Johann, Hans or Johannes Virdung of Hassfurt (15 March 1463 – 1538/39) was a celebrated astrologer of the early sixteenth century from the Electoral Palatinate.[1] He had an official position at Heidelberg, at the court of the Elector Palatine. He wrote various works under generic names (Prognosticon, Practica), including a millennarian work, Practica von dem Entchrist around 1510.[2][3][4]
He was a correspondent of Johannes Trithemius. One of the early sources for the Faust legend occurs in a letter of Trithemius to Virdung.[5]
Virdung studied at the University of Leipzig beginning in 1481, then in Kraków from 1484 to 1486 or 1487. He returned to Leipzig in 1487, where he graduated as a "Magister" in 1491.[6] It has been suggested[7] that Virdung was of the school of the astronomer Albertus de Brudzewo, and had studied with him and Johannes de Glogovia[8] in Kraków.
References edit
- ^ Dates given as c.1465-c.1535.[1][permanent dead link].
- ^ Denis Crouzet (1999) "Millennial Eschatologies in Italy, Germany, and France: 1500-1533". Journal for Millennial Studies, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 1–8. Published 1525, title page Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ An early work is the Prognosticon printed 1490. It was followed by others (1492, 1493, 1494, 1497 at least). (This PDF for details Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine.)
- ^ There is the 1584 Joannis Hasfurti medici ac astrologi praestantissimi, the title of which implies Virdung had a reputation as physician; he may not have contributed more than his name.
- ^ 20 August 1507, [2] Archived 2010-12-02 at the Wayback Machine (German language). In connection with this, [3] describes Virdung as 'mathematician and court astrologer'.
- ^ Steinmetz, "Johann Virdung von Hassfurt", in Astrologi hallucinati p. 197.
- ^ By Kazimierz Piekarski
- ^ Jan Glogowczyk, Jan Glogau, Jan of Glogow (1455-1507). See pl:Jan z Głogowa.
Works edit
- De cognoscendis et medendis morbis ex corporum coelestium positione (in Latin). Venezia: Damiano Zenaro. 1584.
References edit
- Max Steinmetz (1986), "Johann Virdung von Hassfurt, sein Leben und seine astrologischen Flugschriften", in Astrologi hallucinati, stars at the end of the world in Luther's time
- Lynn Thorndike Johann Virdung of Hassfurt again Isis 25, 1936, p. 363; Faust and Johann Virdung of Hassfurt, Isis 26, 1936/37, p. 321; Another Virdung Manuscript, Isis 34, 1942/43, p. 291; Johann Virdung of Hassfurt: dates of birth and death, Isis 37, 1947, p. 74