The astronomical content of Menelaos' \textit{Spherics} (Q1880864)

Exposed are the contents of Menelaus' (between 50 and 60 CE) \textit{Spherics} the Greek original of which is lost, on the basis of the Arabic translation of al-Ṭūsī (14 manuscripts and one printed edition). After a short history of spherics before Menelaus and exposition of basic terminology and concepts of the field, enunciations of principal propositions are given in full, followed by the commentary of al-Ṭūsī and Abū Naṣr, which show astronomical applications. Then follow concise but helpful explanations by the authors of the present article using modern algebraic formulas. In conclusion, the contents of the \textit{Spherics} is summed up according to the division of the propositions into three groups given by the authors: re-demonstrations of basic theorems for astronomy; development of spherical trigonometry which enables the construction of astronomical tables; the propositions showing some properties of the tables thus constructed. An open question the authors pose is the reason of the guise of pure mathematics in Menelaus' \textit{Spherics} which is in fact a work of astronomy.