9th-10th century AD
Illustration in early medieval manuscript of Aratus. It shows the constellation Perseus. Perseus is running forward, holding the head of Medusa in his hand, its snakes wriggling out against the sky.
9th-10th century AD
Illustration in early medieval manuscript of Aratus. It shows the constellation Hercules.
9th-10th century AD
Illustration in early medieval manuscript of Aratus. It shows the constellation Andromeda.
ca. AD 1430-1440
Miniature in Arabic manuscript of Aratus: the constellation Hercules (Paris, cod. arab. 5036). The hero has been given a turban and a scimitar.
ca. AD 1430-1440
Miniature in Arabic manuscript of Aratus: the constellation Perseus . The severed heard of the gorgon, Medusa, has been transformed into a bearded man's head.
Miniature from a European copy of an Arabic manuscript of Aratus (Vindobon. 5415, before 1464: German following Italian Seznec 185). The artist keeps the scimitar that the Arabic artists added, but removes the turban.
Medieval European manuscript copying Arabic manuscript of Aratus.
Constellation Hercules drawn by Albrecht Dürer for his sky map of 1515. Dürer replaces the scimitar with a club, and restores the lionskin as an explanation for the outstretched left arm.
Constellation Perseus as drawn by Albrecht Dürer at the beginning of the Renaissance: sky map 0f 1515. Dürer shows the head as Medusa, with snakes in her hair, and gives Perseus winged boots.
11th century illustration of Hrabanus Maurus's De Universo.
Left to Right: Vulcan, Pluto, Bacchus, Mercury