Star Lore ArtCoelum Stellatum Christianum
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In 1627, German lawyer and astronomer Julius Schiller published a star map in the attempt to replace
the "pagan" constellations with biblical names and themes. His Coelum Stellatum Christianum
(The Christian Starry Heaven) was supported by fellow German astronomer Johann Bayer who in 1603 had published
the popular star atlas Uranometria.
In his rather extensive work, Schiller replaced the twelve constellations of the Zodiac with the twelve apostles, the other northern constellations with themes and characters from the New Testament and the southern constellations with themes and characters from the Old Testament. He even "renamed" the then known planets. Mercury became Elias, Venus became St. John the Baptist, Mars became Joshua, Jupiter became Moses, and Saturn became Adam. The 54 copper plates were engraved by Lucas Kilian. Contrary to most other star catalogs, Kilian's work showed the constellations not as seen from Earth but in the orientation of a celestial globe, in the way how "God would look at the firmament from up above. Schiller's constellations never gained much popularity. Only Dutch–German cartographer and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius used them in two plates in his 1660 publication Harmonia Macrocosmica. Harmonia Macrocosmica was not a star atlas but rather an illustrated compendium, showing the concepts of Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe and - for completeness sake - Schiller. Below is a complete listing of the plates of Coelum Stellatum Christianum. The images are linked to German Wikipedia. Other complete collection of the engravings can be found at atlascoelestis.com and Spanish Wikipedia.
Sources: Wikipedia,
Delaware Gazette,
SkyEye,
Linda Hall Library |
Engraver Lucas Kilian Source: Wikipedia
Schiller's constellations on a celestial globe |
Northern Hemispere - New Testament |
Title |
Sancti Michaelis Archangeli Archangel Michael Ursa Minor |
Naviculæ S. Petri Apostoli The Boat of St. Peter Ursa Major |
Sanctorum Innocentum Pucrorum The Innocent Children Draco |
Sancti Stephani Protomaryris Saint Stephen Cepheus |
Sancti Silvestri Pontificis Max Pope Sylvester I Boötes |
Flagelli XPI Domini | Coronæ XPI Spineæ | Sanctorum Trium Regum | Præsepii Salvatoris Christi |
Cum Cius Inventrice S. Helena Saint Helena Cygnus |
Sanctæ Mariæ Magdalenæ Mary Magdalene Cassiopeia |
Sancti Pauli Apostoli |
Sancti Hieroymi Ecclesiæ Doctoris Saint Jerome Auriga |
Sancti Patris Benedicti Inter Spinas Saint Benedict and Thornbushes Ophiuchus, Serpens |
Clavorum XPI Crucifixi et Sanctæ Catarinæ Virginis The Holy Lance and Saint Catherine Sagitta, Aquila |
Hydriæ Canæ et Rose Mysticæ Stone Jat at the Marriage at Cana and Rosa Mystica Delphinus, Equuleus |
Sancti Gabrielis Archangelæ Archangel Gabriel Pegasus |
Sepulchri XPI Triumphatoris Holy Sepulchre Andromeda |
Mitræ Pontificalis S. Petri Papal Tiara Triangulum |
Sanctorum Joachimi et Annæ Parentum Deiparæ Saint Joachim and Saint Anne Cetus |
Sancti Joseph Viri Mariæ Saint Joseph Orion |
Zodiac - Twelve Apostles |
Sancti Petri Principus Apostolorum Saint Peter Aries |
Sancti Andreæ Apostoli Saint Andrew Taurus |
Sancti Iacobi Maioris Apostoli Saint James the Greater Gemini |
Sancti Ioannis Apostoli et Evangelistæ Saint John Cancer |
Sancti Thomæ Apostoli Saint Thomas Leo |
Sancti Jacobi Minoris Apostoli Saint James, Son of Alphaeus Virgo |
Sancti Philippi Apostoli Saint Philip Libra |
Sancti Bartholoomæ Apostoli Saint Bartholomew Scorpius |
Sancti Simonis Zelotis Apostoli Saint Matthew Sagittarius |
Sancti Thomæ Apostoli et Evangelistæ Saint Simon the Zealot Capricornus |
Sancti Ivdæ Thadæi Apostoli Saint Jude Aquarius |
Sancti Matthiæ Apostoli Saint Matthias Pisces |
Southern Hemispere - Old Testament |
Transitus Israel Nempe per Mare Rubrum Crossing the Red Sea Eridanus |
Velleris Gideonis et Columbæ Noachi Gideon and Noah's Dove Lepus, Columba |
Sancti Regis Davidis | Agni Paschalis |
Archæ Patriarchæ Noachi Noah's Ark Argo Navis |
Iordanis Fluvii | Sanctæ Arcæ Foederis |
Sanctorum Patriarcharum Abrahami et Isaaci |
Sancti Israelis Sive Jacobi Patriarchæ |
Altaris Thymiamatis et Diadematis Regis Salomonis Showbread Table and King Solomon's Crown Ara, Corona Australis |
Hydriæ Farinæ Sarepthanæ Vidvæ | Aaronis Summi Sacerodotis | Servi Dei Iob |
Evæ Matris Cumctorum Viventium et Signi Mystici Tav Eve and The Tau Cross Musca, Triangulum Australe |
Abbelis Iusti |
Sancti Raphaelis Archangeli Archangel Raphael Tucana, Hydrus |
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/73906/saint-stephen-julius-schiller https://collections.artsmia.org/art/73904/noahs-ark-julius-schiller https://www.ebay.de/itm/362736839366?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=707-53477-19255-0&campid=5338722076&toolid=10001 |
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