SPIRAL REVOLUTION OF THE SUN

AROUND THE ORB

OF THE EARTH.

A hand-colored copperplate engraving from Andreas Cellarius's 1660 celestial atlas, Harmonia Macrocosmica. The central circular diagram illustrates the geocentric theory of the sun's spiral revolution around the Earth. The Earth is positioned at the center, displaying the continents of the Old World. A thick, multi-colored band representing the Zodiac intersects the sphere at an angle, labeled with the names and symbols of the twelve signs. Red spiral lines trace the daily path of the sun as it shifts north and south between the Tropics throughout the year. The diagram is surrounded by soft clouds and features four winged cherubs in the corners. Two pink, decorative banners at the top contain the main title in capital letters. The entire sphere is framed by a meridian circle labeled with cardinal directions and astronomical markers.

Sphere Labels

ARCTIC CIRCLE
COLURE OR AXIS OF THE TERRESTRIAL GLOBE
ARCTIC POLE
TROPIC OF CANCER
EQUATOR
TROPIC OF CAPRICORN
ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
ANTARCTIC POLE
AXIS OF THE ZODIAC
ZODIAC
TERRESTRIAL MERIDIAN

Signs of the Zodiac

Transcribed from the colored ecliptic band

• Gemini
• Cancer
• Leo
• Virgo
• Libra
• Scorpio
• Sagittarius
• Capricorn
• Aquarius
• Pisces
• Aries
• Taurus