Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Astrological treatises

Belgium, Bruges, early 15th century, in or before 1403

MS M.785 fol. 24r

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First Decanus of Sagittarius in three zones:

1) Sphaera Persica:

Headless nude man, inscribed VIR NUDUS CAPITE DIMINUTUS (sic) (Astrological Sign: Vir Nudus); crow, inscribed CORUUS, perched on head of nude man in boat inscribed, NAUIS (Astrological Sign: unidentified); dog, inscribed CANIS CUIUS CAPUT AD CAUDAM, biting his own tail (Constellation: Canis).

2) Sphaera Indica:

Centaur, inscribed CENTAURUS MEDIETATE SUPREMA VIR NUDUS DEINCEPS EQUUS ARCUM TENENS, aiming bow and arrow toward man's head inscribed CERUIX MINORIS ARCHOS (Astrological Sign: unidentified); nude figure, inscribed ALCIDE CAPUT CUM PARTE DORSI, no arms or legs shown (Constellation: Hercules ?); dragon's head, inscribed CAPUT DRACONIS (Constellation: Draco).

3) Sphaera Graeca:

Nude man, inscribed ANGUI TENENTIS HUMERUS DEXTRA CLUNIS CUM CRURE ET PEDE SINISTRA (sic), wearing cap, holding serpent twined around right arm (Constellation: Serpentarius); scorpion stinger, inscribed ACULEUS SCORPIONIS (Constellation: Scorpio); censer, inscribed THUIRBULUM (Constellation: Ara).