top of page
Search
Writer's pictureSeb Falk

Medieval (g)astronomy: my PhD in biscuit form

Updated: May 13, 2020


The Peterhouse "Equatorie of the Planetis"

I submitted my PhD thesis last week (and now have a little more time to post on this blog).  In large part it’s a study of this fascinating instrument.

If you've read this blog before, you'll know I've studied a 1950s replica of this equatorium, made my own replica - and then made it again in a smaller form and (slightly) more authentic materials.







But until now, I’d never made an edible equatorium.


I made the face out of chocolate shortbread (an adaptation of Jamie Oliver’s recipe, with 3 tbsp of cocoa added per equatorium).  The epicycle was gingerbread.


It was a bit tricky to get everything the right shape, and the gingerbread expanded more than I had expected in the oven, but it all came out pretty well…









Add a screw and nut to hold the rule to the epicycle, position them correctly, and here’s your complete equatorium!

168 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


banner6.jpg

Blog

bottom of page