Cosmogony Collection

Catalan Atlas, 14th century. The 6-page Catalan Atlas (1375) was produced on vellum by the Jewish cartographer Abraham Cresques

Hindu / The Cosmic Turtle
In the ancient Indian cosmogony, the Earth is sustained on the backs of elephants who are themselves standing on the back of a cosmic turtle

Homeric cosmogony. Map of the Earth based on the myths and knowledge of the Ancient Greeks at the time of Homer (1st or 2nd millennium BC)

Oscillating universe theory, artwork. Also called cyclic models, these theories of the origin and nature of the universe postulate that following the Big Bang there is enough mass to reverse

Phases of the Moon, 1708
Phases of the Moon. This is plate 19 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Copernican worldview, 1708
Copernican worldview. This is plate 5 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Thomas Burnet's ideas of the formation of the Earth
3740703 Thomas Burnet's ideas of the formation of the Earth; (add.info.: Thomas Burnet's idea of the formation of the Earth)

Immanuel Kant, 18th century (engraving)
2907786 Immanuel Kant, 18th century (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers.).

A diagram of the solar system, showing the orbits of four asteroids (planetoids) by Thomas Burnet
5311305 A diagram of the solar system, showing the orbits of four asteroids (planetoids) by Thomas Burnet. Thomas Burnet (1635-1715) an English theologian and writer on cosmogony

Thomas Burnet's ideas of the formation of the Earth
3740702 Thomas Burnet's ideas of the formation of the Earth; (add.info.: Thomas Burnet's idea of the formation of the Earth)

Thomas Burnet
2603651 Thomas Burnet; (add.info.: Thomas Burnet (1635 - 1715) English theologian and writer on cosmogony, born at Croft near Darlington, County Durham, England

Image taken with an early 19th Century telescope of Nebulas
3732396 Image taken with an early 19th Century telescope of Nebulas; (add.info.: Left: the great nebula in Orion and Right: The Trifid Nebula of Sagittarius)

The Aztec Calendar Stone, or Stone of the Sun, National Museum, Mexico City, c1930s. A name glyph of Aztec ruler Moctezuma II suggests the basalt Aztec sun stone was carved c1502- 1521

James Jeans, English mathematician and physicist. Jeans (1877-1946) held the chair of applied mathematics at Princeton University (1905-1909), lectured at both Oxford and Cambridge

Thomas Burnet Circa 1635 To 1715, English Theologian And Writer On Cosmogony. From The National And Domestic History Of England By William Aubrey Published London Circa 1890

Thomas Burnet C1635 -1715 English Theologian And Writer On Cosmogony From The Book Crabbs Historical Dictionary Published 1825

Copernican planisphere, 1708
Copernican planisphere. This is plate 4 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Hindu cosmological myth, artwork. Ancient Hindu myths describe the Earth as being disc-shaped and supported on the backs of elephants and a giant turtle

Thales, Ancient Greek philosopher
Thales of Miletus (c.624-c.546 BC), Ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, and the first identifiable scientist

Stone of the Sun. 1479. Incorrectly known as Aztec Calendar. Disc shaped ceremonial monolith made of basalt with inscriptions about the Mexica cosmogony and the solar cults. Aztec art

James Jeans (1877-1946). Jeans (1877-1946), English mathematician and physicist, held the chair of applied mathematics at Princeton university (1905-1909), lectured at both Oxford and Cambridge

Thomas Burnet (1635 - 1715) English theologian and writer on cosmogony, born at Croft near Darlington, County Durham, England

Theorem 23, Monas Hieroglyphica (1564). This theorem is one of 24 contained in the work Monas Hieroglyphica by Welsh astrologer John Dee (1527-1608)

Theorem 18, Monas Hieroglyphica (1564). This theorem is one of 24 contained in the work Monas Hieroglyphica by Welsh astrologer John Dee (1527-1608)

Worldview of Thales of Miletus, artwork C018 / 3558
Worldview of Thales of Miletus. The Ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus (c.624 to c.546 BC) was a mathematician, astronomer, and one of the first to advance scientific viewpoints

