DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41741#0112
sabula and ratio, containing stories about stars derived from the pagan tradition and
antique knowledge about zodiac, and veritas and figura related to the Christian tradition
according to which to particular months and the signs of zodiac which accompany
them the definite story from Old or New Testament is ascribed. The word sigura was
moreover understood as rhythm of a Christian’s life determined by the sign of zodiac,
contained in the quotation from Old and New Testament80.
It seems that the sense of the astrological representations in psalters and books
of hours might have been similar to the meaning sigura in Chronicon Zwisaltense, being
at the same time a kind of exegesis 81.
Among the atrological images in the examined psalters and books of hours appear
mainly paranatellonta. Many of them are repeated within the limits of the three decanates
of several different signs* in three different spheres — Persian, Indian and Greek. Christian
interpretation was connected with the signs of zodiac and so introduction of paranatel-
lonta in the decoration of psalters and books of hours created — as it seems — the possi-
sibility of coding in one image several quotations from Old and New Testament.
There are numerous examples proving that the astrological images were placed
in psalters and books of hours with the proper understanding of their Christian sense
E.g. in the English psalter from the 1st half of the XVth century (MS 186) at the bottom
of the calendar under particular zodiac signs the inscriptions are placed explaining their
Christian sense: Aquarius — St. John the Baptist, Pisces — Jonas, Aries — the Sacrifice
of Abraham etc. In the Montacute Psalter the scene the Sacrifice of Abraham is accom-
panied by zodiac Aries and in the Tickhill Psalter under the image of Sagittarius the
inscription Jonathan is placed 82. The use of astrological images in the sense sigura
finds confirmation in the Florian Psalter. Among the quotations in the zodiological
treatises under the sign of Capricorn psalm 31, verse 9 is coded 8S. In the Florian Psalter
this verse is accompanied by the interlinear strip with the image of two doves, the dove
being — according to Teukros — paranatellonta of the decanates of Capricorn 84.
Assuming that the sense of the astrological images in psalters and in books of hours
is similar to the meaning sigura, it is possible to explain why Sagittarius appears so often
on the pages of these manuscripts. It resulted from the numerous quotations connected
with it in comparison to other signs, taken from St. John’s Gospel (12, 26), Lucas (21, 19),
II Letter to Corinthians (5, 6), I Letter of St. John ( 3, 2), I Letter to Corinthians (13, 10)
and the Letter to Philippians (4, 13). It explains also the common use of the images of Hare
(Lepus) and Dog (Canis) as they are paranatellonta of the decanates of Sagittarius but
also of Aries and Aquarius what widens the sense of this image including the quotations
from the Letter to Romans (12, 1), Ephesian (4,13) and prophet Isaiah (5, 6)85. The
popularity of deer, paranatellonta of the decanates of Aries and Libra, two signs
which according to Zeno of Verona denote Christ, his sacrifice and crucifixion, is
based on the same principle 86. The quotations from the Letter to Romans (12, 1) and
prophet Isaiah connected with it mark the way of the conduct of a Christian 87.
•° Hübner, o.. c., pp. 69-84, 197-203, pi. 20, p. 133.
81 Hypothesis that the illustrations accompanying the text of the psalter are a kind os commentary
was suggested by F. Mütherich (Die verschiedenen Bedeutimgsschichten in der srühmittelalterlichen Psalter-
illustration, Frühmittelalterliche Studien. Jahrbuch des Instituts für Frühmittelalter forschung der
Universität Münster VI, 1972, p. 234).
85 Add. 4082, 82r. — MS 26, 26r.
88 Hübner, o. c.., o. 133, pl. 20.
84 Boll, o. c., p. 257.
88 Hübner, o. c., p. 133, pl. 20.
88 Ibidem, pp. 63, 90, pl. 15. — W. Hübner, Das Horoskop der Christen (Zeno 1.38L), Vigiliae Christia-
nae XXIX, 1975, pp. 120-137.
