Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus

Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus was an author/compiler active during the second half of the 12th century, known for his Liber astrologiae (Liber Albumazarus). His exact identity is not known – the name itself is probably a pseudonym (cognomen) – but it has been proposed that he was a cleric associated with the court of the kings of Sicily.^[1]

Details

Fendulus, who in the prologue of his book calls himself "priest of G., philosopher and courtier", had put together the Liber astrologiae from substantial extracts of Hermann of Carinthia's Latin translation of Abū Maʿshar's Great Introduction to Astrology.^[2] The prototype of the book has now disappeared, but the text has been copied into several richly illustrated manuscripts, of which the two oldest surviving examples are the ones in Bibliothèque nationale de France, Latin 7330 (dated to c.1220–1240) and British Library, Sloane MS 3983 (mid-fourteenth century).

The Liber astrologiae manuscripts are notable for their series of luxury full-page illustrations depicting the twelve signs of the zodiac and constellations that are said to rise alongside those signs. The constellations are organised in segments of 10° of the night sky (so-called "decans"), three per each zodiac sign, and following in parallel three traditions of cataloguing stars: "according to the Persians", "Indians", and "Greeks". The Fendulus manuscripts also include a set of figures representing the seven planet-gods, each depicted four times, illustrating how the combination of each planet with a particular zodiac sign affects that planet's power (domicile, detriment, exaltation and fall).^[3]

Bibliography

Pérez-Jiménez, Aurelio; Lippincott, Kristen; Burnett, Charles; Hübner, Wolfgang; and Kidd, Peter (2023). Liber astrologiae (Abū Maʿshar Treatise). Barcelona: M. Moleiro Editor.
Gousset, Marie-Thérèse, and Verdet, Jean-Pierre (1989). Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus: Liber astrologiae. Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale.
Clark, Vicky Armstrong (1979). The Illustrated Abridged Astrological Treatises of Albumasar: Medieval Astrological Imagery in the West. PhD dissertation. The University of Michigan.
Saxl, Fritz and Meier, Hans (1953). Catalogue of Astrological and Mythological Illuminated Manuscripts of the Latin Middle Ages. Volume III, 1–2: Manuscripts in English Libraries. London: Warburg Institute.

Notes

^ Gousset, Marie-Thérèse (1989). "Un cheuf-d'oeuvre de l'enluminure sicilienne". Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus: Liber astrologiae (in French). Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale. pp. 79–85. ISBN 2733501798.
^ Burnett, Charles (2023). "The History of the Text: From Abū Maʿshar to Georgius Fendulus". Liber astrologiae (Abū Maʿshar Treatise). Barcelona: M. Moleiro Editor. pp. 83–103. ISBN 9788416509607.
^ Lippincott, Kristen (2023). "The Sloane Fendulus Manuscript: Inheritance and Invention". Liber astrologiae (Abū Maʿshar Treatise). Barcelona: M. Moleiro Editor. pp. 47–81. ISBN 9788416509607.

External links

Digital facsimile of Liber astrologiae in Bibliothèque nationale de France, Latin 7330.
Facsimile edition of Liber astrologiae (Abū Maʿshar Treatise), Sloane MS 3983, published by M. Moleiro Editor.
Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus in Biblissima Portal.

[1] Gousset, Marie-Thérèse (1989). "Un cheuf-d'oeuvre de l'enluminure sicilienne". Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus: Liber astrologiae (in French). Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale. pp. 79–85. ISBN 2733501798.

[2] Burnett, Charles (2023). "The History of the Text: From Abū Maʿshar to Georgius Fendulus". Liber astrologiae (Abū Maʿshar Treatise). Barcelona: M. Moleiro Editor. pp. 83–103. ISBN 9788416509607.

[3] Lippincott, Kristen (2023). "The Sloane Fendulus Manuscript: Inheritance and Invention". Liber astrologiae (Abū Maʿshar Treatise). Barcelona: M. Moleiro Editor. pp. 47–81. ISBN 9788416509607.

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