Forerunner of the Cosmographic Dissertations

Epigram attributed to Ptolemy. original: "Epigramma Ptolemæo adscriptum"

I know that I am mortal and a creature of a day; but when I search out the many revolving spirals of the stars, no longer do I touch the earth with my feet, but beside Zeus himself, nourished by the gods, I am filled with ambrosia. original Greek: "Οἶδ᾿ ὅτι θνατὸς ἐγὼ..." This epigram is traditionally attributed to Claudius Ptolemy, the most influential astronomer of antiquity. It describes the feeling of transcendence found in mathematical and astronomical study.

IN LATIN:

Every day I die, and I confess it: but while my labor original: "mea cura"
holds me among the unceasing paths of the heavens: original: "Olympi." While "Olympus" was the home of the Greek gods, in this context it refers to the celestial spheres.
I do not touch the earth with my feet: but before the Thunderer original: "Tonantem." A poetic title for Jupiter, used here by Kepler to represent the Divine Creator.
I am fed with nectar and divine ambrosia. Nectar and ambrosia were the legendary food and drink of the Greek gods, granting immortality.

J. K. These are the initials of the author, Johannes Kepler.

In the bottom-left corner is a red ink stamp featuring a crown above a heraldic shield or ornamental cypher.