Review article
Astronomy and Astrology According to the Work De indagatione cordis by Herman of Dalmatia
Alojz Ćubelić
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The paper is a brief analysis of and a commentary to the basic characteristics of the hitherto completely unknown work De indagatione cordis (On the Research in the Heart) by Herman of Dalmatia. The treatise is divided into three main parts. The first part is very similar to the eighth book of Abu Ma'shar's Great Introduction Into Astronomy. The second part, which forms the main body of the text, discusses several themes like. for examnle. the nature of planets and signs and their respeective accidents. The third and final part of the text is an additional treatise that briefly discusses the finding of markers according to Messehala and Dorotheus, and the method of judgement. Herman was very self-confident in using language. Herman's vocabulary is rich in images and full of allusions. Besides that, Herman is not satisfied with a mere repetition of the earlier astronomical and astrological authorities, he sometimes criticizes them for, according to his belief, they failed to adequately explain the discussed issues. Since this is a layered complex work, there is necessary a special analysis of his vocabulary, as well as of his style in translating, which would show how Herman made Latin a richer language, and the secular literature of his time a richer literature.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
68066
URI
Publication date:
5.12.2005.
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