Classical images – Roman (Laocoon) Ophiuchus

Death of Laocoon
50-79 AD Laoccon drawing from F. Niccolini, Le Case ed i
House of Menander (I.10.4), Pompeii House of Laocoon, Pompeii monumenti de Pompei, vol II, Naples
VI. 14. 30 1862, pl 66.
source: www.pompeiinpictures © Buzz Ferebee

1
Classical images – Roman (Laocoon) Ophiuchus

Death of Laocoon
Vatican Virgil
c. 400
Vatican, BAV, lat 3225, fol. 18v

2
Classical images – Roman (Lycurgus) Ophiuchus

Lycurgus and Ambrosia Lycurgus and Ambrosia

Floor mosaic, winter triclinium Floor mosaic, 4th C AD
Libya, Villa Silene Antakya, Hatay Archaeology Museum
Credit: livius.org credit: theoi.com

Lycurgus cup
Red and green glass, 4th C
London, The British Museum (Acc. 1958.1202.1) 3
Classical images – Roman (Triptolemus) Ophiuchus

Triptolemus in winged dragon-chair with Persephine behind Triptolemus legend

votive relief, early 4th C BC sarcophagus panel, mid-2ndC AD
Eleusis, Archaeological Museum Paris Musée du Louvre
credit: Wikimedia © Mbtz

Cast of a gem
Triptolemus seeding the earth (obv with Caracalla)
19thC acast fter Roman (?) original
Bronze coin minted in Moesia inferior (Tomis)
Cornell Gem Impressions Collection
Credit: Vilmar numismatics 4
(03_2_0242GI_o3_077)
Classical images – Roman (Triptolemus) Ophiuchus

Triptolemus
fresco (destroyed 1943)
House of Triptolemus (or House ofCissoni / or L. Calpurnius Diogenes)
Pompeii

5
Classical images – Roman Ophiuchus

Asclepius (with Telesphoros) and Hygieia (with Cupid) Asclepius and Hygieia
Ivory diptych, late 5th C Ivory panel, north Itaian, late 5th C
Liverpool City Museum Valais Historical Museum, Valère (Sion)
Credit: www.Kornbluthpgotos.com

6
Classical globes Ophiuchus

Naples, Farnese Atlas cast of globe Bentley’s Manilius

© Petr Hadrava Rome, Museum of Roman
n.b. – back to viewer, stands on Scorpio with left leg (?) Civilization, EUR
Serpens with raised head, facing away, crosses Oph at knees

Paris, Kugel Globe Mainz globe (drawing © Kunzl)

n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens at waist with n.b. – back to viewer. Serpens wrapped around waist with head up, both feet on back of Scorpio
raised head, right foot on back of Scorpio
7
Germanicus mss Ophiuchus
I. = z stemma

Leiden, Univbibl Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibl. Mun. Bern, Burgerbibl,

Voss lat 4° 79 Ms 188 Ms 88
n.b. – Faces away from viewer, same similar, but Serpens knotted at waist and no loop
Serpens faces Oph and is held in front
at hip height looping at right hand,
both feet on Scorpio

vs. planisphere vs. planisphere

n.b. – facing viewer, Serpens wrapped around similar, but walking to right
waist, head up, both feet on Scorpio 8
Germanicus mss Ophiuchus
II and III. = O stemma (O1 or ν )

II. III.

Basle, OBU Aberystwyth, NLW vs. planisphere

Ms AN.IV . 18 Ms 735 C n.b. – walking, Serpens with X at hips,
n.b. – facaes away from viewer, Serpens faces Oph n.b. – walking left, Serpens head both feet on Scorpio
and held at hip height looping in right hand, both raised and faces Oph, crosses with X
feet on Scorpio at waist height, both feet on Scorpio

vs. planisphere vs. schema vs. winter hemisphere

n.b. – above Sagittarius, faces viewer, Serpens facing viewer, Serpens faces and X above Sagittarius, Serpens X across
wrapped at waist across hips, both feet on Scorpio hips and loop in left hand 9
Germanicus mss Ophiuchus
IV. = O stemma (O2 or μ ) Va. = O stemma (O2 or μ = Siciliensis)

Cologny, Bib Bodmer NY, Pierpont Morgan Libr

Cod lat 7 Ms M 389
same same

Vb.

Madrid, Bib nac

Ms 19 (16) Vatican, BAV
n.b. – walking with back to viewer, Serpens faces Oph, wraps around Barb lat 76
same 10
waist and loops in right hand; both feet on Scorpio
Germanicus mss = ‘Siciliensis’ Ophiuchus

VI.

London BL
Egerton 1050
Similar, knotted Serpens
VII. = fragmentum ... repertum in
Sicilia

London BL Naples, Bib naz

Add 15819 XIV D 37 11
similar, wrapped Serpens same
Germanicus mss ( = ‘Siciliensis’) Ophiuchus

VIIIa.

