134 A Short History of Astronomy [CH. v. 



derived from the rents of the island by an annual payment 

 cf about ,100. Tycho paid his first visit to the island in 

 May, soon set to work building, and had already begun to 

 make regular observations in his new house before the 

 end of the year. 



The buildings were as remarkable for their magnificence 

 as for their scientific utility. Tycho never forgot that he was 

 a Danish nobleman as well as an astronomer, and built in 

 a manner suitable to his rank.* His chief building (fig. 51), 

 called Uraniborg (the Castle of the Heavens), was in the 

 middle of a large square enclosure, laid out as a garden, 

 the corners of which pointed North, East, South, and West, 

 and contained several observatories, a library and laboratory, 

 in addition to living rooms. Subsequently, when the number 

 of pupils and assistants who came to him had increased, 

 he erected (1584) a second building, Stjerneborg (Star 

 Castle), which was remarkable for having underground 

 observatories. The convenience of being able to carry out 

 all necessary work on his own premises induced him 

 moreover to establish workshops, where nearly all his 

 instruments were made, and afterwards also a printing press 

 and paper mill. Both at Uraniborg and Stjerneborg not 

 only the rooms, but even the instruments which were 

 gradually constructed, were elaborately painted or otherwise 

 ornamented. 



102. The expenses of the establishment must have been 

 enormous, particularly as Tycho lived in magnificent style 

 and probably paid little attention to economy. His income 

 was derived from various sources, and fluctuated from time 

 to time, as the King did not merely make him a fixed 

 annual payment, but added also temporary grants of lands 

 or money. Amongst other benefactions he received in 

 1579 one of the canonries of the cathedral of Roskilde, 

 the endowments of which had been practically secularised 

 at the Reformation. Unfortunately most of his property 

 was held on tenures which involved corresponding obliga- 

 tions, and as he combined the irritability of a genius 

 with the haughtiness of a mediaeval nobleman, continual 

 quarrels were the result. Very soon after his arrival at 



* He even did not forget to provide one of the most necessary 

 parts of a mediaeval castle, a prison ! 



