MS M.785, fol. 22v

Download image: 
Abū Maʻshar
-886

Astrological treatises

Bruges, Belgium
early 15th century, in or before 1403
254 x 175 mm

Purchased in 1935

MS M.785
Page description: 

Third Decanus of Scorpio in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Tail and forequarters of horse inscribed ANTERIOR PARS EQUI INGENTIS MASCULI. CAUDA SUPER TERGUM REUERSA (Constellation: Centaurus); forequarters of bull, inscribed PARS ANTERIOR TAURI (Constellation: Taurus); man, inscribed TESTA ADOPERTI IN MANIBUS SUIS GESTANS GEMINOS ANGUES (sic), wearing hat, holding two serpents (Constellation: Serpentarius).
2) Sphaera Indica:
Dog, inscribed CANIS FURIOSUS SILUAM CIRCUIENS, chasing boar, inscribed PORCUS, and stag, inscribed CERUUS, in landscape with trees (Astrological Sign: unidentified).
3) Sphaera Graeca:
Mid body of animal, inscribed PECTUS MINORIS ARTHOTOS (sic) (Astrological Sign: unidentified); winged body of dragon, inscribed SINUS DRACONIS (Constellation: Draco); man holding snake's tail in right hand inscribed EUGE SEMIS SERPENTEM TENENS BRACHIO DEXTRO (sic) (Constellation: Serpentarius); body of scorpion with six legs, inscribed VENTER SCORPIONIS (Constellation: Scorpio); censer, inscribed CAPUT THURIBULI IGNIFERI (Constellation: Ara).

Credits: 

Photography by Pixel Acuity, 2021