Madrid Bib Nac Vatican, BAV Vienna, Schottenstift

Ms 8282 Barb lat 77 Ms 51
same same same

12
Germanicus mss ( = ‘Siciliensis’) Ophiuchus

VIIIb. VIIIc. IX.

not in manuscript

Vatican,BAV Florence, Bibl Laurenziana Montpellier

Urb lat 1358 Plut 89 sup 43 Ms H 452
same same

13
Ps-Eratosthenes Ophiuchus

Planisphere
similar, Serpens looks at Oph

Vatican BAV,
Vat grec 1087 winter hemisphere
n.b. – Walks facing away from viewer, Serpens at waist height looking same
away from Oph; both feet on Scorpio 14
Cicero Ophiuchus

missing from manuscript

London, BL
London, BL Harley 647 – planisphere
Harley 647 n.b – walks to right facing viewer,
Serpens faces away from Oph and
is knotted at waist, both feet on
Scorpio

missing from manuscript

London, BL
Harley 2506 15
Cicero Ophiuchus

missing from manuscript

London, BL
Cotton ms Tib B.V., pars 1

missing from manuscript

missing from manuscript

London, BL Gottweig,
Cotton Ms Tib C. 1 Stiftsbibl Ms 7

38
Revised Aratus Latinus Ophiuchus

I.

Dresden, Landesbibl. Paris BN Prague, Univbibl

Ms D C 183 – Lat 12957 Ms IX. C. 6 (1717)
n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens n.b. – Ophiuchus twice n.b. – twice, Ophiuchus w/ animal head
faces Oph, knots around waist and
between legs, both feet on back of Scorpio

missing from ms

Dresden – winter hemisphere Paris – winter hemisphere rota Prague – winter hemisphere
n.b. – same as above, with n.b. – similar to above, in zodiac, Scorpio
17
Scorpio in zodiac , note knot missing
Revised Aratus Latinus Ophiuchus

Ia.

St Gallen, Stiftsbibl St Gallen, Stiftsbibl

Ms 902 Ms 250
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces Oph and passes in same
front of waist, both feet on Scorpio

winter hemisphere winter hemisphere

In zodiac with Scorpio same 18
Revised Aratus Latinus Ophiuchus

Ib.

missing in manuscript

hemisphere
Gottweig, Stiftsbibl.
Ms 7 (146)
n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens faces Oph and
wraps around waist, both feet on Scorpio

missing in manuscript

Siena, Bib com hemisphere

Ms L. IV. 25
19
same
Revised Aratus Latinus Ophiuchus

I. (distant relative)

image missing from manuscript

Paris BN Munich, Staatsbibl. Vatican, BAV

n.a. 1614 Clm 560 Reg lat 1324
n.b. – faces away from viewer, n.b. – similar, but faces viewer, note knot like
Serpens faces Oph and knitted at Dresden RAL; both feet hover above Scorpio
waist, both feet on Scorpio

image missing from manuscript

winter hemisphere winter hemisphere winter hemisphere

n.b. – in zodiac without Scorpio n.b. – female Ophiuchus (!) in zodiac with 20
Scorpio, note knot
Revised Aratus Latinus Ophiuchus

II.

Cologne, Dombibliothek
Ms 83.11
n.b. – walks with back towards viewer; Serpens faces Oph and crosses
with X at waist, no Scorpio

21
ps-Bede, De signis caeli Ophiuchus

I.

Oxford, Bodleian Library Padua, Bibl Antoniona

Laud misc 644 Ms Anton 27
n.b. – walks, facing awau from viewer, Serpens n.b. – similar, Serpens and Oph exchange ‘breath’
faces Oph and makes X at waist, no Scorpio

Venice, Bib Marciana Paris BN

Ms VIII, 22 lat. 14754
n.b. – same n.b. – same 22
ps-Bede, De signis caeli Ophiuchus

Ia.

Dijon
Bib mun, Ms 488
n.b. – same

23
ps-Bede, De signis caeli Ophiuchus

IIa.

Paris, BN Paris, BN
Lat 5543 Lat 5239
n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens faces Oph and n.b. – same
makes X at waist, both feet on Scorpio

24
ps-Bede, De signis caeli Ophiuchus

IIb.

Klosterneuburg,
Stiftskirche, Ms 685 Zwettl, Stiftskirche
Vatican, BAV
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces Ms 296
Vat lat 643
Oph and passes in front of waist, n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens crosses
n.b. – facess awa from viewer, Serpens
both feet on Scorpio cheat with X and also below neck, both
faces Oph with ‘breath’, crosses chest
with X, both feet on Scorpio feet on Scorpio

25
ps-Bede, De signis caeli Ophiuchus

III.

