Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Astrological treatises
Belgium, Bruges, early 15th century, in or before 1403
MS M.785 fol. 29r

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First Decanus of Aquarius in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Panther-headed man, inscribed PANTHERA TRAHENS EQUUM, wearing robe, seated on bench, with left hand raised to head and in right hand holding reins of saddled horse (Astrological Sign: Hybrid Figure); crane, inscribed ALES (Constellation: Grus), grasping fish, inscribed PISCIS (Constellaion: Piscis Austrinus), above water inscribed AQUA (Constellation: Aquarius).
2) Sphaera Indica:
Man, inscribed VIR ETHIOPS INDUTUS TAPETO, wearing semi-transparent woven garment, surrounded by three metal vessels, including pitcher and vase, inscribed VASA ENEA, and three wooden vessel, including bucket, wooden barrel, and pitcher, inscribed VASA LIGNEA (Astrological Sign: Vir Ethiops).
3) Sphaera Graeca:
Hindquarters of bear, inscribed POSTERITAS URSE MINORIS (Constellation: Ursa Minor); right side of body of nude man, inscribed PES ET MANUS DEXTRA CEPHEI (Constellation: Cepheus); hindquarters of cock, inscribed FINIS ALE SINISTRE (Constellation: Gallus); horse head inscribed CAPUT EQUI PARUI (Constellation: Equuleus); fish tail, inscribed POSTREMITAS PISCIS AUSTRALIS (Constellation: Piscis Austrinus); head of figure, inscribed CAPUT AQUARII CUM HUMERO (Constellation: Aquarius); animal tail, inscribed CLUNIS CAPRICORNI CUM CAUDA (Constellation: Capricornus).