Astronomical Images : Personification of Astronomy, with large armillary sphere

Georg von Peuerbach

Astronomical Images

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This woodcut shows an armillary sphere flanked by Astrologia, who guides a seated reader to the authority of Ptolemy, represented here with an astrolabe. On the table at the foot of the armillary sphere are: a set square, a pair of compasses, an ink pot and a book. It is framed by the phrase '<i>Altior incubuit animus sub imagine mundi</i>' ('The higher mind ponders under the image of the World'), which was later adopted by Oronce Fine.</p>