Laon Rouen,
Bib mun, Ms 422 Bibl mun, 26
n.b. – Ophiuchus walks to right, facing viewer; Serpens n.b. – similar (?), damaged
bites nose and wraps around hips

26
ps-Bede, De signis caeli Ophiuchus

Singletons

missing from manuscript missing from manuscript

Amiens Freiburg-im-Bresgau
Bibl mun, Ms 222 Durham, Cathedral Libr Ms 35
Hunter 100 n.b. – back to viewer, Serpens faces Oph and
passes behind back at hips, no Scorpio

27
ps-Bede, De signis caeli Ophiuchus

Singletons

Montecassino,
Badia, Ms 3
n.b. – walks to left, back to viewer; Serpens faces and
passes behind back, both feet on Scorpio
28
De ordine ac positione Ophiuchus

Ia.

Berlin, Staatsbibl Berlin planisphere

Ms lat 130 (Phill 1832) n.b. – faces viwer, Serpens looks at
n.b. – with bak to viewer, Serpens looks away, Oph, both feet on Sco
wrapped around waist, no Scorpio

Monza, Bib capit winter hemisphere

Ms F. 9/176 (246) Ms F. 9/176 (246)
n.b. -- faces away from viewer, Serpens faces n.b. -- faces towards; Serpens makes X across
away, passes behind hips, no Scorpio chest; both feet on Scorpio
29
De ordine ac positione Ophiuchus

Ia. Ib.

Madrid, Bib Nac Vatican BAV,

Ms 3307 Vat lat 645
n.b. – faces away from viewer; Serpens faces n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens in very
away, no Scorpio complicated coiling around arms and waist, no
Scorpio

30
De ordine ac positione Ophiuchus

II.

Munich, Staatsbibl. Ms clm 210 planisphere

n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens raises head at Ophiuchus faces viewer, distant
right angle, passes in front of hips, no Scorpio from Scorpio

Vienna, ONB
Vindob 387 31
same
De ordine ac positione Ophiuchus

III.

Austin TX, Harry Ransom, Paris BN summer hemipshere

Univ of Texas, Ms 29 lat n.a. 1614 in zodiac belt, no Scorpio
n.b. – walks, back to viewer, Serpens reaches n.b. – back to viewer, Serpens faces Oph,
upwards, wraps around waist, no Scorpio wraps around waist, no Scorpio

St Petersburg, Nat Libr

Ms Q v IX, no 2
n.b. – walks, back to viewer, Serpens faces away and
wraps around waist, no Scorpio 32
De ordine ac positione Ophiuchus

IV.

Paris BN Vatican BAV,

lat 12117 Reg lat 309
n.b.– walks, back to viewer and looks up, Serpens faces away, n.b. – same
wraps around waist, no Scorpio

33
De ordine ac positione Ophiuchus
V.

Los Angeles, Getty Mus Paris BN,

Ludwig XII, 5 lat 8663
n.b. – facing away from viewer, Serpens faces Oph, n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens faces upwards and makes
curls in neck and wraps around waist; no Scorpio an X around waist; both feet on Scorpio

Singletons

missing from manuscript

Vienna, ONB Reykjavik

Vindob 12600 Ms 1812
n.b. – faces viewer; Serpens faces 34
Oph and wraps around waist
Hyginus Ophiuchus
Ia.

S Paul im Lavantthal Florence, Bibl Laurenziana Leiden, Univ-blbl

Ms 16/1 (XXV. 4. 20) Ms Plut 29.30 Voss 8°18
n.b. – faces away from viewer, n.b. – same, but orientation of n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces
Serpens faces Oph and makes an X chest/back confused Oph and makes an X across waist,
across back, no Scorpio note knot in tail

35
Hyginus Ophiuchus

Ib.

Wolfenbüttel, Herz Aug London BL

Ms 18. 16. Aug 4° Arundel 339
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces away from similar, but female (!)
Oph and makes an X across waist, no Scorpio

36
Hyginus Ophiuchus

Ic. (singleton) II. (singleton)

Vienna ONB Leiden Univ-bibl

Vindob 51 Voss lat 4° 92
n.b. – faces away from viewer (note hair at back of head), n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces Oph and makes an X across waist,
Serpens faces towards and makes an X across back, no no Scorpio
Scorpio

54
Hyginus Ophiuchus

III.

Leiden Univ-bibl Vatican BAV planisphere

Voss lat 8° 15 Reg lat 123 n.b.. – faces viewer (to
n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens raises head n.b.. – similar, but turns head towards right) Serpens makes X,
and makes an X across back; both feet on Scorpio viewer distant from Scorpio

54
Hyginus Ophiuchus
IV.

Oxford, Bodleian Libr Oxford, Bodleian Libr

Bodley 614 Digby 83 (SC 1684)
n.b. – youthful, facing the viewer and points to n.b. – similar, but older and bearded
self, Serpens faces away from Oph, and curls
around hip and through legs, no Scorpio
39
Hyginus Ophiuchus

V. (singleton)

Baltimore, Walters Art Gallery

Ms 734
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces away from
Oph and wraps around waist, no Scorpio

