Planetary Model and Atlas, 18th C. Atlas Armillary

♥ Titan Atlas and Planetary Model Armillary Spheres

Atlas was one of the legendary Titans batteling Zeus. After his defeat Atlas was sentenced to carry the Earth on his mighty shoulders till the end of time. The Atlas of our armillarry dial is carrying the entire universe. That's to say the known Renaissance universe. The Earth was believed to be at its center. Gracefully intertwined silver rings represent trajectories of heavenly bodies around the Earth. In all aspects ethereal, myth combined with science, fable with historic art.

Early man, looking at the heavens, believed the stars were fixed to the inside surface of a rotating sphere. Copernicus gave his name to the theory of an Earth-centered universe, and the Vatican propagated his belief by threatening to burn science heretics at the stake for stating otherwise. We now know that we live on the fringe of a nearly infinite and ever expanding universe. Armillary dials have the earth positioned inside a mesh of hoops, symbolizing the course of the planets as known at the time. The course of the sun is shown by a wide band called the ecliptic circle.

The planetary orbits, here after Copernicus, are shown in a circle. The Copernican concept representing this armillary sphere was perfected by Andreas Bösch in 1657 with his Sphaera Copernicana. Early man looking up at the sky believed that the stars rotate on the inner surface of a sphere. Copernicus abandoned this concept of the Earth-centered universe. We now know that we live on the edge of an almost infinitely and eternally expanding universe. This object has positioned the Earth in a network of tires that represent the orbits of the planets known in Copernicus' time. The course of the sun is represented by a wide band. Rotating metal rings represent the migration of the celestial bodies.
Atlas was one of the legendary Titans who fought with Zeus. After his defeat Atlas was condemned to carry the earth on his mighty shoulders until the end of time.
Today, armillary spheres are mainly known as a symbol of astrology. With the armillary sphere on the national flag, Portugal shows its attachment to seafaring.

An interesting symbol of the early science and Greek mythology. Atlas carried the weight of the world on his mighty shoulders.

intricate collection of bronce and chrome expertly intertwined to represent the rings of the universe
brass rings, expertly aged to bronze finish
aluminum cast Atlas statue, antique patina
reproduced from 18th C original
heavyweight polished granite base
Size: Ø 10 x 22 inch
Color: Bronze/ Polished Black Base
Weight: 15,43 lb