The Arma Christi [General discussion]

[MarcoP]

One can ask himself: why these manuscripts have fewer religious illustrations than others? Answers will vary according to the cases, but they can all be informative.

Well, surely because Christian dogma discouraged astrology? Under Christian theology, any attempt to include religious iconography into astrological works would have been viewed as heretical - you would have been suggesting that you were trying to manipulate God and His messengers into disclosing secret information that you should not be privy to.

I agree: the relationship between Catholicism and Astrology was a difficult one. In the end, both managed to thrive side by side, with astrological art often finding its way into religious monumental art (e.g. Romanesque zodiac portals, the floor in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.).

When Christian imagery finds its way into astrological works (e.g. the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. in the first pages of Tubingen Hausbuch ms Md 2) one can wonder if this was an (unconscious?) attempt to show that the book was not heretical.

Of the three astrological works I mentioned above:

1. Astrolabium Planum appears to derive from the works of the Persian Abumasar (Abu Maʿshar). The Latin text is thought to be the work of Pietro d'Abano, who was indeed put to trial (and finally condemned) by the Inquisition for his astrological works.

2. Fendulus' work also derives from Abu Ma'shar. The name of the author could be a pseudonym and the work could have been commissioned by Emperor Fredrick II. Fredrick was excommunicated by the Pope (for political reasons) and Dante later assigned him to the heretics in Inferno.

3. Alfonso's Astromagia BAV Reg.Lat.1283.a is likely to be a translation of Arabic sources, possibly by the Jewish scholars employed by the king.


In general, one can see that there is a pattern of conflict with the Roman Church. Some of the works were commissioned by powerful rulers who could allow themselves to openly defy Papacy. All the works appear to heavily depend on Islamic sources.

While the VMS does not look like a kingly manuscript, a non-Christian (and non-European) origin of the contents remains a possibility that is well worth considering.