40
Hyginus Ophiuchus

VI. (singleton)

Berlin, Staatsbibl.
Ms 8° 44 (Rose 962)
n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens
faces away and wraps around waist

VI- related: German Star Books (‘secundum Hyginum’)

Lyon, Bib mun, Pal des Lyon, Bib mun Munich, Staatsbibl
Arts 45 Ms 172 Germ 595
41
similar similar
Hyginus Ophiuchus

VI- related: German Star Books (‘secundum Hyginum’)

Munich, Staatsbibl Vatican BAV Vatican BAV Wolfenbüttel Herz Aug

Clm 59 Pal.lat. 1369 Pal.lat. 1389 Guelf 81 24 Aug 2
n.b. – similar like Munich 595 similar, pointed tail Twice, one facing away
with Serpens wrapped;
one facing towards with
Serpens passing in front
of waist

42
Hyginus Ophiuchus

VII. (singleton) VIII. (singleton)

missing from manuscript

London BL,
Roy Ms 13. A. XI
n.b. – facing viewer, with Serpens ‘breathing’ at Munich, Staatsbibl.
him and wrapped around body twice; both feet on Clm 10270
43
Scorpio
 Ophiuchus
Hyginus
IXa.

Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Mus Florence, BN Milan, Bibl. Ambrosiana Oxford, Bodleian Libr
Ms 260 Magl XI. 141 T. 47 sup Can. class lat 179
n.b. – female (!) facing viewer, n.b. – similar, but male and same - male same - male
Serpens faces Oph and makes an X Serpens passes in front of hips
at hips

Siena, Bib com Vatican, BAV Vatican, BAV Verona, Bibl capitolare
Ms L. VI. 25 Vat lat 3109 Vat lat 3109 Ms CCLXI
same - male same – female? same – female? same - male s44
Hyginus Ophiuchus

IXb. IXc.

Oxford, Bodleian Library Milan, Bibl Trivulziana Vatican, BAV Florence, BNC
Can misc 46 N. 690 (E 83) Vat lat 3110 Magl XI. 114,1
n.b. – similar – male, sharing same, but with cloak same
‘breath’

45
Hyginus Ophiuchus

IXd. (distant singleton) IXe.

Florence, Bibl Laurenziana Pavia, Bibl Univ Vatican., BAV

Ashburnam1148 Aldini 490 Urb lat 1358
n.b. – similar, but more frontal n.b. – standing and facing away from Same, but looking up
viewer, X across back

46
Hyginus Ophiuchus

IXf. IXg.

New York, Public Library Freiberg, Andreas-Möller-Bibl. Florence, Bib Laurenziana

Spencer Ms 28 Cl XI 4o 9 Plut 89, sup 43
n.b. – same - male same similar, but more frontal

47
Hyginus Ophiuchus

X. (singleton) XI. (singleton)

missing from manuscript

Vatican, BAV Cortona, Lib del Comune

Chigi H. IV. 20 Ms 184 (256)
n.b. – walks to right, dressed, Serpens faces away and passes behind hips

48
 Ophiuchus
Hyginus - singletons

missing from manuscript missing from manuscript

Cambrai, Bibl Mun. Cambridge, Trinity College Leiden, Univ.-bibl.

Ms 933 (832) Ms R 15 32 Gronovius 21
same, cf: IX a and IX b

49
Hyginus Ophiuchus

Venice: Ratdolt, 1482

cf Michael Scot = facing viewer, Serpens Vienna ÖNB

faces and wraps around hips, no Scorpio Vindob 3111
same, note foreshortened foot

50
Basinio da Parma Ophiuchus

Ia. Ib.

Rimini, Cassa di Risparmio

Cambridge, CUL
(London Sotheby’s sale 1992)
Dd IV 64
n.b. – stands to right, facing viewer, Serpens
n.b. – similar, but walking
faces Oph and wraps around hips, no Scorpio

51
Basinio da Parma Ophiuchus

IIa.

Oxford, Bodleian Libr Parma, Bib Palatina, Venice, Bibl Marciana

Bodley 646 Parm 1008 XII, 194 (4148)
n.b. – standing frontally, labelled Same – ‘Triptolemus’ same
‘Triptolomaes’

52
 Ophiuchus
Basinio da Parma

IIb.

Parma, Bibl Palatina Rome Bibl Casanatense Munich, BSB

Parm 27 Ms 4059 Clm 15743
n.b. – same, labelled ‘Anguitenens’ Same, and ‘Ophiuchus’ in Greek same, but not labelled

53
Basinio da Parma Ophiuchus

III. IV.

Bologna, Bibl Com London, Wellcome Coll

Ms 173 WMS 122
n.b. – similar Same , labelled ‘Anguitenens’

V. VI.

Ravenna, Bib Classense Florence, Bibl Marucelliana

Ms 120 Ms C. CCLI
similar, but sideways on page similar, labelled ‘Anguitenens’ 54
Basinio da Parma Ophiuchus

?
?

Krakow, Padua, Bibl. Universitaria

Rps BJ 3706 Cod 983

55
Michael Scot Ophiuchus
N Italian Group – Ia.

Munich, Staatsbibl Oxford, Bodleian Libr

Clm 10268 Bodley Ms 266
n.b. – facing away from viewer, Serpens faces Oph and same
wraps around waist and makes a curl in left hand; both feet
on Scorpio Serpentarius manens super Scorpionem est ymago celi, sed a quibusdam
nominator Asclepius … Cum vero sit nudus et rectus in pedibus, tenet
serpentem in manibus, qui videtur eum velle ictu percutere in ore.
(ed. Ackermann 2009, p. 178) 56
Michael Scot
Ophiuchus
N Italian Group – Ib.

Vatican, BAV St Petersburg, Nat Libr

Vat lat 4087 A Ms lat F V IX, no. 1
n.b. – same

57
Michael Scot Ophiuchus

N Italian Group – Ic. N Italian Group – Id. N Italian Group – Ie.

Warsaw, BN, Vienna, ONB Padua, Bibl Seminario

B Baw 46 Vindob 3394 Cod. 48
n.b. – similar, but reversed n.b. – same

58
Michael Scot Ophiuchus

Venetian Group – IIa. Venetian Group – IIb.

missing from manuscript

London BL London, Wellcome Coll Milan, Ambrosiana

Add 41600 Ms 509 Ms I 90 sup
n.b. – similar, but smaller figure and same n.b. – similar, but no curl at hand
elaborate Serpens

59
Michael Scot Ophiuchus
Bohemian Group – IIIa.

Vienna, ONB Vienna, ONB

Vindob 2352 Vindob 2378
n.b. –similar similar, but facing towards viewer

60
Michael Scot Ophiuchus
Bohemian – IIIa. Bohemian – IIIb.

Prague NK, Paris BN

Ms III. C. 2 lat 7408A
n.b. – similar, but Serpens not wrapped or curled n.b. – similar, but elaborate Serpens curls, problem with
orientation of Oph

61
Michael Scot Ophiuchus

Bohemian – IIIc. Bohemian – IIId.

only zodiac images in manuscript

Vienna, ONB Cambridge, MA

Vindob 5442 Harvard, Houghton
n.b. – similar Libr., Typ 43

62
 Ophiuchus
Michael Scot

Edinburgh, Royal Observatory Florence, BNC

Ms Cr 3. 23 Magl. XXII, 22
n.b. – similar,facing viewer and Serpens
with elaborate curls

? ?

Klosterneuburg, Augustiner Ch-Stift, Krakow, Bibl Jagiellonska

Ms CCI 125 Rps 573
n.b. – similar, facing viewer with Serpens having 63
elaborate curls, cf. Vienna 5415
Michael Scot Ophiuchus

Prague, Narodni Knihova Seville, Bibl Columbina

Ms XXXVI A 3 Ms. 7.7.1
n.b. – similar, facing viewer, Serpens with n.b. – standing facing viewer, holding fat Serpens
elaborate curls in front of him with both hands

64
Michael Scot Ophiuchus
German mss – IVa.

Darmstadt, Hess Hochschulbibl. Berlin, Staatsbibl

Ms 266 Ms germ fol 244
n.b. – facing viewer, S-shaped Serpens going through n.b. – facing away from viewer,
legs, standing on Scorpio Serpens facing Oph, wrapped around
waist, curl in right hand; standing on
Scorpio

65
Michael Scot Ophiuchus
German mss – IVa.

Salzburg, Studienbibl Vatican, BAV

2 G 8/13 Pal lat 1370
n.b. – same as Darmstadt n.b. – same as Darmstadt

66
 Ophiuchus
Michael Scot

German mss – IVa.

Paris, BN
Allem 106
n.b. – similar to Darmstadt, but female (!)

67
 Ophiuchus
Michael Scot

German mss – IVb.

Tubingen Univ-bibl.
Ms d 2
n.b. – similar to Darsmstadt Ophiuchus as child of Mercury

68
Michael Scot Ophiuchus

German mss – IVb.

Wolfenbüttel, Herz Aug Bibl

Ms Guelph 29 14 Aug 4°

69
Michael Scot – German version Ophiuchus

? ? ?

Coburg, Bayerisches Landesbibl. Edinburgh, Royal Observatory Libr. Freiburg, Univ-bibl.

Ms 5 Ms Cr 4 6 Ms 458

? ? ?

Heidelberg Univ-bibl. Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibl. Nürnberg, Germanisches Nationalmus.

