Anaximander,observing the motions of the heavens around the polestar, was probably the first of the Greek philosophers to picture the sky as sphere completely surrounding Earth--an idea that, elaborated upon later, would prevail until the advent of the Scientific Revolution in the seventeenth century.(TPO37, 46)
polestarn. 北极星
sphere /sf??/ n. 球体，球形;范围;社会阶层，社会地位
elaborate/?'l?b?ret/ v. 详尽解释或说明，详细制定
prevail /pr?'ve?l/ v. 流行，盛行
advent /'?dv?nt/ n. 来临，到来
分析：
这个句子的主干：
Anaximander was probably the first of the Greek philosophers
修饰一：(observing the motions of the heavens around the polestar) ，
非谓语动词
中文：观察围绕北极星运动的天体
修饰二：(to picture the sky as sphere completely surrounding Earth) ，非谓语动词
中文：把天空描绘成完全围绕地球的球体
修饰三：(an idea) ，同位语
中文：一个想法
修饰四：(elaborated upon later) ，非谓语动词
中文：后来被详细阐述
修饰五：(that would prevail until the advent of the Scientific Revolution in the seventeenth century) ，从句，修饰idea
中文：会流行到17世纪科技革命的到来。
参考翻译：
Anaximander(一直观察围绕北极星运动的天体)可能是第一个希腊哲学家把天空描绘成完全围绕地球的球体——这个想法(后来被详细阐述)会流行到17世纪科技革命的到来。