"Astrology in Medieval Manuscripts describes the complexity of western medieval astrology and its place in society, as revealed by a wealth of illustrated manuscripts and historical background."--BOOK JACKET.

Politics, medicine, weather forecasting, cosmology and alchemy were all influenced by astrological concepts. Astrology in Medieval Manuscripts explores the dazzling complexity of western medieval astrology and its place in society.

Astrology permeated many aspects of medieval society and people's fear of the work of the astrologer was gradually transformed into revering him as an important and influential scholar. The ability to understand and predict celestial movements improved greatly in the medieval period and this study not only provides the historical background to astrology at this time, but it traces the principles and methods used as documented in manuscripts. Sophie Page goes on to assess the role of astrology in society as a whole, in agriculture, politics, medicine, weather forecasting, cosmology and alchemy, accompanied by many lovely illustrations.

Magic in Medieval Manuscripts explores the place of magic in the medieval world and the contradictory responses it evoked, through an exploration of images and texts in British Library manuscripts.

From antiquity to the Enlightenment, astrology, magic, and alchemy were considered important tools to unravel the mysteries of nature and human destiny. As a result of the West's exposure during the Middle Ages to the astrological beliefs of Arab philosophers and the mystical writings of late antiquity, these occult traditions became rich sources of inspiration for Western artists. In this latest volume in the popular Guide to Imagery series, the author presents a careful analysis of occult iconography in many of the great masterpieces of Western art, calling out key features in the illustrations for discussion and interpretation. Astrological symbols decorated medieval churches and illuminated manuscripts as well as fifteenth-century Italian town halls and palaces. The transformational zymology of magic and alchemy that enlivened the work of a wide range of Renaissance artists, including Bosch, Brueghel, D: urer, and Caravaggio, found renewed expression in the visionary works of nineteenth-century artists, such as Fuseli and Blake, as well as in the creative output of the twentieth century's Surrealists.

This book offers an internalist view on the history of astrology by studying the case of S. Belle, an astrologer who lived in late fifteenth-century France. It addresses his methods of work, his process of learning, and his practice.

This is a guide to a ninth-century astronomical treatise, the Aratea, on loan from the University of Leiden and exhibited at the Museum. The book describes the manuscript, as a text. Subsequent chapters discuss ancient conceptions of the universe, the zodiacal signs, and the Planetarium miniatures. All miniatures from the manuscript are illustrated.

Critical edition of the earliest known astrological autobiography The present book reveals the riches of the earliest known astrological autobiography, authored by Henry Bate of Mechelen (1246–after 1310). Exploiting all resources of contemporary astrological science, Bate conducts in his Nativitas a profound self-analysis, revealing the peculiarities of his character and personality at a crucial moment of his life (1280). The result is an extraordinarily detailed and penetrating attempt to decode the fate of one’s own life and its idiosyncrasies. The Astrological Autobiography of a Medieval Philosopher offers the first critical edition of Bate’s Nativitas. An extensive introduction presents Bate’s life and work and sheds new light on the reception and use of Greek, Latin, Arabic, and Hebrew texts among scholars in Paris at the end of the 13th century. The book thus provides a major new resource for scholars working on medieval science, autobiography, and notions of personhood and individuality.

This important and overdue book examines illuminated manuscripts and other book arts of the Global Middle Ages. Illuminated manuscripts and illustrated or decorated books—like today’s museums—preserve a rich array of information about how premodern peoples conceived of and perceived the world, its many cultures, and everyone’s place in it. Often a Eurocentric field of study, manuscripts are prisms through which we can glimpse the interconnected global history of humanity. Toward a Global Middle Ages is the first publication to examine decorated books produced across the globe during the period traditionally known as medieval. Through essays and case studies, the volume’s multidisciplinary contributors expand the historiography, chronology, and geography of manuscript studies to embrace a diversity of objects, individuals, narratives, and materials from Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas—an approach that both engages with and contributes to the emerging field of scholarly inquiry known as the Global Middle Ages. Featuring more than 160 color illustrations, this wide-ranging and provocative collection is intended for all who are interested in engaging in a dialogue about how books and other textual objects contributed to world-making strategies from about 400 to 1600.

Discover how to use astrology to understand yourself, make the best choices, and improve every area of your life. In her trademark accessible, down-to-earth style, acclaimed astrologer Carole Taylor explains how to use the age-old wisdom of astrology as a powerful tool for self-knowledge and self-enrichment. Using your birth chart as a starting point, you'll learn how to interpret the zodiac signs, planets, and astrological houses to better understand yourself. Carole shows how astrology can provide psychological insights, then pinpoints ways to use this knowledge to nurture personal and professional relationships, deal with stress, or release your imagination and creativity. You'll discover, too, how star lore can help you when you need it most, with practical advice on negotiating key moments, whether you're changing jobs, starting a family, coping with financial difficulty, or facing retirement. Authoritative and easy to understand, featuring fascinating case studies and with beautiful, inspiring illustrations throughout, Astrology is your essential e-guide to making the most of all life's challenges and opportunities.