Pal germ 832 Ms K 2790 Ms 7082
70
Michael Scot - derived Ophiuchus

Venice: Ratdolt, 1482 Bartolommeo da Parma

Cambridge, Emmanuel College Metz, Bibl mun

Ms 70 Ms 287
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces Oph n.b. – similar
and passes in front of hips, curls in left
hand, stands on Scorpio

71
Michael Scot - derived Ophiuchus

Fazio degli Uberti

Paris, BN,
Ital 81
n.b. – faces away from viewer, Serpens faces Oph, touching
nose with tongue, and waraps around waist, curl in right
hand, stands on Scorpio Modena, Bibl Estense
Ital 483 (α. P. 47)
72
Michael Scot - derived Ophiuchus
Guido Bonatti

London, BL
Arundel Ms 66
n.b. – facses viewer, Serpens faces Oph and wraps around hips

73
Michael Scot - derived Ophiuchus
Ludovicus de Angulo

St Gallen, Vadianische Libr Florence, Bibl. Riccardiana Madrid, BN

Ms 427 Ms 3011 Ms 9267
n.b. – stabds facing viewer, Serpens n.b. – similar, but more curls in Serpens n.b. – closer to St Gallen
faces Oph and curls around waist and
through legs, stands on Scorpio

74
Michael Scot - derived Ophiuchus
Ludovicus de Angulo

Paris BN Paris BN
Paris BN
Fr 612 Lat 7344
Lat 6561
n.b. – similar, but much wilder, also note huge same
n.b. – similar
antennae on Scorpio

75
Lambertus, Liber Floridus Ophiuchus

Hague Hague Paris, BN

Ms 72.A.83 Ms 128 C Lat 8865
n.b. – facing viewer, Serpens faces away and same n.b. – Ophiuchus as a Bootes-like figure
wraps around waist, not on Scorpio standing on Scorpio with one foot; no
Serpens

76
Lambertus, Liber Floridus Ophiuchus

Chantilly, Petit Château Leiden, Univ-bibl Ghent Wolfenbüttel, WDB,

Ms 724 (1596) Ms 1° 31 Ms 92 Ms Gud lat 1
n.b. – standing towards right, n.b. – facing away from viewer, n.b. – same, but stands on Scorpio
Serpens around waist Serpens faces away and wraps
around waist, not near Scorpio

77
Domenico d’Arezzo Ophiuchus

Vatican BAV Madrid, BN

Val Lat 3121 Ms 1983
n.b. – stands facing viewer in front of legless dragon that n.b. – same
faces to right, looks up, not on Scorpio

78
Domenico d’Arezzo Ophiuchus

missing from manuscript missing from manuscript

Fermo, Bibl. Com. Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana London, Lambeth Palace

Ms 4 Aedil 170 Ms 35
n.b. – similar, but Serpens more
Serpenslike and more curls

79
Matteo Palmieri, Città di Virtù Ophiuchus

Florence, Bibl Laurenziana detail from planisphere

Plut 40 53
n.b. – facing away from viewer, Serpens faces Oph and wraps Serpens in front siagnonaaly, stand on Scorpio
around waist, not on Scorpio

80
Qasr cAmra Ophiuchus

cf. Beer 1932, p. 299 (reversed) n.b. – nude, standing away from viewer, snake horizontal with face to left, both
Oph feet on back of Sco
Eastern Globes Ophiuchus

Florence,Mus delle Scienze, no. 2712

Paris globe GA 325
dated 1025 AD
n.b. – similar, but Serpens passes in front of
n.b. – facing the viewer, Serpens faces away and
legs, note how holds Serpens from underneath
passes between legs, standing on Claws of Scorpio
82
Eastern Globes Ophiuchus

Smithsonian Mus, no 72-3085

Cf: Savage-Smith 1985
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces upwards with knot in BM – Malcolm globe
neck and curl in tail, passing in front of Ophiuchus’s thighs, similar
one foot on back of Scorpio

83
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

? ?

Doha, Mus of Islamic Art Istanbul, Süleymaniye Libr

Ms 2. 1998. SO (= Sotheby’s 1998, lot 34) Ms Fatih Kütüphanesi 3422
Dated April 1125 AD; Baghdād 1125/26 AD; Mārdin
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces upwards with knot in neck,
passing in front of/behind Ophiuchus’s hips

84
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

? ?

Oxford, Bodleian Library

Istanbul, Topkapī Sarayī
Huntington Ms 212
Ahmet II 3493
1170/71 AD; Mosul
1130-31 AD, Mayyafariqin, SE Turkey
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces upwards with curl in neck and tail , passing
in front of/behind Ophiuchus’s hips

85
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

? ?

Oxford, Bodleian Libr Berlin, Staatsbibl.

Ms Marsh 144 Ms qu or 704
dated 1009-1010 AD /probl. late 12th C AD; Shiraz (?), Iran c. 1203
similar

86
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

Vatican, BAV Berlin, Staatsbibl.

Ross 1033 Landberg 71
1224 AD, Ceuta (?) N Africa Aug/Sept 1233; Mosul
similar, figure 8 in Serpens’s neck; second Ophiuchus female (!) similar, Serpens between legs

87
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

? ?

