Indian Images of the Decans in Medieval Europe
Each of 36 decans, also known as faces, corresponds to a 10-degrees segment of a zodiac sign. The decans originated in Egypt, about four thousand years ago. In Egyptian times, each decan corresponded to a specific deity. The decanal images went though a complex diaspora and reached medieval Europe through translations of Eastern sources.
The most impressive European illustrations of the decans are the XV Century frescoes in Palazzo Schifanoia (Ferrara). The images in this cycle, which had long puzzled scholars, were first correctly interpreted by Aby Warburg in 1912.
The illustrations I present here are from ms BNF Latin 7331, Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus, Liber Astrologiae (France, XV Century). The Liber Astrologiae is an abridge version of Abu Ma’shar’s work translated into Latin as “Introductiorium magnum.” Abu Ma’shar was a IX Century Persian astrologer.
The text is from Petrus de Abano’s Latin translation of Abraham Ibn Ezra’s Reshit Hokhma (“Principium Sapientiae”, the Beginning of Wisdom). Ibn Ezra was a Jewish philosopher who lived in Spain in the XII Century.
These two works describe several different versions of the decans. I will focus here on those that are said to come from India. It will be clear that the two sources are related, but not always in total agreement. The Indian sources from which these images derive were discussed by David Pingree in his 1963 paper The Indian Iconography of the Decans and Horas.
Aries
1 Putaverunt Indi fore caput in specie capitis canis. An cuius quidem manum sinistra candela una existit. An dextra vero clavis.
2 Dixerunt quoque Indi in huius facie ascendere imaginem mulieris in suis pannis se involventis, et in eius sclavina. Et ipsius est unus pes. Et eius est imago equinam imaginem representans.
3 Et dixerunt vidi [indi?] illic ascendere hominem album et rubeum et pilis rubrum iratum ambulantem inquietum habentem in eius manu bous ligneum et virgam. Ipsius panni sunt rubei. Et ipse est ferri fabricator appetitque facere bonum non tamen potest.
Translation:
1 The Indians present a figure with a dog’s head. In his left hand he holds a candle. In his right, a key.
2 The Indians say that in this decan rises the image of a woman wrapping herself in her clothes and mantle. She has a single foot. Her image represents a horse.
3 The Indians said that here rises a white and red man, with red hair, angry and walking restlessly. He holds a wooden staff and a rod. His clothes are red. He is a maker of iron. He desired to do good, but cannot.
Taurus
1 Et Indi dicunt quod ascendit mulier multorum capillorum unum filium habens. Induitque pannos sm [secundam?] partem combustos.
2 Dicunt quidam sapientes Indorum in ipsa ascendere virum cuius vultus vel facies corpusve similatur Arieti habentem mulierem similem figure Tauri. Sui vero digiti plantis sunt similes caprinis. Et vir iste est multi caloris comestor non dans requiem anime sue. Et terras arat bovesque ducit ut aret et seminet. Et ascendit adhuc pulchra ymago in cuius manu dextra virga existit et manum est erigens eius sinistram.
3 Et dicunt sapientes Indie quod in ipsa ascendit vir cuius pedes et dentes similiter sunt albi. Et sunt adeo dentes protensi ut ultra sint labia apparentes. Et oculorum illius color est rubicundus. Similiter et sui pili. Corpus quoque eius elephantis corpori similatur atque leonis et ipse sedet super pannum extensum. Et ascendit itidem equus et canis parvus.
Translation:
1 The Indians say that here rises a woman with long hair; she has a child. She wears clothes that are partially burnt.
2 The wise Indians say that here rises a man whose face or appearance or body is like a ram (Aries). He has a woman whose figure is like a bull (Taurus). Truly, her feet are like those of a goat. And this man is a hot-tempered glutton, giving no peace to his own soul. He ploughs the ground, leading oxen, ploughing and sowing. Here also appears a beautiful image with a rod in her right hand and rising her left hand.
3 The wise men of India say that here rises a man whose feet and teeth are similarly white. His teeth are so extended that they appear through his lips. His eyes are of a ruddy colour and so his hair. His body like that of an elephant or a lion. He sits upon a spread cloth. Here also a horse (Equus) and a small dog (Canis Minor) rise.
Gemini
1 Dicunt sapientes Indie ascendere in ipsa mulierem pulchram erectam in aere bene scientem tundere.
2 Dicunt sapientes Indorum in ea ascendere maurum habentem caput ligatum plumbo et in manu eius arma. In capite vero galam[gal’am?] super quam corona existit syrica. Et in manu eius sunt arcus et sagitte. Ipseque amat cachinantes et trufatores. Et h[?] intrat pomerium ubi existunt insitiones et arbores. In manu eius lire et manu percutit illas et organicat.
3 Dicunt sapientes Indie in ipsas ascendere virum petentem arma simulque arcum et pharetram et sagittas in manu eius et pannos ornamentaque habens aurea, aut argentea. Et ipse querit canere, ludere et trufari omnibus trufarum modis.