Christianized constellations, 1708
Christianized constellations. This is plate 22 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Sizes of celestial bodies, 1708
Sizes of celestial bodies. This is plate 10 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Epicycles of Moons orbit, 1708
Epicycles of Moons orbit. This is plate 18 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Suns orbit from Earth, 1708
Suns orbit from Earth. This is plate 17 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Aratus planisphere, 1708
Aratus planisphere. This is plate 8 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Tychonic worldview, 1708
Tychonic worldview. This is plate 7 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Harmonica Macrocosmica (1708). This star atlas by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius was first published in 1660

Planetary spheres, 1708
Planetary spheres. This is plate 3 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Ptolemaic worldview, 1708
Ptolemaic worldview. This is plate 2 from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Astronomy diagrams, 1823 C017 / 8058
Astronomy diagrams, 19th century. At centre is an armillary sphere, a device with moveable interlocking rings representing the circles of the celestial sphere

Celestial planispheres, 1772 C016 / 4386
Celestial planispheres. 18th-century astronomy diagrams centred around planispheres of stars and constellations. The northern celestial hemisphere is at left

Harmonica Macrocosmica (1708) C016 / 4384
Harmonica Macrocosmica (1708). This is the title page from the 1708 edition of the star atlas Harmonica Macrocosmica by the Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (1596-1665)

Early history of the universe, artwork
Early history of the universe. Artwork showing the cooling and expansion of the early universe from its origin in the Big Bang (upper left)

Multiple universes, artwork
Multiple universes. Artwork showing multiple universes forming from black holes following the Big Bang formation of the initial universe at top left

Biblical symbolism, 17th century
Biblical symbolism. 17th-century woodcut text and diagram showing the orbit of the clock of the Sun and the Moon, with a heavenly hand (Christ, upper right) holding a compass to the circles

Tibetan cosmology, 18th century artwork
Tibetan cosmology. 18th century artwork of a Sumeru-like Buddhist world mountain. It is centred on a mandala-like complex (circular area) with huge trees either side

Copernican solar system, 1690 artwork. This heliocentric (Sun-centred) solar system was proposed by the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in 1543

Keplers cosmological model. Composite image of a model of Keplers Platonic solids, with Latin text and the title of the work in which this model was described

Atlas cosmology, 16th century artwork. Atlas with the Earth on his shoulders in an armillary sphere. The sphere shows the zodiac signs, and the four elements

14th century theological cosmography. Close-up of a geocentric depiction of the Universe that has a T-O (orbis terrarum) map of the Earth at centre

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Cosmogony, the study of the origins and evolution of the universe, has fascinated humanity for centuries. In the 14th century Catalan Atlas, we see a depiction through various celestial maps and illustrations. Hindu mythology tells us about the Cosmic Turtle that supports the world on its back, representing their unique cosmogonic beliefs. The Homeric cosmogony describes how gods emerged from chaos to shape our world. The Oscillating Universe Theory artwork visualizes an ever-expanding and contracting cosmos, suggesting a cyclical creation process. In 1708, Phases of the Moon showcases humanity's understanding of lunar cycles within cosmogonic frameworks. This coincided with Copernican worldview advancements that challenged geocentric models in favor of heliocentrism. The Aztec Calendar Stone at Mexico City's National Museum offers insights into Mesoamerican cosmology with intricate carvings depicting cosmic events and deities' roles in creation. Meanwhile, Raphael's workshop presents frescoes like Creation of Animals and Creation of Sun and Moon as artistic interpretations influenced by religious beliefs. James Jeans, an English mathematician and physicist, contributed to modern cosmogony theories such as stellar evolution and black hole formation. However, historical inaccuracies also exist; for instance, Stone of the Sun is mistakenly known as Aztec when it predates their civilization by centuries. Thomas Burnet was an English theologian who wrote extensively on cosmogony during his time in England around 1635-1715. His works shed light on theological perspectives intertwined with scientific inquiries into creation processes. From ancient myths to scientific breakthroughs throughout history until today's cutting-edge researches - Cosmogony remains a captivating subject that continues to inspire curiosity about our place in this vast universe.