Istanbul, Suleymanie Libr

Ayasofia 2595
1249-50 AD; Alamut (?) Iran

88
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

Paris BN Paris BN
Arabe 2488 Arabe 2489
mid-13th C, Ceuta (?) N Africa 1266-67 AD; Syria?
similar similar

89
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

? ?

London BL Cairo, National Libr Oxford, Bodleian Libr

Or 5323 Ms Dar al-Kutub miqãt 390 Pococke 257
1260-80; Maragha (?), NW Iran 1300 AD 1303/04; Aleppo
similar

90
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

Escorial NY, Metropolitan Mus

Ms 915 Ms 13.160-10 (Rogers Fund 1913)
20 March 1364 AD c. 1400, Samarkand

91
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

Paris BN
Ms arabe 5036 Bologna, Bibl. Univ
c. 1430-40, Samarkand Ms 2953
similar 8 Oct 1500 AD

92
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

? images missing from pages images missing from pages

Dublin, Chester Beatty Libr Paris BN

Ms Ar 4119 Arabe 2490
1504/05 AD 1516/17 AD

93
 non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

Paris BN Paris BN
Arabe 2491 Arabe 2492
1770 AD 18th C
similar similar

94
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

? ? ?

Dublin, Chester Beatty Libr London BL Istanbul, Perter Pasa Libr

Ms Ar 4222 Add ms 7488 Ms 375
16th C; Iran 16th C 16th C

95
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

Copenhagen, Kong. Bibl.

Ms arabe 83
25 May 1602 AD; Medina; copied from copy dated 1013/14
AD believed to be al-Sufi’s own copy
Serpens between legs

96
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

St Petersburg, Inst Or Studs Princeton, Univ Libr

Ms n.s. 191 Ms Garrett 2259 Yehuda
16th C; Istanbul ? al-Sufi, dated 3 Jan 1607

97
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

Paris BN
Arabe 6528
India, 1643-44

98
non-Latin Eastern mss (al-Sufi, Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-ṯābita) Ophiuchus

New York, Met Museum of Art

Ms 1975.192.2
attr. Iran (?), 18th C
99
non-Latin Eastern mss – al-Sufi translations, etc. Ophiuchus

al-Sufi, at-Tusi transl???

Tehran, Riza ‘Abbasi Libr

Ms M. 570
Ibn-al-Sufi (son) 100
1159-60 AD
 Ophiuchus
non-Latin Eastern mss - Qazwini

St Petersburg, Ms E (?) Baltimore, Walters Art Gall Paris BN

Qazwini Ms W 359 Arabe 2178
Qazwini – 1762-63 AD –
n.b. –Oph as king, Serpens and slug- n.b. – similar, but with dragon head
like

101
 Ophiuchus
non-Latin Eastern mss - Qazwini

Washington DC, Freer

Ms 1954 -52 (ex-Sarre)
Qazwini
n.b. – Serpens’s knot in front of hips
102
Sufi latinus – I Ophiuchus
Stellatio afeichus et est alangue id est effeminatus et est lator serpentis // stellatio serpentis alangue

Paris, Bibl Arsenal

Ms 1036
n.b. – walks to right, Serpens raises head with curl in neck
and tail passes behind hips 103
Sufi latinus – II Ophiuchus

missing from manuscript

Prague, Strahov Berlin, Staatsbibl, KK

DA. II. 33 Ms 78 D 12
n.b. – similar

104
Sufi latinus – II Ophiuchus

Gotha, Forshungsbibl
Munich, Staatsbibl
Membr II 141
Clm 826
same
similar
105
 Ophiuchus
Sufi latinus – III

Catania, Bibl Univ Vienna, ONB

Ms Univ Ar, 387 Cod 5318
n.b. – twice – one following al-Sufi type; other with same
back to viewer, Serpens facing and wrapped around
waist, loop at tail, stading on Scorpio
106
Sufi latinus IV Ophiuchus

Bernkastel-Kues, Nicolaus hosp.

Ms 207
n.b. – Ophiuchus similar, but nude;
note separate depiction of Serpens as 2-legged dragon
107
Alfonsine iconography Ophiuchus

El Escorial and 2 more

Ms h 115 – stradling a snake

Vatican BAV Vatican BAV Los Angeles, Getty Mus

Reg lat 1283a Vat lat 8174 Ms Ludwig XII, 7
Cacciatore delle stette serpi [sic] … e Ista figura vocat venator serpentium
chiamasi in latino venator serpentum 108
e in arabico alhave hualhaya
Alfonsine iconography Ophiuchus

zodiac signs only zodiac signs only

Oxford, Bodleian Library New York, Morgan Pierpont Library

Can. misc. 27 (zodiac only) Ms 355 (zodiac only)

109
 Ophiuchus
Alfonsine Stellar Tables

Oxford, Bodleian Libr

Rawl C 117
n.b. – standing facing viewer, Serpens Separate depiction of Serpens as 2-
as snake behind hips legged, winged dragon
Stellacio afficius et est alange id est alange
effeminatus et lator serpentis offiulchus

