Ruota del gran filosofo Pitagora, 1651?

Name:

Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Date:

1651

Description:

Diagram of the wheel of Pythagoras, also known as the sphere of Pythagoras, with instructions about how to use it for divination. The diagram is of concentric circles containing the days of the week and astrological symbols; letters of the alphabet; and numbers. Performing arithmetic functions described in the text on these numbers and the number corresponding to the first letter of the questioner's name leads to a numerical result to be found in one of the four quadrants at the center of the circles, which correspond to favorable and unfavorable outcomes. Questions suggested in the text include whether a pregnant woman will have a boy or a girl; whether one's master will become pope or cardinal; and questions about duels, theft, and illness. The text includes the date 1651.

Language:

Italian

Provenance:

Sold at auction at Bloomsbury Auctions (London), 23 February 2017, as part of lot 59.

Subject:

Divination -- Early works to 1800; Astrology -- Early works to 1800

Form/Genre:

Diagrams; Manuscripts, Italian -- 17th century; Manuscripts, European

Physical Description:

1 item (1 leaf) : paper; 220 x 370 mm.

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

In Italian.

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Misc Mss Box 24 Folder 17

Collection:

Miscellaneous Manuscripts