Translation:
1 The wise men of India say that here rises a beautiful woman. She stands in the air. She knows well how to strike[?].
2 The wise Indians say that here rises a Mauritanian, with his head bound in lead and a weapon in his hand. Upon his head there is a helmet, upon which a silken garland. He holds a bow and arrows. He loves noisy and tricky people. He enters a garden where there are grafts and trees. He holds a lyre which he touches with his hand and plays.
3 The wise men of India say that here rises a man who is looking for weapons. He holds a bow, a quiver and arrows. He wears clothes and ornaments made of gold or silver. He wants to sing and play and trick in any trickery way.
Cancer
1 Dicuntur vero sapientes Indorum in ipsa ascendere bacellarium pulchre speciei indutum vestimentis et ornamenta auri vel argenti circa ipsum existere. Et in ipsius facie atque digitis modicum corrugationis vel tortuositatis inesse. Corpus quoque ipsius equi et elephantis corpori similatur. Cuius pedes sunt albi. Et super corpus eius suspensa delitiarum genera existunt ad instar arborum. Ipseque sedet in pomerio ubi virge crescunt pigmentorum.
2 Indi dicunt ascendere in ipsa ancillam pulchram in verbis super cuius caput inest debezasa et corona. Et in manu eius baculus ligneus. Ipsaque querit vinum et cantum.
3 Indorum quippe sapientes putaverunt illic ascendere virum cuius pes pedi serpentis assimilatur et super eius corpus serpens eiusque desiderium est navem intrare et mare navigare ut aurum argentumque afferat, ut exinde mulieribus suis annulos componat.
Translation:
1 Truly, the wise men of India say that here rises a young man of beautiful looks; he is dressed in a cloth and wears ornaments of gold or silver. And his face and fingers are somehow corrugated and tortuous. His body is like that of a horse or elephant, with white feet. And upon his body various kinds of decorations and images of trees are floating. He sits in a garden where coloured plants grow.
2 The Indians say that here rises a girl who speaks beautiful words, upon her head a veil [? debezasa] and a crown, in her hand a wooden rod. She is looking for wine and songs.
3 The wise Indians thought that here rises a man whose feet are like snakes; he has a snake upon his body. He wants to get on board of a ship and sail the sea, in search of gold and silver, which he will use to make rings for his women.
Leo
1 Aiunt quoque sapientes Indorum in ipsa ascendere arborem magnum super cuius ramis est canis et avis raihema nominata. Virumque indutum vestimentis optatis coinquinatis tamen. Eiusque desiderium est patrem eius percutere. Et ascendit itidem dominus equi versus septentrionem aspcientis.
2 Referunt sapientes Indorum ascendere illic virum subtilium narium super cuius caput est corone consimile et hezas[?] albo et in manu eius arcus. Et ipse est iracundus suaque ira leonem representans. Et est circundatus cooperturis coloris leonis ad visum.
3 Dicunt quoque sapientes Indorum ascendere maurum sedum multique laboris in cuius ore deliciamenta existunt. In manu vero caro.
Translation:
1 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a great tree, upon his branches there are a dog and and a bird called Raihema. And a man dressed in chosen but tainted garments. He wants to strike his father. Here also rises the owner of a horse who is looking Northward.
2 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a man with a thin nose; upon his head, something like a crown and a white veil [? hezas]; in his hand, a bow. He is angry, his anger representing the lion (Leo). He is covered up to his face in garments of a leonine colour.
3 The wise men of the Indians also say that here rises a Mauritanian tired for much work; something delicious is in his mouth. He holds some meat.
Virgo
1 Sapientes Indorum aiunt illic ascendere virginem se in scaviem[?] linteo involventem. Induitque pannos antiquos. In cuius manu est butirum, estque intra arab. Eius quoque voluntas est penes ipsius patrem adire.
2 Dicunt sapientes Indorum in ea ascendere maurum totum dealbatum pilis, habentem tria super se vestimenta quorum primum est coreum, secundum de syrico, tertium est sclavina rubea et sunt in manu eius tabule ubi computationes exerceat.
3 Aiunt siquidem sapientes Indorum ibi ascendere mulierem in semetipsa iactantem tincta sclavina indutam. Cuius leprose sunt manus. Ipsaque deum precatur.
Translation:
1 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a virgin wrapping herself in a linen cloth. She wears old garments. She holds butter and is among Arabs. Her will is to reach her father.
2 The wise men of the Indians say the here rises a Mauritanian whose hair is all white; he wears three garments: the first of leather, the second silken, the third is a red robe. He holds tables on which he does calculations.
3 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a woman who is beating herself; she wears a red garment. Her hands are leprous. She prays to god.
Libra
1 Et secundum sapientes Indorum ascendit vir sub tentorio in foro in cuius manu est libra volens emere ac vendere.
2 Aiunt autem sapientes Indorum in ipsa ascendere virum in specie aquile et est nudus siticulosus in aerem volare adoptans.
