3-057-446 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Cardano's horosocope of Christ, 1552. Girolamo Cardano wrote a commentary on Ptolemy's "Tetrabiblos", and included sample horoscopes, one of which was Christ's. He took the date 24 December 1BC as the moment to chart the heavens. A comet in the ascendant Libra can be seen as an interpretation of the star of Bethlehem. The inclusion of Jupiter ensured nobility and justice as character traits. The star Castor in Gemini predicted violence within Christ's life. The Sun's position in the lowest heaven predicted a famous death. 'Diebus 6 horis 12 ante radicem Astrolgorum, qui anni initium sumut in Calendis Ianuary, quae sunt diebus 6 horis 12 post initium anni ecclesiae. Sub altitudine poli G 32. Nativitas Domini nostril Iesu Christi'. (6 days12 hours before the root of Astrologers, who take the beginning of the year in the Kalends of January, which are 6 days12 hours after the beginning of the church year. Under the height of the pole G 32. Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ').