Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

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

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Third Decanus of Leo in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Man, inscribed SEDOS FLAGELLUM, wearing cap, holding goad in right hand and with left hand on end of cart, inscribed AGITANS PLAUSTRUM FLAGELLO HOMO DE SUPER SEDENS, in which sits woman (?), wearing cap, holding reins of two horses hitched to cart behind two oxen, beside which stands man, inscribed PARUULUS MANU SINISTRA TAURUM ET VACAM PRECEDENS, wearing hat and with purse at waist, holding rod (Constellation: Plaustrum ?); raven, inscribed CORUUS ( Constellation: Corvus); part of serpent's body, inscribed MEDIUM YDRE (Constellation: Hydra); hindquarters of horse and ass, inscribed POSTREMITATES EQUI ET ASINI (Constellation: Equuleus, and Constellation: Asinus).
2) Sphaera Indica:
Black man, inscribed VIR FORMA ETHIOPS ORECARNEM TENENS SINISTRA URNEUM TENENS. MANU DEXTERA POMUM (sic), with piece of meat in mouth, wearing pouch at waist, holding fruit in right hand and bucket in left hand, beside fire, inscribed IGNIS (Astrological Sign: Vir Ethiops).
3) Sphaera Graeca:
Shoulder of bear, inscribed PECTUS MAIORIS URSE (Constellation: Ursa Major); body of lion, inscribed MEDIUM LEONIS (Constellation: Leo); part of serpent, inscribed PARS COLUBRI (Constellation: Serpens).