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.

029. MS M.785, fol. 10r

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

Third Decanus of Gemini in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Crowned man, inscribed CORONA UIRIDIS AMPHION MUSICUS QUI TYMPANISTA DICITUR, plays horn beside musical instruments, including violin, inscribed VIOLA and standing drum inscribed TIMPANUM (Astrological Sign: Amphion); barking dog, inscribed CANIS LATRANS (Constellation: Canis or Constellation: Bo³œtes); cloth, inscribed ORNAMENTA SUTORIS (Astrological Sign: unidentified); head and forequarters of bear, inscribed MEDIETAS MINORIS VRSE (Constellation: Ursa Minor); tail of serpent, inscribed CAUDA CERASTIS, ending in funnel-shaped object inscribed LINTE (sic) (Astrological Sign: Cerastes); dolphin, inscribed DELFINUS (Constellation: Delphinus).
3) Sphaera Indica:
Man, inscribed VIR ARMATUS QUERENS VARIS INSTRUMENTA MUSICE ARTIS ET IOCOS, wearing chain mail armor, holding bow and arrow, beside musical instruments, including lute, inscribed VIOLA; violin and bow, inscribed ARCUS VIOLE; harp, inscribed GIGA UEL LIRA, decorated with animal head; and hurdy-gurdy, with attached strap (Astrological Sign: Vir Armatus).
3) Sphaera Graeca:
Pollux, inscribed POLLUCIS HUMERUS MANUS ET CETERA, shown without left arm and leg, and Castor, inscribed COXA CASTORIS ET PES, only shown as leg with webbed foot (Constellation: Gemini); hindquarters of rabbit, inscribed PES LEPORIS (Constellation: Lepus); ship, inscribed ARGOLICA NAUIS PLENA OMNI MERCE, containing vases and sacks (Constellation: Argo Navis); dog, inscribed RICTUS CANIS (Constellation: Canis).