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Source Description

Both of these wheel-shaped diagrams resemble in their structure the diagram of the microcosmic-macrocosmic harmony on the preceding page of this manuscript. The eight intersecting arcs of the top diagram show the relationships among the four seasons, the four qualities of the year, the four cardinal directions, and the dates of seasonal changes. Thus, this diagram illustrates the notion of the unity of time and space as expressed in the Spanish scholar Isidore of Seville's (d. 636 CE) scientific work, De natura rerum (On the nature of things, X). The bottom diagram illustrates the relationships among the four elements – Earth, Air, Fire, and Water – the four seasons, and the four bodily humors – phlegm, blood, yellow bile, and black bile -- as well as giving qualities associated with each. These relationships, first articulated by classical authorities and reprised in Isidore's De natura rerum, XI, iii, form the basis of medieval medicine.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
17792
label
Diagrams of the harmony of the Year and Seasons, and the Harmony of the Elements, Seasons and Humors
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
17792
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Diagrams of the harmony of the Year and Seasons, and the Harmony of the Elements, Seasons and Humors
description
Both of these wheel-shaped diagrams resemble in their structure the diagram of the microcosmic-macrocosmic harmony on the preceding page of this manuscript. The eight intersecting arcs of the top diagram show the relationships among the four seasons, the four qualities of the year, the four cardinal directions, and the dates of seasonal changes. Thus, this diagram illustrates the notion of the unity of time and space as expressed in the Spanish scholar Isidore of Seville's (d. 636 CE) scientific work, De natura rerum (On the nature of things, X). The bottom diagram illustrates the relationships among the four elements – Earth, Air, Fire, and Water – the four seasons, and the four bodily humors – phlegm, blood, yellow bile, and black bile -- as well as giving qualities associated with each. These relationships, first articulated by classical authorities and reprised in Isidore's De natura rerum, XI, iii, form the basis of medieval medicine.
provenance
Gruel and Englemann Collection, Paris [1]; acquired by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1903; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.[1] no. 131, bookplate on inside upper board
date
late 12th century
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
illuminated manuscripts
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
27
height
15.5
dimensionsRaw
H: 10 5/8 x W: 6 1/8 in. (27 x 15.5 cm)
Source extras
style
Romanesque
med
ink and pigments on medium-weight parchment
creator_ids
6197
collection_ids
MSS
exhibition_ids
2872
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
9a80fd98e59b7186