3 Et ascendit denique secundum sapientes Indorum vir cuius vultus aspectui equi similitatur. Et in manu eius sunt arcus et sagitte.
Translation:
1 According to the wise men of the Indians, rises a man under a tent in the market-square; he holds a pair of scales (Libra) and wants to buy and sell.
2 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a man with the shape of an eagle, he is naked and lean. He wants to fly in the air.
3 Then, according to the wise men of the Indians, rises a man whose face is like that of a horse. He holds a bow and arrows.
Scorpio
1 Aiunt quoque sapientes Indorum illic ascendere imaginem mulieris pulchre corpore rubee et ipsa est comendens.
2 Dicunt sapientes Indorum illic ascendere mulierem que eius domum exivit nudam substantia omnino carentem mareque ingressam.
3 Et aiunt Indorum sapientes quod in ipsa ascendit canis duoque porci et leopardus grandis cuius pilus est albus et modi venationis varii.
Translation:
1 The wise men of the Indians also say that here rises the image of a beautiful woman with a red body. She is eating.
2 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a woman who exited her house naked, lacking of all possessions, she entered the sea.
3 And the wise men of the Indians say that here rise a dog, two pigs and a great leopard, whose hair is white, as if during a hunt.
Sagittarius
1 Dicunt autem sapientes Indorum illic ascendere virum nudum ab ipsius capite usque ad umbilicum servantis hominis formam deinde usque ad extremum equi. Et in eius manu sunt arcus et sagitte ipseque clamat.
2 Putant sapientes Indorum in ipsa ascendere figuram mulieris pulchre non multorum pilorum induentis vestimenta. In cuius auribus sunt annuli et in anteriori ipsius archa aperta. Et in ea adornationis ipsius existunt ornamenta.
3. Dicunt illic Indi sapientes ascendere virum aurum visum representantem. In cuius manu auro existit annularum lignearum similitudo. Ipseque veste se cooperit ex corticibus ligni constructa.
Translation:
1 The wise men of the Indians also say that here rises a naked man, whose shape is human from his head to his navel, from there to his feet, equine. He holds a bow and arrows and he is screaming.
2 The wise men of the Indians believe that here rises the image of a beautiful woman, wearing thin garments. She has rings in her hears. An open chest is in front of her. Ornaments and jewels are inside it.
3 The wise men of the Indians say that rises a man whose face represents gold. He holds gold, shaped like wooden rings. He is covered in garments made with wooden bark.
Capricornus
1 Putaverunt Indi quod in ipsa ascendat maurus iracundus. Cuius corpus apri agrestis corpori similatur, pilosus per totum habens dentes longos et acutos velut trabis longitudo habetque secum animalium stimulum et piscis venatur.
2 Aiunt autem sapientes Indorum illic ascendere mulierem nigram se linteo scavine laneo involventem ipsa quoque est equitans.
3 Et dicunt sapientes Indi quod in ipsa ascendit mulier pulchra nigra tamen ad omnia opera faciendum disposita atque opus syricum.
Translation:
1 The Indians thought that here rises an angry Mauritanian, whose body is similar to that of a wild boar, all hairy. He has long and sharp teeth, as long as spears. He carries with himself animal traps and he is going fishing.
2 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a black woman, wrapping herself in a garment made of linen and wool; she is riding.
3 And the wise Indians say that here rises a beautiful black woman, ready to perform any work, threading silk.
Aquarius
1 Et quod illic ascendit aiunt Indi vir niger i [in?] cupro operator.
2 Dicunt sapientes Indorum illic ascendere maurum nigrum valde longe barbe. Et in ipsius manu est arcus et sagitte et vestimentum in quo sunt preciosi lapides atque aurum.
3. Et inquiunt Indorum sapientes quod in ipsa ascendit maurus iracundus calidus in cuius aure sunt pili. Ac super eum corona ex arboris foliis. Ipseque de loco in locum transmutatur.
Translation:
1 The Indians say that here rises a black man working with copper.
2 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a black Mauritanian with a long beard. He holds a bow and arrows and a garment in which there are precious stones and gold.
3 The wise men of the Indians say that here raises a Mauritanian, angry and hot, with hair in his hears. Above him, a garland of tree leaves. He moves from place to place.
Pisces
1 Dicunt sapientes Indorum illic ascendere virum indutum vestimentis adoptatis. Et in eius manu vas ferreum. Domumque suam intrat.
2 Et dicunt sapientes Indorum quod in ipsa ascendit mulier pulchra sedens in navi in mari volens ad terram accedere.
3 Et referunt sapientes Indorum quod ascendit in hac vir nudus ponens pedem super ipsius ventrem at in manu eius lancea latronum timore ac ignis exclamans.
Translation:
1 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a man dressed in chosen garments. He holds an iron jar. He enters his house.
2 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a beautiful woman; she seats in a ship in the sea and wants to reach land.
3 The wise men of the Indians say that here rises a naked man, with his foot upon his stomach. He holds a spear and he is screaming for fear of thieves and fire.