110
Alfonsine Stellar Tables Ophiuchus

Vatican, BAV
Urb lat 1399 Oxford, Bodleian Library
n.b – same with separate Serpens as 2- Can misc 554
legged, winged dragon n.B – three versions of Ophiuchus (with possible contamination
Lator serpentis serpens with Andromeda in female figure ?) and Serpens as a separate 2-
legged winged dragon

111
Alfonsine Stellar Tables Ophiuchus

Bergamo, Bibl A Mai Vatican, BAV

Ms Σ II 2 Vat lat 3099
n.b. – stands in front of Serpens n.b. – seroens separate and twice same same
Stellatio afrircins/africins et est Stellatio affriceis …
alange id est effeminatus et est Stellatio serpentis alange
lator serpentis.

112
‘Ptolemaic’ stellar tables / picture books Ophiuchus

Brussels, Bib Roy Brussels, Bib Roy Vatican BAV

Ms 10117-26 Ms 10117-26 Pal lat 1368
n.b. –nude and facaing away from n.b. – Seroens as separate dragon n.b. – only once, vertically on Serpens alone
viewer, walking to left, Serpens page, three prongs from head as snake
faces and wraps around hips Forma et stelle alangue id est Stella alangue … latoris serpentes
Forma et stelle Offiuches seu serpentis serpentes alangue
alangue et dicitur effeminatus et Officius
est lator serpentis vel carnabonta

113
‘Ptolemaic’ stellar tables Ophiuchus

Vatican BAV Torun

Pal lat 1377
n.b. – nude, from rear, Serpens faces and forms X
across waist; Serpens alone as snake
Forma et stelle offiachos seu alangue et dicitur
effeminatus et est lator serpentis
Ms 35
n.b. – back to viewer, Serpens faces away and wraps
around waist; Serpens on own as snake
Serpentarius, tenens serpentem, offiulchus,
serpentarius alange effeminatus
114
‘Ptolemaic’ stellar tables Ophiuchus

Augsburg, Univ-bibl.
Cod II 1.2o 110

115
‘Ptolemaic’ picture books Ophiuchus

Cambridge MA
Houghton, Typ 43
n.b. – faces viewer; Serpens
faces away and wraps around
waist, curl in neck and tail
Florence, BNC,
Basle, Univ-Bib
Ms Angeli 1147
Ms F. II. 33
n.b. – faces away from viewer to right, Serpens looks away
n.b. – facing viewer nude, straddling
and has multiple curls
Serpens who looks away from Oph,
curls in neck and tail

116
‘Ptolemaic’ stellar tables Ophiuchus

Vienna ONB Vienna ONB 5415

Vienna 5415 northern hemisphere
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens lifts head and has multiple faces away from viewer, similarly knotted Serpens, one
curls, cf Klosterneuburg foot on Scorpio
Stellatio serpentis alange … serpentarius

117
Hebrew Stellar Tables Ophiuchus

missing from manuscript

Phildelphia, U Penn Vienna, ONB

Ms LJS 57 Hebrew 132
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens raises head, passes behind hips

northern hemisphere
n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens faces away, both feet on Scorpio 118
Seneca, Tragedies (comm. Nicolas Trevet) Ophiuchus

Padua, Univ . Bibl. Vatican BAV Vatican BAV

Cod 896 Urb lat 355 Vat lat 1650
n.b. – Serpens alone; Oph kneels facing viewer n.b. – Serpens same, Oph standing with
with Serpens facing upwards and passing Serpens between legs
behind hips 119
Miscellaneous images Ophiuchus

Bernkastel-Kues Darmstadt, , Univ- and Landesbibl.

St Nicholas-Hospital Ms 1020
Ms 212 (hemispheres) northern hemisphere
n.b. – faces viewer, flat Serpens, n.b. – faces viewer, Serpens with head raised and
not on Scorpio wraps around waist, stands on Scorpio

120
Miscellaneous images Ophiuchus

Cusanus globe
© Petr Hadrava
n.b. – back to viewer, Serpens faces Oph

121
Miscellaneous (mantle of Henry II) Ophiuchus

Mantle of Henry II winter hemipshere

Regensburg, c. 1020 Ophiuchus on Scorpio in zodiac
Bamberg, Domschatz
Cf: RAL mss; O’Connor 2980

122
Miscellaneous Ophiuchus

Triptolemus
Plaque from ivory casket,
Cividale, Museo archeologico
cf: Weitzmann, Greek Mythol., 1951, pp.
155-56
Ophiuchus/Serpentraius
St Peter’s throne – right slope of gable
cf: Weitzmann

123
 Miscellaneous Ophiuchus

Dürer, Aesclepius with snake and glass Francesco di Giorgio, Aesculapius or Laocoon
c. 1500 Dresden, Staatliche Kunstsammlung
Berlin, Staatliche Museen

124
Miscellaneous Ophiuchus

125