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A Companion to Astrology in the Renaissance - Ingram Academic — Astrology

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A Companion to Astrology in the Renaissance - Ingram Academic

Name: A Companion to Astrology in the Renaissance - Ingram Academic
Price: 278.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9789004183520

✍️ Dooley, Brendan

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A scholarly collection analyzing astrology's role in Renaissance society, science, and art.

This volume presents a multidisciplinary approach to understanding astrology as it flourished in early modern Europe. Contributors analyze specific domains including law, medicine, literature, and political strategy. The text moves beyond general history to examine how astrological imagery functioned visually and intellectually. It connects ancient traditions with Renaissance innovations through detailed chapter studies. The work highlights the complex relationship between theological doctrine and scientific inquiry during this era.

Key Themes

Renaissance astrology astral medicine astrological politics

Literary Context

The book focuses on European history during the Renaissance, a period when astrology reached its cultural peak. It examines the discipline within the context of early modern Italy and the Latin West, addressing its intersection with law, philosophy, and social structures in Europe.

Dooley, Brendan

📚 all books by this author (2) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Frances Yates · Edward Rosen · Joscelyn Godwin

🪐

Astrology

🏛 Brill 📅 2014 📖 454 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9789004183520

Fun Fact

Dooley's 'Companion' masterfully unpacks astrology's profound, often surprising, role in the Renaissance. It excels at presenting a nuanced, scholarly view, perfect for serious students of intellectual and cultural history. Those seeking practical astrological techniques or a quick, light read will be disappointed; this is a deep dive, not a 'how-to.' It solidly positions itself as a definitive academic resource on a fascinating intersection of belief and knowledge, essential for understanding the pre-modern cosmic worldview.

📝 Description: A Companion to Astrology in the Renaissance - Ingram Academic

Brendan Dooley, a Professor of Renaissance Studies at University College Cork with a PhD from Chicago in 1986, directs a comprehensive examination of astrology during its European apogee. This volume brings together scholars to explore how the discipline functioned as a cultural force rather than merely a scientific or religious anomaly. The text addresses Franz Boll’s description of astrology as a singular centaur of religion and science, grounding this metaphor in historical analysis. The book is organized into ten distinct chapters that trace the evolution of astrological thought from ancient times through the Renaissance. Wolfgang Hübner outlines the broader culture of astrology, while Giuseppe Bezza details the representation of skies and charts. Ornella Faracovi examines the return to Ptolemy, and Graziella Federici Vescovini discusses theological debates surrounding the practice. William Eamon explores its societal role, Steven Vanden Broecke analyzes political applications, and Brendan Dooley himself investigates its relationship with science. Hiro Hirai covers new astral medicine, Eileen Reeves addresses literature, and Dieter Blume studies pictorial imagery in the Latin West between 1100 and 1550. This academic work suits researchers interested in the intersection of intellectual property law, social science, and early modern European history. It provides concrete data on how astrological charts were drawn and interpreted. Readers seeking practical divinatory advice or simple horoscopes will find this text unsuitable. The volume offers a rigorous scholarly perspective on how astrology influenced medicine, politics, and art during the Renaissance period.

📑 What's inside

List of Figures
Note on Contributors
Preface
Introduction
Brendan Dooley
1.The Culture of Astrology from Ancient to Renaissance
Wolfgang Hübner
2.Representation of the Skies and the Astrological Chart
Giuseppe Bezza
3.The Return to Ptolemy
Ornella Faracovi
4.The Theological Debate
Graziella Federici Vescovini
5.Astrology and Society
William Eamon
6.Astrology and Politics
Steven Vanden Broecke
7.Astrology and Science
Brendan Dooley
8.The New Astral Medicine
Hiro Hirai
9.Astrology and Literature
Eileen Reeves
10.Picturing the Stars: Astrological Imagery in the Latin West, 1100-1550
Dieter Blume
11.Reading the Peruvian Skies
Claudia Brosseder
Conclusion
Index
List of Figures
1.1 The four humours and elements adapted to the four triplicities of the zodiac
1.2Zodiacal man from the Flores Albumasaris, Erhard Radolt 1488
1.3The symmetry of the seven planets
1.4Francesco di Giorgio: Atlas, Braunschweig, Kupferkabinett
1.5Joseph Justus Scaliger's horoscope
1.6Capital of the doge's palace in Venice: Mercury with Virgin (Virgo) and Twins (Gemini)
1.7Planisphere of the Aldina from 1499
1.8The Tychonic system
2.1Making a Geniture
2.2Graphic representation of a geniture
2.3 Geniture of Girolamo Cardano
5.1The great conjunction in Pisces, portending a second deluge. Leonhard Reynmann, Practica vber die grossen und manigfeltigen Coniunction der Planeten (Nuremberg, 1524)
5.2Frontispiece to John Melton, Astrologaster (1620)
5.3Girolamo Cardano's Horoscope of Andreas Vesalius (Courtesy of the Clendening History of Medicine Library, University of Kansas Medical Center)
7.1Kepler's Polyhedric Model
7.2Robert Fludd's Monochord
7.3Robert Fludd: Microcosm and Macrocosm
10.1Raphael, Dome of the Chigi Chapel in Rome, S. Maria del Popolo
10.2Ferrara Palazzo Schifanoia, Sala dei Mesi, March with Aries
10.3Ferrara Palazzo Schifanoia, Sala dei Mesi, April with Taurus
10.4Ferrara Palazzo Schifanoia, Sala dei Mesi, Detail, First Decan of Aries
10.5Ferrara Palazzo Schifanoia, Sala dei Mesi, Detail ot the upper Register with Vulcan
10.6Paris, bibl. Nat. Ms. lat. 7330, Fol. 42v, Saturn in his houses
10.7Paris, bibl. Nat. Ms. lat. 7330, Fol. 43r, Saturn in his Anti-Houses
10.8Paris, bibl. Nat. Ms. lat. 7330, Fol. 43v, Saturn in his exaltation
10.9Paris, bibl. Nat. Ms. lat. 7330, Fol. 44r. Saturn in his deiectio
10.10Paris, bibl. Nat. Ms. lat. 7330, Fol. 54v, Venus in his exaltatio
10.11Paris, bibl. Nat. Ms. lat. 7330, Fol. 56r, Mercury in his houses
10.12Madrid, Bibl. Nac. Cod. 19, fol.55r, Jupiter on the eagle
10.13Madrid, Bibl. Nac. Cod. 19, fol. 68r, The five planets

