15 unique illustrations from a medieval manuscript on life, medicine and astrology
15 unique illustrations from a medieval manuscript on life, medicine and astrology

Video: 15 unique illustrations from a medieval manuscript on life, medicine and astrology

Video: 15 unique illustrations from a medieval manuscript on life, medicine and astrology
Video: ☁️ Cloud, Star ⭐️ and Cherries 🍒 French Nail Art | Ombre Wave Nail Design - YouTube 2024, November
Anonim
The Tübingen Home Book
The Tübingen Home Book

The Tübingen Home Book or Iatromathematical Calendar Book is a unique manuscript in German that was created in 1430-1480, probably in the Swabian Duchy of Württemberg (south-west Germany). The manuscript is now kept in the Library of the University of Tübingen. In our review there are 15 illustrations from this amazing book, which I can tell you a lot of interesting things.

The Tübingen home book is devoted to several areas at once. So, home (or brownie) in the Middle Ages in Germany was called a book that contained information about a variety of subjects, i.e. it was a kind of practical almanac or reference book. In addition, the book had a section devoted to medicine (hence the name - iatromathematical calendar book), and a section devoted to geomancy - fortune telling with the help of the earth.

The four seasons of the annual cycle in the Tübingen home book
The four seasons of the annual cycle in the Tübingen home book

The book contained medical and astrological knowledge for "non-specialists". It was a kind of home guide, telling about the methods of treatment, in particular, bloodletting.

Zodiac man. The Tübingen Home Book. Library of the University of Tubingen. XV century
Zodiac man. The Tübingen Home Book. Library of the University of Tubingen. XV century

The image, which the authors of the book called "the zodiac man", was intended to visually explain how the signs of the zodiac and other astrological components affect the state of a person. It is known that in the Middle Ages astrology and medicine were closely interconnected. Before making a diagnosis, doctors often consulted astrological charts and almanacs. Many of these almanacs contained illustrations to help explain difficult points to patients.

The sun looks at the girl with interest, and the moon - mockingly, critically. This is probably female jealousy
The sun looks at the girl with interest, and the moon - mockingly, critically. This is probably female jealousy

Astrological works in the 12th and 13th centuries were translated into Latin from Arabic, and over time became part of European medical methods, which in turn were transformed into Galenian medicine. Galen was a great Greek physician and physiologist who lived from about 129-216. AD and systematized ancient knowledge into a doctrine that was the basis of medicine until the end of the Middle Ages.

Zodiac circle, in the middle - the Sun and the Moon. There are winds in the four corners
Zodiac circle, in the middle - the Sun and the Moon. There are winds in the four corners

Astrological works in the 12th and 13th centuries were translated into Latin from the Arabic language, and over time became part of European medical methods, which in turn were transformed into Galenian medicine. Galen was a great Greek physician and physiologist who lived from about 129-216. AD and systematized ancient knowledge into a doctrine that was the basis of medicine until the end of the Middle Ages.

In addition to the topics already mentioned, the book contains chapters on the signs of the Zodiac, astrological houses, planets, describes four temperaments, the characters of people born under a certain sign, tables for astronomical and astrological calculations of fate, a guide to deciphering fortune-telling and other important data. A series of pictures from the manuscript is dedicated to the planets and their areas of responsibility in the lives of mere mortals. We study and analyze.

Saturn
Saturn
Jupiter
Jupiter
Mars
Mars
Venus
Venus
Mercury
Mercury
Moon
Moon

The book also contains illustrations for the conceptual knowledge of that time. The picture below illustrates the seven liberal arts. From left to right: Geometry, Logic, Arithmetic, in the center Grammar, Music, Physics (usually Astronomy in this place), Rhetoric.

Seven Liberal Arts. The Tübingen Home Book. Library of the University of Tübingen. XV century
Seven Liberal Arts. The Tübingen Home Book. Library of the University of Tübingen. XV century

There are also religious motives in the Tubingen home book.

Bird Phoenix with a cross halo - Phoenix is likened to Christ
Bird Phoenix with a cross halo - Phoenix is likened to Christ

Several chapters are devoted to the signs of the zodiac in the book, which are accompanied by very interesting drawings.

Zodiac sign Gemini
Zodiac sign Gemini
Mercury. His daytime home is Virgo, his nighttime home is Gemini
Mercury. His daytime home is Virgo, his nighttime home is Gemini
Tips, lots of tips
Tips, lots of tips

Lovers of history and literature will be interested in learning and the secret of medieval libraries, or why monks kept books on a chain … The folios were handwritten, and their price was simply fantastic, because the monks pored over each book for hours, and the rewriting process sometimes took years.

Recommended: