27-08-2021, 04:52 PM
We are interpreting art from our own prejudices and religious conditioning. If we step outside of this frame, we can see that the medieval artists were criticizing the Church in the religious images, particularly Carthusians who were very outspoken against the Canon Laws.
In the Zodiac from the Chartreuse Cathedral, the upper fish in pisces seems dead, the same image of a dead upper fish is depicted in Laufenburg. In the VM, the fishes and the salamander are the only animals holding the stars, the image related to divine things. The Salamander was a divine animal of the Bogomils. There are legends of Salamander in the Bosnian mythology. Dante used the image as well. I suppose it has to do with its duality and its appearance in the rain. A similar costume as the VM archer could be found on the stele of the Bosnian Bogomils, which could be again a connection to Armenians and Scythians who first brought Paulicianism (the forerunner of Bogomilism and Catharism)to the Balkans.
The Zodiac signs Acquarius and Capricorn are explained as being related to Saturnus - the farthest limit, which might have an alchemical significance, since they are missing in the VM.
I also believe that the reason why Taurus and Ram are divided has a lot to do with the medieval religious/political division.
In the Zodiac from the Chartreuse Cathedral, the upper fish in pisces seems dead, the same image of a dead upper fish is depicted in Laufenburg. In the VM, the fishes and the salamander are the only animals holding the stars, the image related to divine things. The Salamander was a divine animal of the Bogomils. There are legends of Salamander in the Bosnian mythology. Dante used the image as well. I suppose it has to do with its duality and its appearance in the rain. A similar costume as the VM archer could be found on the stele of the Bosnian Bogomils, which could be again a connection to Armenians and Scythians who first brought Paulicianism (the forerunner of Bogomilism and Catharism)to the Balkans.
The Zodiac signs Acquarius and Capricorn are explained as being related to Saturnus - the farthest limit, which might have an alchemical significance, since they are missing in the VM.
I also believe that the reason why Taurus and Ram are divided has a lot to do with the medieval religious/political division.