Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Astrological treatises
Belgium, Bruges, early 15th century, in or before 1403
MS M.785 fol. 11v

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First Decanus of Cancer in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Bearded man, inscribed SATIRUS CAPUT ENEUM TYMPANUM ET LAMINAM FERREAM HABENS. SERMENS AMPHIONIS MUSICI, holding drum inscribed TYMPANUM, and pointing to flat rectangular metal plaque inscribed LAMINA (Astrological Sign: Amphion); hindquarters of bear, faintly inscribed MEDIETA MINORIS URSE (Constellation: Ursa Minor); veiled woman, inscribed PRIMA PUELLA DE TRIBUS VIRGINIBUS CANTANS LAUDES DEORUM, wearing wreath on head, holding sheaf of grain in right hand and wreath of flowers in left hand (Constellation: Virgo); tail of asp, inscribed CAUDA ASPIDIS ZENABRAZ (sic) (Constellation: Serpens); head of animal (scarab) inscribed CAPUT SCARABONIS (Constellation: Cancer).
2) Sphaera Indica:
Hybrid man, inscribed VIR PULCER FORTIS TOTO CORPORE MEDIETAS HOMMIS ALIA MEDIETAS ELEFANTIS ET EQUI, with forequarters of horse and hindquarters of elephant, wearing cap and pointing with left hand toward tree (Astrological Sign: Hybrid Figure); woman's head, inscribed CALISTO CAPUT (Constellation: Ursa Major); heads of twin youths, inscribed CAPUTA GEMINORUM (Constellation: Gemini); dog, inscribed MINOR CANIS (Constellation: Canis Minor); stern of boat inscribed RELIQUUM PUPPIS (Argo Navis).
3) Sphaera Graeca:
Boat, inscribed PUPPIS ARGOS CUM REMIGIO, in which sit two men, inscribed DUO FRATRES, one wearing headgear, and the other holding oar in left hand (Constellation: Argo Navis).