Antique map of Italy by Magini G.A. 1620
Magini Giovanni Antonio (1555-1617)
Giovanni Antonio Magini was an Italian astronomer, astrologer, cartographer, and mathematician. He was born in Padua and completed his philosophy studies in Bologna in 1579. In 1588, he was chosen over Galileo Galilei to occupy the chair of mathematics position at the University of Bologna. He was in contact with many well-known figures of his day, including Ortelius, Tycho Brahe, Galileo and Johannes Kepler.
Magini supported a geocentric system of the world in preference to Copernicus's heliocentric system. Magini devised his planetary theory in preference to other existing ones. The Maginian System consisted of eleven rotating spheres, which he described in his Novæ Cœlestium orbium theoricæ congruentes cum observationibus N. Copernici (Venice, 1589). His most important work was the first printed atlas of Italy, published posthumously by his son Fabio.
He died in Bologna on 11 February 1617.
Italia Antica di Cl: Tolomeo
Item Number: 22645 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Europe > Italy
Ptolemy map of Italy.
Copper engraving
Size: 33.5 x 47cm (13.1 x 18.3 inches)
Verso: Blank
Condition: Old coloured, excellent.
Condition Rating: A
From: Italia. Bologna, S. Bonomi, 1620. (Shirley (Brit.Lib.), MAG-1a)
Magini Giovanni Antonio (1555-1617)
Giovanni Antonio Magini was an Italian astronomer, astrologer, cartographer, and mathematician. He was born in Padua and completed his philosophy studies in Bologna in 1579. In 1588, he was chosen over Galileo Galilei to occupy the chair of mathematics position at the University of Bologna. He was in contact with many well-known figures of his day, including Ortelius, Tycho Brahe, Galileo and Johannes Kepler.
Magini supported a geocentric system of the world in preference to Copernicus's heliocentric system. Magini devised his planetary theory in preference to other existing ones. The Maginian System consisted of eleven rotating spheres, which he described in his Novæ Cœlestium orbium theoricæ congruentes cum observationibus N. Copernici (Venice, 1589). His most important work was the first printed atlas of Italy, published posthumously by his son Fabio.
He died in Bologna on 11 February 1617.