Zodiac Man

Zodiac Man 

(2)

Introduction

Zodiac man aka Homo signorum, were depicted in writings and drawings which represents names with correlating body parts starting in the 11th century. They appear on calendars, Books of Hours, treatises of astrology, philosophy and medicine within the medieval era. They noticed that the high tide was brought by the overhead moon. They would look at the dangers of the zodiac sign and if it was occupied by the moon there might be "a tide of blood gushs out uncontrollably" (1).

(1)

Oftentimes, there is a Christ-like figure with animal and allegorical signs. He is pictured standing on a fish for Pisces, on his chest is the crab of Cancer, the Gemini is on his arms weighing them down, and instead of a halo there is a goat and bull for Capricorn and Taurus (3) To the right there is a chart that has everything laid out to which zodiac sign goes to which parts of the body exactly (1). 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Astrological Medicine 

(2)

The Zodiac Man was used in medicine to determine the correct times for medication, surgery, and other procedures. When the moon and stars were to align with an astrological sign, there was a correlating body part. They had to be in alignment or at least not opposite of the body part undergoing surgery or treatment (3). This practice was most known in Christianity. The idea of zodiac signs is considered to be very spiritual. (1) This image to the right was created in 1541 by Christoffel Froschouer. This is a Zodiac man in the celestial wheel, which is the annual year calendar (2). 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac_Man#:~:text=The%20Zodiac%20Man%20appeared%20most,to%20the%20skies%20for%20guidance. (1)

Kalender vff das M.D.XXXXI. Jar. (Zürich: Christoffel Froschouer, 1541), Page 1: Zodiac Man Detail. Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, Yale University. (2)

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/zodiac-man/ (3)

https://teachingwiththemes.com/index.php/2020/06/03/the-zodiac-man-how-astrology-guided-health-care/medieval-zodiac-man/ (4)