DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52695#0058
52
Poets and Mathematicians (Figs. 40 and 41) to see that all three
must have had a common archetype. Although on the Vienna maps
and on the globe of Bylica the Arabic garments were changed to
European, according to the Italian fashion of about 1440 in the
former case and the German fashion of 1470—1480 in the latter,
numerous Arabic names and other traces of Arabic influence and of
the Uranography of as-Sufi still remained. On the other hand, in
line with classical tradition, all the human figures on the two maps
from Hamburg are naked. The designer responsible for Voss’s maps
was fully aware of the absurdity of clothing ancient gods and heroes
in garments or armour of his own time. His Hercules is a bearded
athletic man of the well known type perpetuated in antiquity by
the figure of Hercules from the Farnese collection. The hero carries
over his left arm the skin of the Nemean lion, in the right a heavy
club, and is no longer shown as the „Falceator” brandishing the
curved sicklelike sword. Similarly, Orion retains his classical attributes
while Cepheus and Andromeda are shown naked. The only remaining
trace of Arabic influence on these maps is the bearded head of a demon,
the caput-al-ghul, instead of the snake-covered head of a Gorgon
held by Perseus.
In the foui* corners of the map of the northern hemisphere there
are represented the four elements of which the world is made. The
elements are accompanied by the planetary and other gods. The top
left-hand corner is occupied by the element of fire and the gods of
the planets with a hot and dry nature, Mars and Apollo killing
a serpent. In the top right hand corner there are the formidable
Saturn with the scythe, Venus and the element of ah’. In the bottom
left-hand corner Jupiter and Pluto are shown ruling, one over, the
other under, the earth, Pluto is assisted by a train of infernal Furies
and the three-headed Cerberus. Behind Pluto there is the only
reminiscence of Christianity on this truly pagan illustration; the
open gates of hell with sinners crying for mercy are shown in the
background of an idyllic landscape. Finally, in the bottom right-
hand corner Luna, identified with Diana the archeress, is shown
in the company of Mercury ruling over the element of water. The
circumf erence of the southern hemisphere is surrounded with a garland
of twigs interrupted at regular intervals by the heads of the sixteen
winds blowing from different directions. The analogue of this design
on the globe of Bylica consists of inscriptions specifying the names
Poets and Mathematicians (Figs. 40 and 41) to see that all three
must have had a common archetype. Although on the Vienna maps
and on the globe of Bylica the Arabic garments were changed to
European, according to the Italian fashion of about 1440 in the
former case and the German fashion of 1470—1480 in the latter,
numerous Arabic names and other traces of Arabic influence and of
the Uranography of as-Sufi still remained. On the other hand, in
line with classical tradition, all the human figures on the two maps
from Hamburg are naked. The designer responsible for Voss’s maps
was fully aware of the absurdity of clothing ancient gods and heroes
in garments or armour of his own time. His Hercules is a bearded
athletic man of the well known type perpetuated in antiquity by
the figure of Hercules from the Farnese collection. The hero carries
over his left arm the skin of the Nemean lion, in the right a heavy
club, and is no longer shown as the „Falceator” brandishing the
curved sicklelike sword. Similarly, Orion retains his classical attributes
while Cepheus and Andromeda are shown naked. The only remaining
trace of Arabic influence on these maps is the bearded head of a demon,
the caput-al-ghul, instead of the snake-covered head of a Gorgon
held by Perseus.
In the foui* corners of the map of the northern hemisphere there
are represented the four elements of which the world is made. The
elements are accompanied by the planetary and other gods. The top
left-hand corner is occupied by the element of fire and the gods of
the planets with a hot and dry nature, Mars and Apollo killing
a serpent. In the top right hand corner there are the formidable
Saturn with the scythe, Venus and the element of ah’. In the bottom
left-hand corner Jupiter and Pluto are shown ruling, one over, the
other under, the earth, Pluto is assisted by a train of infernal Furies
and the three-headed Cerberus. Behind Pluto there is the only
reminiscence of Christianity on this truly pagan illustration; the
open gates of hell with sinners crying for mercy are shown in the
background of an idyllic landscape. Finally, in the bottom right-
hand corner Luna, identified with Diana the archeress, is shown
in the company of Mercury ruling over the element of water. The
circumf erence of the southern hemisphere is surrounded with a garland
of twigs interrupted at regular intervals by the heads of the sixteen
winds blowing from different directions. The analogue of this design
on the globe of Bylica consists of inscriptions specifying the names