MS M.785, fol. 25r

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Abū Maʻshar
-886

Astrological treatises

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

Purchased in 1935

MS M.785
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Third Decanus of Sagittarius in three zones:
1) Sphaera Persica:
Forequarters of dog leaping toward seated rabbit, inscribed LEPUS, (Constellation: Lepus); dog, inscribed CANIS IN CUIUS ORE MANUS KEAKASSII (sic), holding dismembered hand in mouth (Constellation: Canis); headless body of nude man in boat, inscribed SECUNDA MEDIETAS NAUIS (Constellation: Argo Navis); body of lion, inscribed CORPUS LEONIS (Constellation: Leo); tails of dragon and serpent, inscribed DRACONIS ET SERPENTIS (Constellation: Draco, and Constellation: Serpens); tail of fish, inscribed DELPHINIS (Constellation: Delphinus).
2) Sphaera Indica:
Man, inscribed VIR AUREI COLORIS, wearing hat, holding lighted torch in each hand, standing before bed, inscribed LECTUS (Astrological Sign: Vir Aurei Coloris).
3) Sphaera Graeca:
Tail of dragon, inscribed PARS DRACONIS (Constellation: Draco); hindquarters of bear, inscribed CORPUS MINORIS VRSE (Constellation: Ursa Minor); vulture, inscribed OLOR UEL VULTUR CADENS (Constellation: Lyra); tail of serpent, inscribed CAUDA SERPENTIS (Constellation: Serpens); forequarters of Sagittarius, inscribed CAPUT SAGITTARIUS CUM HUMERO ET CUM PEDIBUS ANTERIORIBUS, aiming bow and arrow (Constellation: Sagittarius).

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Photography by Pixel Acuity, 2021