Bibliography & Primary Editions

Primary Public-Domain Editions

  • Heiberg (1898) — J. L. Heiberg (ed.), Claudii Ptolemaei Opera quae exstant omnia, Vol. I: Syntaxis Mathematica, Pars I (Libros I–VI continens), Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 1898. (Definitive critical Greek edition of Almagest Book I, pp. 4–81; Public Domain.)

  • Heiberg (1907) — J. L. Heiberg (ed.), Claudii Ptolemaei Opera quae exstant omnia, Vol. II: Opera Astronomica Minora, Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 1907, pp. 225–259 (Planisphaerium, Latin translation by Hermann of Carinthia, Toulouse, 1 June 1143). (Definitive critical Latin edition; Public Domain.)

  • Halma (1813) — Nicolas B. Halma (ed. & trans.), Composition mathématique de Claude Ptolémée, Tome Premier, with astronomical notes by J.-B. Delambre, Paris: Henri Grand, 1813. (Bilingual Greek–French edition; Public Domain.)

  • Manitius (1912) — Karl Manitius (trans.), Des Claudius Ptolemäus Handbuch der Astronomie, Erster Band, Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 1912. (German scholarly translation keyed to Heiberg’s pagination; Public Domain.)

  • Commandino (1558) — Federico Commandino, Ptolemaei Planisphaerium; Iordani Planisphaerium; Federici Commandini Urbinatis in Ptolemaei Planisphaerium Commentarius, Venice: Aldus, 1558. (Supplies the synthetic proof of stereographic circle preservation from Apollonius Conics I.5; Public Domain.)

Ancient & Modern Mathematical Companions

  • Euclid — Elements (Στοιχεῖα, ed. J. L. Heiberg / trans. T. L. Heath), Books I–IV, VI, XI, XIII. Cross-referenced throughout Almagest I.10 and I.13.

  • Apollonius of Perga — Conics (Κωνικά, ed. J. L. Heiberg, 1891), Book I, Proposition 5 (subcontrary section of an oblique circular cone).

  • Menelaus of Alexandria — Sphaerica (Σφαιρικά), Book III, Proposition 1 (spherical six-quantity transversal theorem).

  • Archimedes of Syracuse — Measurement of a Circle (Κύκλου μέτρησις), Proposition 3 ($3\frac{10}{71} < \pi < 3\frac{1}{7}$).

  • Aristotle — Metaphysics (Τὰ μετὰ τὰ φυσικά), Book E (VI), 1026a18–19 (division of theoretical science into physics, mathematics, and theology).

  • Casey (1886) — John Casey, A Sequel to the First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid (4th ed.), Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co., 1886, Book VI, §6 (Ptolemy’s Theorem, Casey’s generalized bitangent theorem, and circular inversion).