XVIII.— On a German Astronomico-Astrological Manuscript, and on the Origin of the Signs of the Zodiac. By ROBERT BROWN, Jim., Esq., F.S.A. Read March 10, 1881. PART L— GENERAL SKETCH OP THE MS. The folio MS. which I have the honour to exhibit to the Society, and which has been bound in calf and vaguely lettered Varia Curiosa, is a fragment con- sisting of 45 leaves, forming ff. 197-241 of the original compilation, and appears to belong to the latter part of the fifteenth century, and to be the production of some German artist of the Augsburg school. The treatise is of an astronomico- astrological character, and commences with some general observations headed " Concerning the whole of the heavens and stars," which deal with astronomical distances, etc. The writer passes on (f. 199) to speak of the heaven of the fixed stars : " The firmament of heaven is a circle, in which circle are the fixed stars or the constellations. Under the same circle is another circle, that of the Zodiac." He then proceeds (ff. 199A-210A) to treat of the Zodiacal Signs, and mentions whether each is diurnal or nocturnal." Throughout the treatise he uses the formula: " • is a Sign of the heaven and has many stars." He then (f. 210A) treats of the Extra-zodiacal Signs, and observes :— " You perceive the Signs are 36. The first is Ursa Minor under the North Pole, which is called by another name, Tramontane [i. e. because on one side of the Mons Coelius, whereon sits the Pole Star, styled in Assyrian Dayan-same, • Judge of heaven,' and ' the Crown of heaven,' as having the highest seat or throne among the heavenly host], and which has the appearance of being under the Dragon's tail (vide fig. f. 212). The other is called the Southern Tramontane, which by another name is styled Ursa [=Arktos, the Sanskrit, or rather Vedic, B-iksha, ' Shiner'] Major, and is stretched out behind the Dragon's head." The two Bears are constellations of Aryan origin. The writer then enumerates a He gives figures of the 12 Zodiacal Signs. That of Virgo (f. 206) is represented here, PI. VIII. VOL. XLVII. 2 Z 338 German Astronoinico-Astrological Manuscript, and the remaining Extra-zodiacal Signs, preserving the artificial number 36, based upon the division of each Zodiacal Sign into three parts which form the 36 Decans, the late Egyptian names of whose presiding genii are preserved by Julius Eirmicus, but omitting the following Ptolemaic Signs, viz., Serpens, Sagitta, Eridanus, Lupus, Corvus, Crater, and Corona Australis, all of which, however, except the last, are introduced into the pictures. He further states the Zodiacal Sign with which each Extra-zodiacal Sign is connected in astronomical astrology, and retains the number 36 by introducing seven other figures, namely :— I. Eig. xv. (f. 217).a Seven personages, four male and three female, the head of each surmounted by a star. The combination is stated to be towards the extremity of Taurus (f. 211), but the sexes of the personages do not agree with those of the mythological Hyades or Pleiades. They resemble emblematical figures of the days of the week. II. Eig. xix. (f. 218). Yultur cadens = Sagitta, which is represented in it. III. Eig. xxi. (f. 219).a This asterism, probably like Eig. xxxvi. a combination, is unknown to me. IY. Eig. xxvii. (f. 221).a Astronochus (?). V. Eig. xxviii. (f. 221 A).a Demon Meridianus or Demonius. A personification (Daim6n = Heavenly power) of the sun's noonday position, and connected with Cancer and Capricorn (f. 211), the sun being vertical at the solstices in these two Signs. A somewhat similar figure in an Hyginus in my possession, edit. 1535, represents a different object, viz., the Circulus Lacteus, a starry ring held by a female, near whom stands another female figure apparently asleep, and probably meant for Night. The design in the MS. is curious, and the (apparently) gratuitous introduction of a male figure into the combination is noticeable. The star outside the circle is the sun, and the other stars are his reduplications. VI. Eig. xxxv. (f. 224).a Unknown object. This appears to be an asterism near or forming part of Sagittarius and Capricornus. VII. Eig. xxxvi. (f. 224).a The last of these unusual Signs represents a com- bination, viz., (1.) Eegulus (vide f. 211), the a Leonis, the star at the spear- point; (2.) Two other bright stars in Leo, one of which is Deneb ; and (3.) Eive stars in Virgo, one of which is Spica, the a Virginis. The combination is stated (f. 211) to be partly in Leo and partly in Virgo. The figures which I am unable to recognise are probably put together some- what similarly from the catalogues of Hipparchos and Ptolemy. The drawings show considerable force and spirit, and, in some respects, novelty a Plate VIII. Origin of the Signs of the Zodiac. 