Armillary sphere

An armillary sphere is a model that shows objects in the sky. It is made of rings that stand for important lines such as latitude and longitude. Unlike a smooth globe that shows constellations, an armillary sphere has a framework of rings centered on either Earth or the Sun.

The armillary sphere was invented separately in ancient China as early as the 4th century BC and in ancient Greece during the 3rd century BC. Later, it was used in the Islamic world and Medieval Europe.

Today, the armillary sphere appears on the flag of Portugal and in Portuguese heraldry. It is also featured on the flag of the Empire of Brazil. A large metal sculpture of an armillary sphere can be seen at the Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3, showcasing it as one of Chinese inventions.

Description and use

The armillary sphere is a model of the sky made of brass rings. These rings show important lines in the sky, like where the Sun appears during different times of the year and where the Earth's poles are.

The sphere has a small globe in the center, representing the Earth. Around this globe are rings that can be moved to show how the Sun and Moon appear in the sky from different places on Earth. By turning parts of the sphere, you can see when the Sun or Moon will rise and set on any given day. This helps us understand how the positions of celestial objects change over time.

History

Long ago, people made special tools to study the stars. One of these tools is the armillary sphere. It is made of rings that show important lines in the sky, like lines of latitude and longitude.

The armillary sphere was first made in China around the 4th century BC and later in Greece around the 3rd century BC. Many cultures, including those in the Middle East and Europe, used and improved this tool. It helped astronomers learn about the movements of stars and planets before telescopes were invented. Today, armillary spheres are still used to teach people about the sky.

Paralympic Games

Since March 1, 2014, an artwork based on an Armillary sphere lights the Paralympic heritage flame at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in the United Kingdom. This special sphere has a wheelchair that lets a person spin it to make the flame. This ceremony celebrates the Paralympic Movement in the UK. The artwork was made by artist Jon Bausor. The first flame was lit by London 2012 gold medallist Hannah Cockroft.

Heraldry and vexillology

The armillary sphere is often used in heraldry and vexillology, especially as a symbol linked to Portugal, the Portuguese Empire, and the Portuguese discoveries.

In the late 1400s, the armillary sphere became a personal symbol of the future King Manuel I of Portugal when he was still a Prince. During his rule, this symbol appeared widely on documents, monuments, flags, and more. It grew from a personal emblem to a national symbol for Portugal and its Overseas Empire. Even after Manuel I passed away, the armillary sphere stayed important.

By the 1600s, it was also tied to Portugal's control of Brazil. In 1815, when Brazil became a kingdom joined with Portugal, its coat of arms showed a golden armillary sphere on a blue background. This symbol represented Brazil and appeared in the arms and flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. After Brazil became independent in 1822, the armillary sphere stayed in Brazil’s national arms and flag. However, in 1889, Brazil’s flag changed to show a celestial sphere instead.

The armillary sphere returned to the national arms and the national Flag of Portugal in 1911.