Claudius Ptolemy was a Greek writer, known as a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. source
Claudius Ptolemy was a Greek writer, known as a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology.
Ptolemy lived in the city of Alexandria in the Roman province of Egypt, wrote in Koine Greek, and held Roman citizenship. source
Ptolemy lived in the city of Alexandria in the Roman province of Egypt, wrote in Koine Greek, and held Roman citizenship.
Ptolemy was born in about the year 100 AD, almost certainly in Egypt. source
Ptolemy was born in about the year 100 AD, almost certainly in Egypt.
Ptolemy wrote several scientific treatises, three of which were of importance to later Byzantine, Islamic and European science. source
Ptolemy wrote several scientific treatises, three of which were of importance to later Byzantine, Islamic and European science.
Ptolemy's first is the astronomical treatise now known as the Almagest, although it was originally entitled the "Mathematical Treatise" and then known as the "Great Treatise". source
Ptolemy's first is the astronomical treatise now known as the Almagest, although it was originally entitled the "Mathematical Treatise" and then known as the "Great Treatise".
Ptolemy's second is the Geography, which is a thorough discussion of the geographic knowledge of the Greco-Roman world. source
Ptolemy's second is the Geography, which is a thorough discussion of the geographic knowledge of the Greco-Roman world.
Ptolemy's third is the astrological treatise in which he attempted to adapt horoscopic astrology to the Aristotelian natural philosophy of his day. source
Ptolemy's third is the astrological treatise in which he attempted to adapt horoscopic astrology to the Aristotelian natural philosophy of his day.
The name Claudius is a Roman nomen; the fact that Ptolemy bore it indicates he lived under the Roman rule of Egypt with the privileges and political rights of Roman citizenship. source
The name Claudius is a Roman nomen; the fact that Ptolemy bore it indicates he lived under the Roman rule of Egypt with the privileges and political rights of Roman citizenship.
Ptolemy to be a member of Egypt's royal lineage, stating that the ten kings of Egypt who followed Alexander were wise "and included Ptolemy the Wise, who composed the book of the Almagest". source
Ptolemy to be a member of Egypt's royal lineage, stating that the ten kings of Egypt who followed Alexander were wise "and included Ptolemy the Wise, who composed the book of the Almagest".
The predictive power of Ptolemy’s planetary model was unsurpassed for almost 1,500 years. source
The predictive power of Ptolemy’s planetary model was unsurpassed for almost 1,500 years.
Ptolemy died in about the year 170 AD, probably in Alexandria. source
Ptolemy died in about the year 170 AD, probably in Alexandria.
Ptolemy estimated the Sun was at an average distance of 1,210 Earth radii, while the radius of the sphere of the fixed stars was 20,000 times the radius of the Earth. source
Ptolemy estimated the Sun was at an average distance of 1,210 Earth radii, while the radius of the sphere of the fixed stars was 20,000 times the radius of the Earth.
Ptolemy has been referred to as “a pro-astrological authority of the highest magnitude”. source
Ptolemy has been referred to as “a pro-astrological authority of the highest magnitude”.
Ptolemy also wrote an influential work, Harmonics, on music theory and the mathematics of music. source
Ptolemy also wrote an influential work, Harmonics, on music theory and the mathematics of music.
In it Ptolemy writes about properties of light, including reflection, refraction, and colour. source
In it Ptolemy writes about properties of light, including reflection, refraction, and colour.
Ptolemy also devised and provided instructions on how to create maps both of the whole inhabited world (oikoumenè) and of the Roman provinces. source
Ptolemy also devised and provided instructions on how to create maps both of the whole inhabited world (oikoumenè) and of the Roman provinces.
Ptolemy's other main work is his Geography (also called the Geographia), a compilation of geographical coordinates of the part of the world known to the Roman Empire during his time. source
Ptolemy's other main work is his Geography (also called the Geographia), a compilation of geographical coordinates of the part of the world known to the Roman Empire during his time.
Ptolemy presented a useful tool for astronomical calculations in his Handy Tables, which tabulated all the data needed to compute the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets. source
Ptolemy presented a useful tool for astronomical calculations in his Handy Tables, which tabulated all the data needed to compute the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets.
Ptolemy Optics is a work that survives only in a poor Arabic translation and in about twenty manuscripts of a Latin version of the Arabic, which was translated by Eugene of Palermo (c. 1154). source
Ptolemy Optics is a work that survives only in a poor Arabic translation and in about twenty manuscripts of a Latin version of the Arabic, which was translated by Eugene of Palermo (c. 1154).
