Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

017. MS M.785, fol. 4r

Abū Maʻshar
-886

Astrological treatises

early 15th century, in or before 1403
Bruges, Belgium
254 x 175 mm
MS M.785

Purchased in 1935

Summary

First Decanus of Aries in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Virgo, inscribed FEMINA FILIA SPLENDORIS, crowned, holding skirts (Constellation: Virgo); fish tail, inscribed CAUDA PISCIS MARINI (Constellation: Pisces); draped three-legged object, inscribed TRIGONI PRINCIPIUM THRONI, supported by three columns (Constellation: Triangulum); hybrid stag-bull head, inscribed CAPUT CERUOTAURI (Astrological Sign: Cervotaurus); standing figure, inscribed CINOCEPHALUS, with dog head, holding unlit torch in left hand and key in right hand (Astrological Sign: Cynocephalus); and nude man, inscribed VIR NIGER, partially draped with mantle over his head (Astrological Sign: Vir Niger).
2) Sphaera Indica:
Cepheus, inscribed DORSUM CEPHEI ET CLUNIS EIUSDEM, nude, shown from rear with one arm and leg (Constellation: Cepheus); Andromeda, inscribed DORSUM ANDROMADE, partially draped, shown only with back and one leg (Constellation: Andromeda); bridle with trailing reins, inscribed FINIS FRENI; fish, inscribed PISCIS SECUNDUS, enclosed in cloud of water (Constellation: Pisces).
3)Sphaera Graeca:
Fish head, inscribed MEDIUM PISCIS MARINI (Constellation: Pisces); draped triangle supported by two columns, inscribed MEDIUM TRIGONI (Constellation: Triangulum); head and forequarters of stag-bull, inscribed MEDIUM CERUOTAURI (Astrological Sign: Cervotaurus).