MS M.785, fol. 6v

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Abū Maʻshar
-886

Astrological treatises

Bruges, Belgium
early 15th century, in or before 1403
254 x 175 mm

Purchased in 1935

MS M.785
Page description: 

First Decanus of Taurus in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Orion, inscribed ORION, hooded, holds sword in right hand and spear in left hand, beside two candlesticks with lighted candles, inscribed NOMINE ORIONIS VOCANTUR ISTA DUO CANDELABRA (Constellation: Orion); man seated in sailing ship inscribed NAUIS EXIMIA, with pair of legs superimposed on hull (Astrological Sign: Navis Exima); hybrid man, inscribed PERSE SAX. GRECI. CINOKEFALI LATINI CINCIPITES (sic) (Astrological Sign: Cynocephalus).
2) Sphaera Indica:
Woman, inscribed MULIER HABENS PANNOS ADUSTOS, stands with right hand extended toward youth, inscribed FILIUS EIUS, beside coat, inscribed INDUMENTUM FILII, and two pieces of cloth, each inscribed LINTHEUM (Astrological Sign: Woman)
3) Sphaera Graeca:
Perseus, inscribed PERSEUS (Constellation: Perseus); headless standing figure, inscribed CORPUS DECOLLATUM (Astrological Sign: unidentified); hindquarters of ram, inscribed FEMORA ATQUE YLIA ARIETIS (Constellation: Aries); stream of water inscribed SPUMA ERIDANI UEL NILI (Constellation: Eridanus); hindquarters of bull inscribed COXE TAURI (Constellation: Taurus).

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Photography by Pixel Acuity, 2021