Pantheon Astrology

From Astronomy and the Bible by Lucas Albert Reed, 1919.

On the rise: my collection of vintage sun imagery.

Albrecht Dürer Saint Jerome in His Study, 1514 New York City, Metropolitan Museum of Art (engraving, 246 x 189 mm)

Circle of the Master of the Female Half Lengths Lucretia, circa 1514-1550 (oil on wood panel, 655 x 500 mm)

The unknown artist who painted this Lucretia transported the subject into the space used by Albrecht Dürer in his Meisterstiche depicting St. Jerome. While most of the iconography from Dürer's print is removed, the prominent gourd in the upper right corner still remains.

The original meaning of the gourd often remains unclear to all but the most educated scholars, who have noted that it is likely a reference to the philological disagreement between St. Jerome and St. Augustine over the meaning of the Hebrew word kikayon as used in the Book of Jonah. Whereas Augustine believed it should follow the traditional translation cucurbita (gourd), Jerome settled on the term hedera, which describes a type of ivy.

Outside of those who would be familiar with this debate, the gourd in Dürer's print was understood to reference the passing of time, which may explain its inclusion in the otherwise unrelated story of Lucretia.

From the Fables of Aesop, told anew by Joseph Jacobs, 1894.

My modest collection of vintage peacocks is spreading out beautifully.

Ah, Capricorn– the traditional star sign of corporate lawyers, architectural engineers, and heads of HR. Congratulations on your month, I hope your friends throw you a nice party this year instead of whispering I don’t know, they just give off that distant serial killer vibe behind your back like they usually do. Happy birthday!

(Isn’t that Aquarius on the same page so incredibly fabulous? But you’ll have to wait until January for that one.)

Manuscript description and digital images can be found here at OPenn, and you can download an ebook version here.

Merry Ēostre/Ostara, spring equinox ! will soon be all fools Day ! Tübingen House Book: Iatromathematisches calendar book; the art of astronomy and geomancy, c. 15th century, MS. Md 2, f 42v, Tübingen University Library.