Planetary Diagrams for Roman Astronomy in Medieval Europe, ca. 800-1500
Bruce S. Eastwood|Gerd Graßhoff
PREFACE For more than twenty years, one of us (Bruce Eastwood) has been studying the texts and manuscripts four Roman works. These are Pliny Elder's Natural History, Macrobius's Commentary on Cicero's Somnium Scipionis, Martianus Capella's Marriage Philology Mercury, Calcidius's Timaeus Plato. Manuscripts these works multiplied during ninth century, in culture Carolingian renaissance, each contained or stimulated astronomical diagrams that can reveal to moderns certain concerns scholars leaders involved. An important stimulus for present work was discovery early medieval astronomy, especially era Charlemagne his successors, consisted went far beyond boundaries computus, which modern have long believed be only significant context studies time. It became apparent sometimes varying innovative where no other sign divergence from text could seen. Such were not necessarily corruptions errors; they frequently found provide indications understandings texts-understandings different those generally ignored by editors texts. Furthermore traditions lasted many cases fifteenth century. Over years Eastwood collected a large number microfilms using any planetary derived He carried out initial locating identifying all referred work. In summer 1997 two came together three months at Max Planck Institute History Science Berlin directly compilation analysis diagrams. 1999 we were, again Berlin, able intensively follow up our basic earlier. Finally, 2001 completed scholarly tasks needed The preparatory supported generously times National Foundation, Advanced Study (Princeton), American Philosophical Society frequent research grants University Kentucky. collaborative stage, onward, Max-Planck-Institut-fur-Wissenschaftsgeschichte (Berlin) both Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst Foundation as well Without sources support over this project never completed, extremely grateful institutions helping make possible. Regarding collaboration, want emphasize although contributed data about diagrams, it conversations between primarily sessions together, produced final separations classifications individual Often would seem first diagram referring doctrine author, Capella example, when further questioning then show error preliminary assessment lead assign question Macrobius example. Correct assignment its originating always obvious easy, give-and-take discussing such questions made result superior what either accomplished without other. organization form, while requiring consultation us, is almost completely contribution Grashoff. …
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