87 Hübner Zodiacus..., p. 133, pl. 20.
110
antique knowledge about zodiac, and veritas and figura related to the Christian tradition
according to which to particular months and the signs of zodiac which accompany
them the definite story from Old or New Testament is ascribed. The word sigura was
moreover understood as rhythm of a Christian’s life determined by the sign of zodiac,
contained in the quotation from Old and New Testament80.
It seems that the sense of the astrological representations in psalters and books
of hours might have been similar to the meaning sigura in Chronicon Zwisaltense, being
at the same time a kind of exegesis 81.
Among the atrological images in the examined psalters and books of hours appear
mainly paranatellonta. Many of them are repeated within the limits of the three decanates
of several different signs* in three different spheres — Persian, Indian and Greek. Christian
interpretation was connected with the signs of zodiac and so introduction of paranatel-
lonta in the decoration of psalters and books of hours created — as it seems — the possi-
sibility of coding in one image several quotations from Old and New Testament.
There are numerous examples proving that the astrological images were placed
in psalters and books of hours with the proper understanding of their Christian sense
E.g. in the English psalter from the 1st half of the XVth century (MS 186) at the bottom
of the calendar under particular zodiac signs the inscriptions are placed explaining their
Christian sense: Aquarius — St. John the Baptist, Pisces — Jonas, Aries — the Sacrifice
of Abraham etc. In the Montacute Psalter the scene the Sacrifice of Abraham is accom-
panied by zodiac Aries and in the Tickhill Psalter under the image of Sagittarius the
inscription Jonathan is placed 82. The use of astrological images in the sense sigura
finds confirmation in the Florian Psalter. Among the quotations in the zodiological
treatises under the sign of Capricorn psalm 31, verse 9 is coded 8S. In the Florian Psalter
this verse is accompanied by the interlinear strip with the image of two doves, the dove
being — according to Teukros — paranatellonta of the decanates of Capricorn 84.
Assuming that the sense of the astrological images in psalters and in books of hours
is similar to the meaning sigura, it is possible to explain why Sagittarius appears so often
on the pages of these manuscripts. It resulted from the numerous quotations connected
with it in comparison to other signs, taken from St. John’s Gospel (12, 26), Lucas (21, 19),
II Letter to Corinthians (5, 6), I Letter of St. John ( 3, 2), I Letter to Corinthians (13, 10)
and the Letter to Philippians (4, 13). It explains also the common use of the images of Hare
(Lepus) and Dog (Canis) as they are paranatellonta of the decanates of Sagittarius but
also of Aries and Aquarius what widens the sense of this image including the quotations
from the Letter to Romans (12, 1), Ephesian (4,13) and prophet Isaiah (5, 6)85. The
popularity of deer, paranatellonta of the decanates of Aries and Libra, two signs
which according to Zeno of Verona denote Christ, his sacrifice and crucifixion, is
based on the same principle 86. The quotations from the Letter to Romans (12, 1) and
prophet Isaiah connected with it mark the way of the conduct of a Christian 87.
•° Hübner, o.. c., pp. 69-84, 197-203, pi. 20, p. 133.
81 Hypothesis that the illustrations accompanying the text of the psalter are a kind os commentary
was suggested by F. Mütherich (Die verschiedenen Bedeutimgsschichten in der srühmittelalterlichen Psalter-
illustration, Frühmittelalterliche Studien. Jahrbuch des Instituts für Frühmittelalter forschung der
Universität Münster VI, 1972, p. 234).
85 Add. 4082, 82r. — MS 26, 26r.
88 Hübner, o. c.., o. 133, pl. 20.
84 Boll, o. c., p. 257.
88 Hübner, o. c., p. 133, pl. 20.
88 Ibidem, pp. 63, 90, pl. 15. — W. Hübner, Das Horoskop der Christen (Zeno 1.38L), Vigiliae Christia-
nae XXIX, 1975, pp. 120-137.
87 Hübner Zodiacus..., p. 133, pl. 20.
110