Jacob's staff

:For the plant known as the ocotillo, sometimes called the Jacob's staff, see ocotillo.

History

Named after the Biblical figure Jacob, the original Jacob's staff was developed as a single pole device in the 1300's that was used in making nautical and astronomical measurements. Its invention has been credited to the Jewish mathematician Levi ben Gerson. The fifteenth century astronomer Georg Purbach has also been credited with its invention. The pole, marked in degrees, was used to determine the altitude of the stars with a sliding wooden panel on the rod. During the Renaissance, the Dutch mathematician and surveyor Metius is known to have developed his own Jacob's staff.

Related Topics:
Jacob - Jewish - Levi ben Gerson - Georg Purbach - Renaissance - Dutch - Metius

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As a navigational tool, this instrument was eventually replaced by the quadrant, the octant, and the sextant. Thus, in the modern era, the name has been applied simply to the device used to provide support for the compass.

Related Topics:
Quadrant - Octant - Sextant - Compass

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