, by aubrey diller. Ptolemy geography selected passages introduction and. Until recently, there had been no satisfactory english translation of the geography, the previous one by e.
There have been partial translations but these are quite. Usually, maps comparing ptolemys map and a modern world map are drawn without reduction of the ptolemaic coordinates, see e. Maps based on this translation followed independently within less than twenty years. The text of ptolemy s geography was translated into latin by 140609 by jacopo angeli da scarperia and dedicated successively to popes gregory xii and alexander v. Pdf a new edition of ptolemys geography tonnes bekker. Dilke in volume 1 of the history of cartography edited by j. Tetrabiblos by claudius ptolemy, free ebook global grey. Its translation into arabic in the 9th century and latin in 1406 was highly. We encourage the use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help. Yet it was the only english translation that was available until recently. Modern editions and translations of the geography 52. His geocentric model of the universe was the standard accepted view of the cosmos in europe until the 16th century.
But he had asia extending much too far east, which may have been a factor in columbuss decision to try to reach india by sailing west from europe. The geography also known by its latin names as the geographia and the cosmographia, is a. While he owes much of his success to his predecessors, it is. This is the first time that a full translation of ptolemys famous geogra phy has been made into english. Lennart berggren and alexander jones, in ptolemys geography. Global grey free pdf, epub, kindle ebook pages pdf. Introduction ptolemys geography is a treatise on cartography, the only book on that subject to have survived from classical antiquity. Ptolemys geography project gutenberg selfpublishing. In his work geographia, written about ad 150, ptolemy described. Donnus dominus nicolaus germanus a man of the church from germany was probably a benedictine. Actually, the latitude of alexandria is between 31.
Ptolemys geography is a treatise on cartography, the only book on that subject. Students of cyprus have been fortunate to possess the greek text and latin translation of muller 18831901 covering the first five books of the geography. By the middle of the century, increasingly opulent manuscripts of the geography, mostly from. With an introduction by professor joseph fischer, s. Unfortunately, it is marred by numerous mistakes and the placenames are given in latinised forms, rather than in the original greek. In 2006, a new edition of ptolemy s geographia was published in switzerland, the first complete greek text published since the 1840s. This is the only complete english translation of ptolemy s most famous work. A masterpiece of technical exposition, it was the basic textbook of astronomy for more than a thousand years, and still is the main source for our knowledge of ancient astronomy. In his geography, ptolemy gathered all the geographic knowledge possessed by the grecoroman world. Stevenson being generally regarded as, in bill thayers words abysmally bad.
In this work he proposed what is now called the ptolemaic systema unified system in which each heavenly body is attached to its own sphere and the set of. His geography remained the main work on the subject until the time of christopher columbus. Written in the second century ad, for more than fifteen centuries it was the most detailed topography of europe and asia available and the best reference on how to gather data and draw maps. A new edition of ptolemy s geography for students of historical geography, an uptodate edition of the. He was an astronomer, mathematician, and geographer. The wilderness luke goodings podcast stupid questions aye dude post production video. The geography itself also provides at least one clue, listing the egyptian city of. This volume offers a comprehensive english translation and commentary of ptolemys harmonics. Like ptolemys writings on astronomy and optics, the geography is a highly original work, and it had a profound in. In the period of the 1460s and 1470s he produced at least twelve different manuscripts of ptolemys geographia, signing all but two of them. Jan 15, 2002 ptolemy s geography is the only book on cartography to have survived from the classical period and one of the most influential scientific works of all time. The second treatise, the almagest1 of claudius ptolemy, is an attempt to.