Ptolemy
Ptolemy was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer and astrologer. He lived in Alexandria in the Roman province of Egypt, under the rule of the Roman Empire, around AD 100 to c. 170. Ptolemy was the author of several scientific treatises, three of which were of great importance to later Byzantine, Islamic, and Western European science. The first is the astronomical treatise now known as the Almagest, although it was originally entitled the Mathematical Treatise and later known as The Great Treatise.
Life[edit | edit source]
Ptolemy's life is mostly known from his works, which suggest that he was born in Ptolemais Hermiou in the Thebaid. He lived in Alexandria, the cultural capital of the Hellenistic world, from around AD 127 to 148, during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Hadrian and Antoninus Pius.
Works[edit | edit source]
Ptolemy's most famous work is the Almagest, a comprehensive treatise on astronomy and geography. It includes a star catalogue and a detailed explanation of Ptolemy's geocentric model of the universe, which was widely accepted until the publication of Copernicus' De revolutionibus orbium coelestium in 1543.
Ptolemy also wrote the Tetrabiblos, a foundational work of astrology, and the Geography, which provided a detailed description of the known world.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Ptolemy's works were highly influential in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. His geocentric model of the universe was the accepted cosmological model in the Western world until the 16th century. His works on geography were used as a primary source by many mapmakers during the Renaissance.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
Ptolemy Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD