ALMAGEST

ALMAGEST, the Name of a celebrated Book, composed by Ptolemy; being a Collection of many of the Observations and Problems of the Ancients, relating both to Geometry and Astronomy. In the Original Greek it was called syvTagsis yezisn, q. de Greatest Construction, or Collection: Which last Word Almagest, joined to the Particle Al, gave occasion to its being called Almagest by the Arabians, who translated it into their Tongue about the Year 800, by Order of Maimon, Caliph of Babylon—The Arabic Word is Almaghesti. Ricciolus has also published a Reformed Astronomy, which he entitles, after Ptolemy, the New Almagest; being a Collection of ancient and modern Observations in Astronomy. See ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATION.

ALMAGEST