Hebrew astronomical anthology
Date:
1391
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Spain
Dimensions:
27.5 × 20.4 cm
Description:
This anthology of astronomical works was written in Catalonia in 1391. It contains treatises and tables used for solar and lunar astronomy, an illuminated star catalogue (fols. 116–144), a drawing of an astrolabe (fol. 111), and a Christian liturgical calendar (fols. 95–102, 107–108), all in Hebrew. Two full-page illuminations are fanciful celestial maps of the northern (fol. 112) and southern (fol. 113) hemispheres—what a person should imagine when looking up at the night sky.
The date of the book is given on the first illuminated page of the star catalogue (fol. 117), which depicts Ursa Minor and Ursa Major, the Small and Great Bear, also known as the Little and Big Dipper. The outlined gold circles on the bears represent the stars in each constellation, based on the work of the second-century CE astronomer Ptolemy. The text at the top right, in red, says: "Positions of the fixed stars in longitude and latitude from the circle of the zodiac at the beginning of the year 1391 from the Incarnation . . . which is the year 793 according to the reckoning of the Hagarians (Hijra). . . and the year 5152 from the Creation." The surprising inclusion of references to the Christian and Muslim calendars is reinforced by the calendar, which includes saints' days and holidays from March to December. This calendar was copied from a Latin Christian model. There are about ten such Christian calendars in Hebrew manuscripts produced in late medieval England, Germany, and northern Spain. The Jewish owners of these books probably needed to be aware of Christian dates because they were engaged in business with people of other faiths.
The date of the book is given on the first illuminated page of the star catalogue (fol. 117), which depicts Ursa Minor and Ursa Major, the Small and Great Bear, also known as the Little and Big Dipper. The outlined gold circles on the bears represent the stars in each constellation, based on the work of the second-century CE astronomer Ptolemy. The text at the top right, in red, says: "Positions of the fixed stars in longitude and latitude from the circle of the zodiac at the beginning of the year 1391 from the Incarnation . . . which is the year 793 according to the reckoning of the Hagarians (Hijra). . . and the year 5152 from the Creation." The surprising inclusion of references to the Christian and Muslim calendars is reinforced by the calendar, which includes saints' days and holidays from March to December. This calendar was copied from a Latin Christian model. There are about ten such Christian calendars in Hebrew manuscripts produced in late medieval England, Germany, and northern Spain. The Jewish owners of these books probably needed to be aware of Christian dates because they were engaged in business with people of other faiths.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
Introduction,
10
Repository and Online Resources:
• The manuscript is Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection 57.
Image Credits:
Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
