Mathematical instruction at theColégio das Artesin Coimbra: Adam Aigenler's "rota astronomica" (1672)

Abstract

Two completely different sources report, with some details, on the composition of a "rota astronomica" by Adam Aigenler, SJ, within the context of his teaching mathematics at the Colégio das Artes in Coimbra during the academic year 1672-1673; the original concept consisted of a demonstrational instrument and its description, carved in a copper plate, never used for printing, and an autograph transcription, both apparently lost in the 1860s. Yet, Aigenler's work resurfaces in an expanded Chinese version, now in the form of a celestial atlas with 14 star maps, printed in Chinese, and referring to its original author under the wrong name *Rigenler; also this is lost in the 1860s. Despite this loss, it remains a rare, interesting example of the didactical methods and tools developed and used both by this Jesuit mathematician (whose work remained so far largely ignored due to wrong catalogue entries [*Rigenler; *Aigenter]), and the Jesuit "Indipetae" in general during their extra-curricular (?) courses at he Colégio das Artes, of which A. Thomas's almost simultaneous Synopsis Mathematica is another testimony.