IX-F. Scholarly Treatises

IX-13 Perseus

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.

IX-14 Hercules

9th-10th century AD

Illustration in early medieval manuscript of Aratus. It shows the constellation Hercules.

IX-15 Andromeda

9th-10th century AD

Illustration in early medieval manuscript of Aratus. It shows the constellation Andromeda.

IX-16 Arabic translations and illustrations of Aratus

Arabic manuscript of Aratus, Hercules

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.

Arabic manuscript of Aratus, Perseus

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.

IX-17 European Copies of Arabic Aratus Illustrations

European copy: Hercules (cf. IX-16)

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.

European copy: Perseus (cf. IX-16)

Medieval European manuscript copying Arabic manuscript of Aratus.

IX-18 Albrect Dürer and early Renaissance constellations

Hercules

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.

Perseus

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.

IX-19 11th century encyclopedia illustration

11th century illustration of Hrabanus Maurus's De Universo.

Left to Right: Vulcan, Pluto, Bacchus, Mercury

IX-20 Images of Venus, 15th century AD

Nude Venus presiding over a wedding union

Adoration of Venus