Showing the first 60 entries.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Dooley provides a compelling scholarly defense of Renaissance astrology as a legitimate intellectual discipline rather than simple superstition. The text is dense with academic rigor, making it an invaluable resource for historians of science and esoteric studies. However, readers seeking practical horoscope advice or lightweight mystical musings will find little here; this is a serious historical analysis, not a devotional guide. It does not suit those looking for quick answers or modern astrological interpretations. Instead, it rewards the patient reader with a deep dive into how celestial mechanics influenced medicine, governance, and philosophy. The work stands as a testament to the complexity of early modern thought, requiring significant attention from its audience.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is essential for scholars and serious enthusiasts who wish to understand astrology not as a fringe practice, but as a central pillar of Renaissance thought. Readers will gain a profound appreciation for how this 'singular centaur' of religion and science shaped the cultural landscape of Europe at its apogee. Dooley’s meticulous scholarship reveals the intricate links between celestial influences and societal structures, offering clarity to those perplexed by the era's intellectual history. It is ideal for anyone seeking to unravel the cosmic tapestry woven by Renaissance minds, providing a rigorous yet accessible entry into a time when science and spirit were deeply intertwined in the pursuit of understanding the universe.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the history of ideas, the complex interplay of belief systems, or how ancient practices shaped modern thought, this scholarly companion offers profound insights into a pivotal era. It's ideal for serious students of intellectual and cultural history.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Dooley provides a compelling scholarly defense of Renaissance astrology as a legitimate intellectual discipline rather than simple superstition. The text is dense with academic rigor, making it an invaluable resource for historians of science and esoteric studies. However, readers seeking practical horoscope advice or lightweight mystical musings will find little here; this is a serious historical analysis, not a devotional guide. It does not suit those looking for quick answers or modern astrological interpretations. Instead, it rewards the patient reader with a deep dive into how celestial mechanics influenced medicine, governance, and philosophy. The work stands as a testament to the complexity of early modern thought, requiring significant attention from its audience.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this is an academic exploration of astrology's historical and cultural significance in the Renaissance, not a practical guide to astrological interpretation or chart casting.

The book maintains an objective, scholarly stance, analyzing astrology as a complex historical and cultural phenomenon rather than endorsing or refuting its veracity as a predictive system.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Astrology's Renaissance Zenith

This volume illuminates how astrology reached its peak prominence during the European Renaissance, permeating every level of society. It was not an fringe belief but a respected area of study, influencing royal decisions, medical diagnoses, and everyday life, reflecting a worldview deeply connected to celestial mechanics.

Science and Spirit Unification

The book meticulously examines the unique position of Renaissance astrology as a bridge between nascent scientific inquiry and established spiritual or religious frameworks. It explores how intellectual figures grappled with the apparent paradox of planetary influences, seeking rational explanations within a divinely ordered cosmos.

Cultural and Intellectual Impact

Discover the profound impact astrology had on the intellectual currents and cultural expressions of the Renaissance. From shaping philosophical discourse to influencing artistic depictions and legal practices, this study reveals how astrological tenets were woven into the very fabric of thought and daily existence.

📜 Historical context

Astrology has ancient roots, yet its flourishing in the European Renaissance represents a critical historical period. Prior to the full emergence of the Scientific Revolution, astrology was considered a legitimate, sophisticated discipline alongside astronomy and medicine. This book meticulously places the practice and study of astrology within that specific, transformative era, exploring its unique intellectual and cultural environment.

📚 Glossary

Centaur
Apogee
Renaissance

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might our modern understanding of 'science' be different if astrology had remained a mainstream academic discipline?
Consider how the integration of spiritual and scientific thought in the Renaissance contrasts with contemporary societal divisions.
If astrology is a 'centaur' of religion and science, what other 'centaurs' exist in today's cultural landscape, blending disparate fields?