f28v imagery

[Linda]

It is certainly true that the flower does invoke the shape of an eclipse. As far as I understand it, eclipses would have had the highest importance in ceremonial and religious contexts. If the priestly elite can predict when the sun will disappear, they can exert great power over the people.

They would of course also be of interest to those studying the movements of the heavenly bodies for "scientific" reasons.

That said, "41 descending node" seems like a very technical term to be found in a flower - I mean, it's not the kind of thing you would expect a botanist or even a traveler or navigator to know. 

Do you know when people started numbering the saros like this? Would "41 descending node" have been understood already in the 15th century?

I'm not sure

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The earliest discovered historical record of the Saros cycle is by the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (ancient You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.) in the last several centuries BC You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., and was later known to You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.) and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.), but under different names. The Sumerian/Babylonian word "šár" was one of the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and as a number appears to have had a value of 3600 (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.). The name "saros" (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.: σάρος) was first given to the eclipse cycle by You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. in 1691, who took it from the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., a Byzantine lexicon of the 11th century. Although Halley's naming error was pointed out by You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. in 1756, the name continues to be used.