Cogwheels, each with a pointing figure, a means of obtaining a key number. MS. Digby 46, a copy and continuation of MS. Ashmole 304, is a 14th century collection of writings on geomancy, a quasi-astrological form of divination and fortune-telling.
Provenance: , England
Dates from: XIV century
Currently Housed in: Bodleian library
Portrait of Bernard Silvester, with superscription declaring him to be the translator of this 'infallible book.'
Provenance: ,
Dates from: XIV century
Beginning of the first treatise, assigned to the 'physician of King Amalricus.'
Provenance: ,
Dates from: XIV century
Currently Housed in: Bodleian Library
Final paragraph of the prologue to the Liber Experimentarius, naming Bernard as the 'faithful translator from the Arabic.' The dots represent the usual method of obtaining one's key number or figure. A. random number of dots were quickly 'cast' in four parallel lines and the number of dots in each line was counted: if a line had an even number 2 dots were left; if an odd number, one dot.. The resulting pattern was one of 16 possible combinations (2212, 1121,1221 etc.) each of which carried its own meaning, or (depending on the form of geomancy favoured) led on to the next stage.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: XIV century
Currently Housed in: Bodleian Library
The treatise proper begins under a picture of Euclid, holding a sphere and squinting through a dioptron at the moon, and 'Hermannus' (so named in MS. Ashmole 304) who holds an astrolabe.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: XIV century
Currently Housed in: Bodleian Library
One of a number of 'tables' to which the key number or geomantic pattern or questions led.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: XIV century
Currently Housed in: Bodleian Library
Sixteen possible Questions in lettered boxes, each question occurring twice. By finding his question and noting the two letters, the inquirer proceeds to tables (not shown) headed by 2-letter combinations. From information in this table, he is referred to a sector of one of 13 circular tables (frames 10-15) where he finds the name of a 'judge' or 'king'. Under each of these judges are listed 9 'answers' and his key number locates the solution to his enquiry.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: XIV century
Currently Housed in: Bodleian Library
A chart of the heavens, with symbols for the months. In the centre is the crucifixion and symbols of the Evangelists at the corners. MS. Rawl. D.939 (section 2). Calendar, English, c.1370.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: xiv century
Astrological man, and chart for computing the influence of the planets, on the body. MS. Rawl. D.939 (section 5).
Provenance: ,
Dates from: century
Horologium cum sole. MS. Rawl. D.939 (section 5).
Provenance: ,
Dates from: century
Zodiacal man. MS . Canon. Misc. 248, f.42. Treatise on Astronomy, calendar etc., French, 3rd quarter 14th century.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: xiv century
Zodiacal man. MS. Digby 81, f.128v Mathematica, Chronologica etc. French, 15th century.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: xv century
Zodiacal man. MS. Digby 48, f.15v Astronomica. English, 15th century.
Provenance: , England
Dates from: xv century
The universe, shown as naked zodiacal man. MS. Bodl. 266, f.144. Michael Scotus? Liber Introductorius. Italian, 15th century.
Provenance: , Italy
Dates from: xv century
Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Juno, Neptune, Pluto and Ops. Ganymede. f.197v
Provenance: ,
Dates from: century
Mars, Apollo, the Muses, two monsters. f.198.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: century
Venus, The Three Graces, Vulcan, Cupid, Apollo, Mercury and 'Argus' f .198
Provenance: ,
Dates from: century
Mars and Venus, Vulcan, Hercules and Aesculapius. f.200.
Provenance: ,
Dates from: century
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