1722 - Astrological Poetry Banned by the Inquisition
This handsome 1722 Rotterdam edition of Marcellus Palingenius Stellatus' Zodiacus Vitae offers a fascinating and often overlooked Renaissance contribution to the synthesis of classical thought, astrology, and moral philosophy. First published in the mid-16th century, this poetic work, structured across twelve books corresponding to the signs of the zodiac, transcends a mere astrological treatise. Instead, Palingenius weaves a tapestry of philosophical discourse, ethical guidance, and cosmological insights, all filtered through the lens of the celestial influences believed to shape human character and destiny. For the esoteric seeker, the Zodiacus Vitae provides a unique perspective on the Hermetic axiom "as above, so below," exploring the intricate correspondences between the macrocosm of the heavens and the microcosm of human existence.
Palingenius, the Latinized pseudonym of Pier Angelo Manzoli (c. 1503 – c. 1543), was an Italian humanist, poet, and physician whose work reflects the intellectual ferment of the Renaissance – a period marked by the rediscovery of ancient wisdom and its integration with contemporary thought. While his Zodiacus Vitae gained considerable popularity and was even incorporated into some educational curricula, its esoteric undercurrents and sometimes critical stance towards religious dogma also led to its condemnation by the Catholic Church. This very tension between mainstream acceptance and veiled heterodoxy adds to its allure for those interested in the hidden streams of Western thought. Within its verses, one can find echoes of Neoplatonism, Stoicism, and a profound engagement with the astrological worldview that underpinned much of Renaissance magic and cosmology. The allegorical frontispiece of this edition visually encapsulates this interplay between the celestial and terrestrial, inviting the reader to delve into Palingenius' poetic exploration of the human condition as it is influenced by the zodiacal energies.
This 1722 edition, printed in a prominent intellectual center, offers a tangible connection to this rich historical and philosophical tradition.
Palingenius Stellatus, Marcellus (Pier Angelo Manzoli). Marcelli Palingenii Stellati Poetae Stellati Zodiacus Vitae, Hoc est, De Hominis Vita, Studio, ac Moribus Optime Instituendis, Libri XII. Rotterodami [Rotterdam]: Apud Joannem Hofhout. Small octavo (Small 8vo). [4]. 407. 23 index and errata. Bound in later marbled paper boards with a red leather spine label lettered in gilt. Engraved allegorical frontispiece depicting celestial and earthly spheres with zodiacal signs. Title page with an elaborate engraved vignette. Latin. Handwritten marginalia on first blank.
This handsome 1722 Rotterdam edition of Marcellus Palingenius Stellatus' Zodiacus Vitae offers a fascinating and often overlooked Renaissance contribution to the synthesis of classical thought, astrology, and moral philosophy. First published in the mid-16th century, this poetic work, structured across twelve books corresponding to the signs of the zodiac, transcends a mere astrological treatise. Instead, Palingenius weaves a tapestry of philosophical discourse, ethical guidance, and cosmological insights, all filtered through the lens of the celestial influences believed to shape human character and destiny. For the esoteric seeker, the Zodiacus Vitae provides a unique perspective on the Hermetic axiom "as above, so below," exploring the intricate correspondences between the macrocosm of the heavens and the microcosm of human existence.
Palingenius, the Latinized pseudonym of Pier Angelo Manzoli (c. 1503 – c. 1543), was an Italian humanist, poet, and physician whose work reflects the intellectual ferment of the Renaissance – a period marked by the rediscovery of ancient wisdom and its integration with contemporary thought. While his Zodiacus Vitae gained considerable popularity and was even incorporated into some educational curricula, its esoteric undercurrents and sometimes critical stance towards religious dogma also led to its condemnation by the Catholic Church. This very tension between mainstream acceptance and veiled heterodoxy adds to its allure for those interested in the hidden streams of Western thought. Within its verses, one can find echoes of Neoplatonism, Stoicism, and a profound engagement with the astrological worldview that underpinned much of Renaissance magic and cosmology. The allegorical frontispiece of this edition visually encapsulates this interplay between the celestial and terrestrial, inviting the reader to delve into Palingenius' poetic exploration of the human condition as it is influenced by the zodiacal energies.
This 1722 edition, printed in a prominent intellectual center, offers a tangible connection to this rich historical and philosophical tradition.
Palingenius Stellatus, Marcellus (Pier Angelo Manzoli). Marcelli Palingenii Stellati Poetae Stellati Zodiacus Vitae, Hoc est, De Hominis Vita, Studio, ac Moribus Optime Instituendis, Libri XII. Rotterodami [Rotterdam]: Apud Joannem Hofhout. Small octavo (Small 8vo). [4]. 407. 23 index and errata. Bound in later marbled paper boards with a red leather spine label lettered in gilt. Engraved allegorical frontispiece depicting celestial and earthly spheres with zodiacal signs. Title page with an elaborate engraved vignette. Latin. Handwritten marginalia on first blank.
This handsome 1722 Rotterdam edition of Marcellus Palingenius Stellatus' Zodiacus Vitae offers a fascinating and often overlooked Renaissance contribution to the synthesis of classical thought, astrology, and moral philosophy. First published in the mid-16th century, this poetic work, structured across twelve books corresponding to the signs of the zodiac, transcends a mere astrological treatise. Instead, Palingenius weaves a tapestry of philosophical discourse, ethical guidance, and cosmological insights, all filtered through the lens of the celestial influences believed to shape human character and destiny. For the esoteric seeker, the Zodiacus Vitae provides a unique perspective on the Hermetic axiom "as above, so below," exploring the intricate correspondences between the macrocosm of the heavens and the microcosm of human existence.
Palingenius, the Latinized pseudonym of Pier Angelo Manzoli (c. 1503 – c. 1543), was an Italian humanist, poet, and physician whose work reflects the intellectual ferment of the Renaissance – a period marked by the rediscovery of ancient wisdom and its integration with contemporary thought. While his Zodiacus Vitae gained considerable popularity and was even incorporated into some educational curricula, its esoteric undercurrents and sometimes critical stance towards religious dogma also led to its condemnation by the Catholic Church. This very tension between mainstream acceptance and veiled heterodoxy adds to its allure for those interested in the hidden streams of Western thought. Within its verses, one can find echoes of Neoplatonism, Stoicism, and a profound engagement with the astrological worldview that underpinned much of Renaissance magic and cosmology. The allegorical frontispiece of this edition visually encapsulates this interplay between the celestial and terrestrial, inviting the reader to delve into Palingenius' poetic exploration of the human condition as it is influenced by the zodiacal energies.
This 1722 edition, printed in a prominent intellectual center, offers a tangible connection to this rich historical and philosophical tradition.
Palingenius Stellatus, Marcellus (Pier Angelo Manzoli). Marcelli Palingenii Stellati Poetae Stellati Zodiacus Vitae, Hoc est, De Hominis Vita, Studio, ac Moribus Optime Instituendis, Libri XII. Rotterodami [Rotterdam]: Apud Joannem Hofhout. Small octavo (Small 8vo). [4]. 407. 23 index and errata. Bound in later marbled paper boards with a red leather spine label lettered in gilt. Engraved allegorical frontispiece depicting celestial and earthly spheres with zodiacal signs. Title page with an elaborate engraved vignette. Latin. Handwritten marginalia on first blank.