Man, Myth and Magic Gallery

ASTROLOGY - NOSTRADAMUS The schema of the cosmos [Mundus Elementaris] according

ASTROLOGY - NOSTRADAMUS
The schema of the cosmos [Mundus Elementaris] according to the late mediaeval cosmology: an engraving from Johann Daniel Mylius, Opus Medico-Chymicum, 1618, used also in Janitor Pansophus, Seu Figura Aenea Quadripartita. According to this cosmology, the universe was a living thing, a ladder of spiritual being. The alchemical system portrayed in this complex diagram departs to some extent from the Theological system, and even from the standard Ptolemaic. The outer sphere consists of the zodiac, with its twelve images for the signs. In the conterminous sphere, are the corresponding sigils for the twelve signs, and an indication of which part of the human body these signs rule. The concentric next in descending order gives the twelve corresponding Months and seasons. Then, in the yellow concentric, follows the names of the four Elements, along with a sigil denoting the relevant Element, and a series of three sigils which are more difficult to explain: precisely why the Earth [Terra] should be linked with the sigils for Salt and Sulphur is not at all clear. Follows, in descending order, the planetary spheres, from Saturn to the Moon. In each case, the name of the ruler of the sphere is given: these correspond to the archangels of history, the Secundadeians, described by the occultist Trithemius, in De Septem Secundadeis, in 1522, which had a profound influence on the writings and dating system of the seer, Michel Nostradamus. The one deviation is the list of Archangels is the name of the archangel of Mars, who is given as Samuel, when it should properly be Samael. Below the sphere of the Moon, the spheres become more arcane. The first sublunar sphere makes various statements about the Trinities of the material plane - these are the Three Principles (of Salt, Mercury and Sulphur); the Three Worlds - Celestial, Material and Infernal; the Three Ages and the Three Reigns (no doubt a reference to Joachimite predictive philosophy

© 2003 Charles Walker / Topfoto

MYTHOLOGY - OVID The titlepage of Ovid's poem, Metamorphosis, turned into English

MYTHOLOGY - OVID
The titlepage of Ovid's poem, Metamorphosis, turned into English by George Sandys, 1627. Sandys did the greater part of his translation in America - and this work is said to be the first important piece of literature produced in North America. The mythological figures on this page play important roles in the stories of the transformations set out in Ovid's wonderful poem (the Latin version of which, perhaps more than any other piece of classical literature, influenced the imagery of the French Seer, Michel Nostradamus). Reading from top left, Pluto, with Cereberus, the three-headed hell-hound, sits in the flames of Hades, representing the Element of Fire. Top right, Juno, with her avian attribute, the peacock, holds a chameleon in her hand: she represents the Element of Air (it was believed that chameleon ate only air). In between the two, Hercules rides his chariot, above the head of the poet himself (grasping the lyre of Apollo). In the bottom register (left) is Flora, clutching a cornucopia and accompanied by a bull - she represents the Element of Earth. Bottom right, Neptune, with his trident, rides a sea-creature, representing the element Water. On either side of the title window, the naked woman is Venus, while the woman in armour, and with the Gorgon shield is Athena, the goddess of War and Wisdom

© 2003 Charles Walker / Topfoto

Portrait of Nostradamus, seated at his desk, within a rectangular surround decorated

Portrait of Nostradamus, seated at his desk, within a rectangular surround decorated with the images and sigils for the twelve signs of the zodiac. Image from the titlepage of Nostradamus' Les Significations de l'Eclipse (of 16 September 1559). Private Collection

© Charles Walker / TopFoto

Esoterica, Paranormal