Poetry of Physics and the Physics of Poetry

46 The Poetry of Physics and The Physics of Poetry

Fig. 6.1

A third motivating factor was Copernicus’ mystical feelings towards
the Sun, which is evident from the following passage of his book De
Revolutions Orbium Coelestium in which Copernicus describes the
location of the heavenly bodies in his scheme of the universe.

The first and highest sphere is that of the fixed stars,

containing itself and everything and therefore immovable,

being the place of the universe to which the motion and places

of all other stars are referred. Next follows the first planet

Saturn, which completes its circuit in thirty years, then Jupiter

with a twelve year’s period, then Mars, which moves around in

two years. The fourth place in the order is that of the annual

revolution, in which we have said that the Earth is contained

with the lunar orbit as an epicycle. In the fifth place Venus

goes around in nine months, in the sixth Mercury with a period

of 80 days. But in the midst of all stands the Sun. For who

could in this most beautiful temple place this lamp in another

or better place than that from which it can at the same time

illuminate the whole? Which some not unsuitably call the light

of the world, others the soul or ruler. Trismegistus calls it the

visible god, the Electra of Sophocles, the all-seeing. So indeed

the Sun, sitting on the royal throne, steers the revolving family

of stars. (With the word star Copernicus refers to both the fixed

stars and the planets. We still call the planet Venus or Mars the

morning or evening star.)

Not only does Copernicus have strong mystical feelings for the
Sun but also for nature in general as is exhibited by another passage from
De Revolutionius. “The wisdom of nature is such that it produces