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Medieval Universe

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Celitelat

The sphere of fixed stars   The sphere of Fixed starts The sphere of the fixed stars. Leonardo de Piero…
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Saturn

Saturn   Saturn Saturn. Michael Scot, Liber de signis et ymaginibus celi. Wellcome Library MS 509 (ca.1450-60, North Italy), f.23r…
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Terra

EARTH   Earth Leonardo de Piero Dati, La sfera. Wellcome Library MS 230 (mid 15th century), f.8r Earth Medieval people…
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Jupiter

Jupiter   Jupiter Jupiter. Michael Scot, Liber de signis et ymaginibus celi. Wellcome Library MS 509 (ca.1450-60, North Italy), f.23v…
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Mars

Mars   Mars Mars. Michael Scot, Liber de signis et ymaginibus celi. Wellcome Library MS 509 (ca.1450-60, North Italy), f.23v…
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Sol

The SUN   The Sun The Sun. Michael Scot, Liber de signis et ymaginibus celi. Wellcome Library MS 509 (ca.1450-60,…
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Venus

Venus   Venus Venus. Michael Scot, Liber de signis et ymaginibus celi. Wellcome Library MS 509 (ca.1450-60, North Italy), f.23v…
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Mercury

Mercury   Mercury Mercury. Michael Scot, Liber de signis et ymaginibus celi. Wellcome Library MS 509 (ca.1450-60, North Italy), f.26r…
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Luna

The MOON   The Moon The Moon. Michael Scot, Liber de signis et ymaginibus celi. Wellcome Library MS 509 (ca.1450-60,…
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Ffoch

FIRE   Fire Man warming himself by a fire. Illustration with pisces for the calendar page for February. A Man…
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Ayre

AIR   Air Leonardo de Piero Dati, La sfera. Wellcome Library MS 230 (mid 15th century), f.7r Air Its qualities…
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Aysua

WATER   Water Leonardo de Piero Dati, La sfera. Wellcome Library MS 230 (mid 15th century), f.16r Water A quarter…
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Terra

Aysua

Ayre

Ffoch

Luna

Mercury

medieval universe 2d
Venus
Sol
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Further Reading
3D Model

Acknowledgements

This website was designed by Dr Sophie Page (UCL). Thanks to Rakhe Mahia Abedin and Kathleen Walker Meikle for their help in developing the concepts.

Medieval Universe quiz

1. This planet is difficult to see because it keeps pace with the sun.

 
 
 

2. This planet’s qualities are hot and damp and its colour is sliver.

 
 
 

3. Translate celum novum.

 
 
 

4. Which planet completes its circuit in 30 years?

 
 
 

5. Where did Aristotle say the sun’s light and heat came from?

 
 
 

6. What is a celestial intelligence?

 
 
 

7. Which element is linked to the humour phlegm?

 
 
 

8. What parts of the body does gemini rule?

 
 
 

9. What are the qualities of fire?

 
 
 

10. Which planet is sometimes called the Morning Star?

 
 
 

11. Who did Christians identify with the Prime Mover?

 
 
 

12. The 12 zodiac signs are located in this sphere.

 
 
 

13. Which element is linked to the humour black bile?

 
 
 

14. Which angelic movers were linked to the sun?

 
 
 

15. Which sphere is inhabited by the blessed?

 
 
 

16. Which planet is cold and moist?

 
 
 

17. What are the qualities of earth?

 
 
 

18. This sphere was thought to contain the ‘waters above the firmament’

 
 
 

19. Which planet is fiery and causes wars?

 
 
 

20. Which planet is the largest?

 
 
 

21. What parts of the body does pisces rule?

 
 
 


Medieval people imagined the earth to be at the still centre of a dynamic cosmos. It was enclosed within multiple transparent spheres, nested closely within one another like the layers of an onion (a popular analogy of the time).

 

A quarter of the sphere of earth was thought to be elevated above the sphere of water.

 

Its qualities are hot and moist and its humour is blood

 

Its qualities are hot and dry and its humour is yellow bile

 

The Moon completes its circuit in one year. The diameter of the Moon is 1,896 and the diameter of its orbit is 101,261 miles.‎

 

Mercury completes its circuit in one year. The thickness of its planetary sphere is 370,122 miles and its diameter is 230 miles.

 

Venus completes its circuit in one year. The thickness of its sphere is 3,313,545 miles and its diameter is 2,884 miles.

 

The Sun is the largest planet and is in the fourth sphere. The Sun’s sphere is 375,762 miles thick and its diameter is 35,700 miles.

 

Mars completes its circuit in two years. The thickness of its sphere is 218,083,446 miles and its diameter is 7,572 miles.

 

Jupiter completes its circuit in twenty years. Its sphere is 20,192,626 miles thick and the planet itself has a diameter of 29,641 miles.

 

Saturn is the last of the planets and completes its circuit in thirty years. Its planetary sphere is 20,843,044 miles thick and its diameter is 29,209 miles.

 

Celitelat is the last of the planets and completes its circuit in thirty years. Its planetary sphere is 20,843,044 miles thick and its diameter is 29,209 miles.

 

2D Model Further Reading

Medieval people imagined the earth to be at the still centre of a dynamic cosmos. It was enclosed within multiple transparent spheres, nested closely within one another like the layers of an onion (a popular analogy of the time).