339 in treatment. Piscis is accompanied by a second, rather larger, fish, but the pair differ from the Zodiacal Pisces in being unattached. The engraving in the Hyginus above-mentioned shows one large fish with a little one below it. Ara is styled Puteus (f. 222),a the well or pit, and beings no longer daimonic but medisevally demoniac (if I may so express the difference) are apparently about to plunge little demons into the fiery abyss. In the Hyginus Ara is represented as an altar from which flames ascend, whilst a grotesque demon is placed on either side. One of the demons, ornamented with a formidable claw and curling tail, but without legs, grasps the altar with his teeth. These monsters are the earth- born giants who assailed the gods : " Discordcs vultn, permixtaque corpora, partus. Tune Iuppiter Arae Sidera constituit." b Hydra, represented as trikephalic, is combined as usual with Crater and Corvus. The writer then proceeds to give an account of the seven ancient planets, beginning with Saturn and ending with Luna, and illustrated with symbolical figures. Each figure is accompanied by a star, the key to the design, except Luna, who has her crescent; and each, except Venus, is attended by that Zodiacal Sign in which occurs the particular planetary exaltation. Thus Saturn is attended by Libra, Jupiter by Cancer, Mars by Capricornus, Sol by Leo (the radiant leonine face), and Luna by Taurus. The wings of Virgo reappear in the talaria of Hermes-Mercury, and both {vide f. 206) hold the caduceus. The exaltation of Venus is in Pisces, but I do not observe any introduction of this Sign in the representation of the planet. The goddess holds in her left hand a plume or feather, coloured green, the tint appropriated to Friday, Dies Veneris; and a winged Cupid, to whom she is handing her rose, stands at her right hand. To show that the planetary Venus, Ourani6 (Urania), as distinguished from Aphrodite Pandemos, is intended, the lyre is introduced, an instrument which, according to the myth, was originally formed by strings stretched across the shell of the tortoise, a creature which, as a symbol of domestic chastity, is sacred to Venus in her elevated phase. Saturn (f. 224A), the Greater Infortune of astrologers, and from remote times regarded by several Semitic nations as a Kakodaimon,0 shows his slow motion by his crutch and wounded leg, and his malignant disposition by the cord and noose, PL VIII. b Mamlius, Astronomica, i. 435-437. Vide E. B., Jr., The Great Dionysialc Mvth ii. 328, et sea. 2 z2 340 German Astronomico-Astrological Manuscript, and sad end of those whose previous wild career is typified by the dice. His pennon bears the boar, an animal the slayer of the bright Adonis, and often connected with nocturnal gloom. His sword, blue-black, a tint sacred to him, further shows his disposition; and its blade, curved at the end, reminds us of the sickle of the Greek Kronos, a personage long identified with the Latin Saturnus. This sickle, one such as appears in the hand of Bootes {vide f. 214), is curiously like the weapon armed with which Bel encounters the Babylonian dragon." Jupiter (f. 225) grasps his thunderbolt in his right hand; and, as the planetary Jupiter, the jovial star, presided over all animals beneficial to mankind, he is attended by man's special ally the dog, modelled on Canis Minor {vide f. 223) and depicted white, the colour (if the word may be allowed) sacred to the Roman Jupiter. Sol (f. 226), king of heaven, with crown and sceptre, is on his meridian throne, and apparently stationary for the moment or at the solstice, so that his red and white horses, by pulling different ways, cause him to remain motionless. His left hand holds the radiant leonine head, the lion having been always sacred to him, as, astrologically, Leo, a Sign adjoining the summer solstice, is his house. The wheel constantly occurs as a solar emblem. The position and car of Sol greatly resemble those of Auriga (f. 214A). The silver (white) Luna, her moon-boat on her head, the true unicorn or being whose horns are twisted into one, and who opposes the solar lion, closes the series of representations. On her white garment is portrayed the dark face in the orb; b and, as the queen of moisture, she pours out a stream of dark water. The writer next enters upon a dissertation respecting the characteristics of the twelve astrological Houses (ff. 230-233A). A short account follows of the seven planets as rulers of various portions of the world. The usual celestial Houses are assigned to each, viz., to Saturn, Capri- cornus and Aquarius; to Jupiter, Sagittarius and Pisces; to Mars, Aries and Scorpio; to Venus, Taurus and Libra; to Mercury, Gemini and Virgo; to Sol.