Constellations in the Middle Ages
Barbara Obrist
CONSTELLATIONS IN THE MIDDLE AGES Sternbilder des Mittelalters: Der gemalte Himmel zwischen Wissenschaft und Phantasie, Band I: 800-1200. Dieter Blume, Mechthild Haffner and Wolfgang Metzger (Akademie Verlag, Berlin, 2012). Pp. 651+ 403 in two vols. euro298. ISBN 978-3-05-005664-7.In 1898 Georg Thiele published a first, very suggestive of the delineation celestial Greek Roman Antiquity. Thiele's approach was an art historian, since process isolating groups stars naming them involves projection figurative into heavens. However, this nineteenth-century scholar also familiar with more specialized, mathematical aspects astronomy.More than century later, collective three historians has extended Middle conceived primarily as pictorial representations. The first part their two-part publication, volumes, ends twelfth century; second will cover period from 1200 through end Ages. authors relate work not to but Fritz Saxl, who 1915 catalogue medieval manuscripts containing astrological mythological illustrations. And indeed, Mittelalters is, above all, extensive 68 present illustrations then usual forty-two (cf., for instance, Hyginus), both isolated gathered within maps (pp. 179-566). volume Part I is devoted entirely illustrations.Over last century, our knowledge manuscript material greatly increased publications dealing usually ignored by science have multiplied, especially those concerning time-reckoning (i.e., beyond Charles W. Jones Amo Borst on Carolingian period). Relying bibliography, offer, introduction, cultural 13-176). They systematically contextualize documents, distinguishing types textual traditions, well general intellectual environments (monastic courtly). focus computistical manuscripts, comprised texts deal establishing Church calendar. include calendars cosmological expositions. introduction attempts subdivide spanning Antiquity 1200.The history representations constellations being, case study usage Ages (p. 66), assigning these particular functions: didactical, bridge observing nature, stimulation viewers' fantasy imagination 16). Obviously, represent chapter astronomy. authors' understanding astronomy may perplex some readers. Thus, while pushing beginning modem nature (Naturwissenschaft) far back tenth they simultaneously note that concept 'modem' does make any sense. For late understood be about questions relating calendar, scientific curiosity, fascination images scope never defined, appears reduced, presentation, practice calendar-making subject constellations, occasionally representing planets movements (the latter reference Bruce S. Eastwood). Mathematical are excluded. One might agree, course, were dominant aspect pre-twelfth-century Latin But when it comes reception Arabic astronomy, overly remarks diagrams geometrical demonstrations simply inadequate treated kind additions …
Journal for the History of Astronomy