The Coelum Stellatum Christianum is a star atlas published in 1627 by Julius Schiller (c. 1580–1627), with the collaboration of Johann Bayer (1572–1625). In the treatise, which was published by Andreas Aperger at Augsburg during the same year as Schiller's death, pagan constellations were replaced with biblical figures and Christian motifs. Schiller replaced the zodiac constellations with the Twelve Apostles, the northern constellations with New Testament figures, and the southern constellations with Old Testament figures.[1]
 Cover of Coelum Stellatum Christianum | |
| Author | Julius Schiller, Johann Bayer |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Lucas Kilian |
| Language | Latin |
| Subject | Uranography |
| Publisher | Andreas Aperger |
Publication date | 1627 |
The planets, the Sun, and the Moon were also replaced by biblical figures:[1]
- The Sun is replaced by Jesus Christ.
- The Moon is replaced Mary.
- Mercury is replaced by Elijah.
- Venus is replaced by John the Baptist.
- Mars is replaced by Joshua.
- Jupiter is replaced by Moses.
- Saturn is replaced by Adam.
The engravings in the atlas were by Lucas Kilian.
Constellations edit
New Testament edit
In general, New Testament figures and motifs correspond with constellations located to the north of the ecliptic:
| No. | IAU constellation | Coelum Stellatum Christianum (English) |
Coelum Stellatum Christianum (Latin)[2] |
Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Ursa Minor | Archangel Michael | Sancti Michaelis Archangeli |  |
| II | Ursa Major | Barque of Saint Peter | Naviculæ S. Petri Apostoli |  |
| III | Draco | Massacre of the Innocents | Sanctorum Innocentum Pucrorum |  |
| IV | Cepheus | Saint Stephen | Sancti Stephani Protomaryris |  |
| V | Bootes | Pope Sylvester I | Sancti Silvestri Pontificis Max |  |
| VI | Coma Berenices | Flagellation of Christ | Flagelli XPI Domini |  |
| VII | Corona Borealis | Crown of Thorns | Coronæ XPI Spineæ |  |
| VIII | Hercules | Magi | Sanctorum Trium Regum |  |
| IX | Lyra | Nativity | Præsepii Salvatoris Christi |  |
| X | Cygnus | Saint Helena | Cum Cius Inventrice S. Helena |  |
| XI | Cassiopeia | Mary Magdalene | Sanctæ Mariæ Magdalenæ |  |
| XII | Perseus | Paul of Tarsus | Sancti Pauli Apostoli |  |
| XIII | Auriga | Jerome | Sancti Hieroymi Ecclesiæ Doctoris |  |
| XIV | Ophiuchus | Saint Benedict among the brambles | Sancti Patris Benedicti Inter Spinas |  |
| Serpens | Brambles surrounding Saint Benedict | |||
| XV | Aquila | Catherine of Alexandria | Sanctæ Catarinæ Virginis |  |
| Sagitta | Holy Lance | Clavorum XPI Crucifixi | ||
| XVI | Delphinus | Water jug of the wedding at Cana | Hydriæ Canæ |  |
| Equuleus | Rosa Mystica | Rose Mysticæ | ||
| XVII | Pegasus | Archangel Gabriel | Sancti Gabrielis Archangelæ |  |
| XVIII | Andromeda | Holy Sepulchre | Sepulchri XPI Triumphatoris |  |
| XIX | Triangulum | Papal tiara of Saint Peter | Mitræ Pontificalis S. Petri |  |
| XXXII | Cetus | Saint Anne | Annæ Parentum Deiparæ |  |
| Saint Joachim | Sanctorum Joachimi | |||
| XXXIV | Orion | Joseph of Nazareth | Sancti Joseph Viri Mariæ |  |
Old Testament edit
In general, Old Testament figures and motifs were applied to constellations to the south of the ecliptic:
| No. | IAU constellation | Coelum Stellatum Christianum (English) |
Coelum Stellatum Christianum (Latin)[2] |
Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXXIII | Eridanus | Crossing of the Red Sea | Transitus Israel Nempe per Mare Rubrum |  |
| XXXV | Lepus | Gideon | Velleris Gideonis |  |
| Columba | Noah's dove | Columbæ Noachi | ||
| XXXVI | Canis Major | David | Sancti Regis Davidis |  |
| XXXVII | Canis Minor | Lamb of God | Agni Paschalis |  |
| XXXVIII | Puppis, Carina, Vela, Pyxis (Argo Navis) | Noah's Ark | Archæ Patriarchæ Noachi |  |
| XXXIX | Hydra | Jordan River (not to be confused with Jordanus) | Iordanis Fluvii |  |
| XL | Crater, Corvus | Ark of the Covenant | Sanctæ Arcæ Foederis |  |
| XLI | Centaurus | Abraham and Isaac | Sanctorum Patriarcharum Abrahami et Isaaci |  |
| XLII | Lupus | Jacob | Sancti Israelis Sive Jacobi Patriarchæ |  |
| XLIII | Ara | Showbread Table | Altaris Thymiamatis |  |
| Corona Australis | Crown of Solomon | Diadematis Regis Salomonis | ||
| XLIV | Piscis Austrinus | Barrel of the widow of Zarephath | Hydriæ Farinæ Sarepthanæ Vidvæ |  |
| XLV | Grus, Phoenix | Aaron | Aaronis Summi Sacerodotis |  |
| XLVI | Pavo, Indus | Job | Servi Dei Iob |  |
| XLVII | Musca | Eve | Evæ Matris Cumctorum Viventium |  |
| Triangulum Australe | Tau cross | Signi Mystici Tav | ||
| XLVIII | Volans, Dorado | Abel | Abbelis Iusti |  |
| XLIX | Tucana, Hydrus | Archangel Raphael | Sancti Raphaelis Archangeli |  |
Apostles edit
The twelve zodiac signs were replaced by the Twelve Apostles, with Judas Iscariot excluded and one of the apostles assigned to two zodiac signs:
| No. | IAU constellation | Coelum Stellatum Christianum (English) |
Coelum Stellatum Christianum (Latin)[2] |
Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XX | Aries | Simon Peter | Sancti Petri Principus Apostolorum |  |
| XXI | Taurus | Andrew the Apostle | Sancti Andreæ Apostoli |  |
| XXII | Gemini | James the Elder | Sancti Iacobi Maioris Apostoli |  |
| XXIII | Cancer | John the Apostle | Sancti Ioannis Apostoli et Evangelistæ |  |
| XXIV | Leo | Thomas the Apostle | Sancti Thomæ Apostoli |  |
| XXV | Virgo | James the Younger | Sancti Jacobi Minoris Apostoli |  |
| XXVI | Libra | Philip the Apostle | Sancti Philippi Apostoli |  |
| XXVII | Scorpius | Bartholomew the Apostle | Sancti Bartholoomæ Apostoli |  |
| XXVIII | Sagittarius | Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist | Sancti Matthiæ Apostoli et Evangelistæ |  |
| XXIX | Capricornus | Simon the Zealot | Sancti Simonis Zelotis Apostoli |  |
| XXX | Aquarius | Judas Thaddeus | Sancti Ivdæ Thadæi Apostoli |  |
| XXXI | Piscis | Matthew the Apostle | Sancti Matthiæ Apostoli |  |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Schiller, Julius; Bayer, Johann (1627). Coelum Stellatum Christianum (in Latin). Augsburg: Andreas Aperger.
- ^ a b c "Coelum Stellatum Christianum: Constellations based on Biblical themes and characters". Judy & Volker. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coelum Stellatum Christianum.
- Coelum Stellatum Christianum (1627), from the Library of Congress
- Atlas Coelestis