Astrology and Numerology in Medieval and Early Modern Catalonia

Download or read book Astrology and Numerology in Medieval and Early Modern Catalonia written by John Scott Lucas and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2003-09-01 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Tractat de prenostication de la vida natural dels hòmens, a late fifteenth-century Catalan incunable, draws on a rich tradition of astrological magic, geomancy, Pythagorean numerology, and Hebrew gematria. This practical manual offers a method of determining the birth sign based on calculations performed on the subject’s name and his or her mother’s name. The critical edition includes a literary, historical, and linguistic study; an English translation; and a Catalan-English glossary. The Tractat reveals Catalan sources for prognostication, a unique expression of medieval syncretism, the mingling of traditions, and the development of new ideas. It is a rare find for Hispanists and others interested in astrology, magic, the history of science, and early print culture.