Nicolaus Germanus
Donnus Nicolaus Germanus (* 1420, † about 1490 ) was a Kosmograf and astrologer. In 1477 he made a Heaven and a terrestrial globe for the Vatican Library. The terrestrial globe dated this being 15 years before the " Erdapfel " by Martin Behaim.
Kosmograf and astrologer
About the life of Nicolaus Germanus is only known that he lived in Florence. The first name Nicolaus, as well as his last name suggests that he was of German origin. From him eleven manuscripts on parchment originate from the third quarter of the 15th century, in which he re- edited the geography of Ptolemy. The sumptuously painted and provided with maps manuscripts are preserved in the Vatican Library. For high latitudes Germanus led here a novel trapezoidal projection, what his high cartographic competence occupied.
Germanus also worked as an astrologer - Astrology and Astronomy were not yet strictly separated. In this context, he worked from astronomical tables in which the planetary positions were held for years in advance. This work has been lost; obtained, however, has a horoscope for Pope Paul II
The mentioned in a letter from Vincent Long to Conrad Celtis Nicolaus Germanus was later interpreted as Nicolaus Copernicus.
Globes of heaven and earth
1477 presented Germanus for the Vatican Library - only two years after its opening - each a globe of heaven and earth here. Evidence is a receipt for 200 ducats from December 11, 1477 for " a work of his own hand ." A note from the next day mentioned the payment of a further three ducats for the application of the papal coat of arms on the two globes, and a world map. From December 20th comes another note about four ducats for two covers. In this memo is specifically talking about two globes, of which the heavens on a character and on the other a description of the earth ( cosmographia ) were applied. The globes are then listed in an inventory of 1481.
The Marchesa of Mantua, Isabella, wanted to ever make one additional copy of the two globes, what a correspondence from 1505 present. The Marchesa writes it to its agent in Rome: " We have learned that there are two globes are in the Papal Library: On the one hand, the earth is shown, on the other hand, the signs of heaven, that is the zodiac [ ... ]. " ( Intendiamo, che ne la libraria dil papa sono due spere solid: in una è depicto el MapaMundo, in l' altra li signi Celesti, cio è el Zodiaco [ ...]) from the letter it is also apparent that the two globes Ellen must have been high.
The globes were kept in the Salle Pontifica ( Magna Secreta ). About the pictures on the globes nothing more is known. They are probably lost in the sack of Rome in 1527. The terrestrial globe of Germanus is the first terrestrial globe of modern times, is present on the source material.