Astronomicum Caesareum with Dragon Centerpiece, 1540

Astronomicum Caesareum depicts the cosmos and heavens according to the 1400-year-old Ptolemaic system, which maintained that the sun revolved around the earth. By means of hand-colored maps and moveable paper parts (volvelles), Petrus Apianus (1495-1552) laid out the mechanics of a universe that was earth-centered and human-centered. Within three years of Apianus's book, this view was challenged by Copernicus's assertion that the earth revolved around the sun, making this elaborate publication outdated. A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures

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1540 Apianus Astronomical Astronomicum Celestial Centered Cosmography Cosmological Cosmology Cosmos Diagram Geocentric Heavenly Imaginary Legendary Mythical Petrus Ptolemaic Reptilian Serpent Solar Winged

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