Zodiac Man

As Homo signorum ( German: Zodiac Sign Man ), the pictorial representation of the zodiacal Melothesie is referred to, namely that the central concept of the pre-modern, based on astrology medicine ( Iatromathematics ), which assigned the regions of the human body, the twelve signs of the zodiac and their influence. The presentation is usually one half of a two separate parts Medical Illustration sequence, which is completed by a picture of a phlebotomy male.

Due to its overwhelming importance in medical practice between the 13th and 18th century images of Homo signorum can be found in countless manuscript and printed sources of the medieval and early modern Europe.

Origins

The theoretical basis for the zodiac sign Man is the medieval concept based on ancient roots of the relationship between micro-and macrocosm. Man as Microcosm ( mundus minor " Small World" ) and thus its physical operations correspond according to this idea with the events in the macrocosm, ie especially the processes that take place in the supra- lunar spheres. This is the basic paradigm of astrology based on magical thinking, the anthropocentric aspects manifest themselves particularly strong in Homo signorum.

The teaching that the zodiac signs dominate different parts of the human anatomy, probably goes back to the font collection of (pseudo) Nechepso - Petosiris. The Roman writer Manilius presented in the 1st century AD, the zodiacal Melothesie in Astronomicon (Book 2, principal part XI) short, but already as fully developed system, before. As a result, the concept gained considerable influence in the astrological medicine. The rejection of the Catholic Church, the Melothesie thesis as incompatible with Christian teaching rejected on the provincial council of Braga, could not stop their triumphal march in the Middle Ages. Especially the translation of the syntaxis mathematica, the main work of ancient scholars Ptolemy, in the Almagest ( before 1200 ) of Gerard of Cremona spread this idea since the High Middle Ages.

Medical importance

Pictures of Homo signorum served primarily as a tool for the bloodletting. After iatromathematischer idea that opening a vein, was strictly forbidden for draining blood to a body part, which was ruled by the currently "ruling " Zodiac. It was expected that would occur as an almost inevitable consequence of the death or insanity of the patient, if contrary to this rule.

Iconography

Types and structure

The iconography of Homo signorum can be divided into four different types. They differ depending on the type of linkage of the body parts of the human body depicted with the sign of the zodiac:

The following table shows the relationship of the zodiac signs on the body parts, ie the zodiacal Melothesie, is:

The posture of Homo signorum right here with the spread in the representations of the microcosm largely the same, so that is likely not only from a content- dependence, but also of a formal relationship. The symbolic meaning of the zodiac sign 's as a visualization of the combination of macro and micro cosmos may have been connoted with it for a long time with the illustration.

History of Illustration

It is not known whether already existed ancient pictures of the zodiac sign man. A sort of precursor finds illustration in the Aratea handwriting end of the Middle Ages, such as those from suffering. These show, inter alia, the constellation Cepheus, in which an explicit connection between stars and the frontal body of a man was shown. In order for these images can be viewed as a predecessor of the microcosm iconography. Even the famous microcosm representations themselves, such as the famous illuminated Liber divinorum manuscripts of Hildegard von Bingen, may be considered as predecessor of Homo signorum.

The image type of the male bloodletting comes as Homo signorum from the 13th century. The calendarium the later Rector of the University of Paris, Petrus de Dacia, contains the oldest known signs of the zodiac males. Its more powerful calendar Komputus combination is delivered in several textual witnesses. Three manuscripts of the Calendariums contain an illustration of Homo signorums and bloodletting male, which implies a certain tradition of these pictures was founded in the calendar literature.

Both figures appear soon primarily on medical manuscripts. Your similar function and form cause she was brought to the 2nd half of the 14th century in a fixed sequence. Sometimes you put them together in a single illustration. Phlebotomy males and homo signorum are soon more and more often in the manuscripts on two sides directly opposite or form the front and back of a leaf. This is also often the case when the notes of the two images is performed to completely different places.