Description
The earliest work on astrology that is extensive, comprehensible, and mostly intact, the Astronomicon describes celestial phenomena, and, in particular, the zodiac and astrology. Written c. AD 30–40 by a Roman poet, philosopher and astrologer named Marcus Manilius, the poem—which seems to have been inspired by Lucretius’s Epicurean poem De rerum natura—espouses a Stoic, deterministic understanding of a universe overseen by a god and governed by reason. The fifth book contains a lacuna, which has led to debate about the original size of the poem; some scholars have argued that whole books have been lost over the years, whereas others believe only a small section of the work is missing.
The Astronomicon was rediscovered c. 1416–1417 by the Italian humanist and scholar Poggio Bracciolini, who had a copy made from which this text – printed in the year 1551 – derives.
This is a remarkably rare edition and is in fantastic condition for being nearly 500 years old! With a vellum cover, still very solid, the binding on this volume is still tight, though it is beginning to separate at the front board. The front endpaper has notes from various years and there are a couple of notes scribbled inside (see photo). This volume is very petite, measuring 3″x5″. Package ships via Insured Priority.
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