Star Lore Art

Coelum Stellatum Christianum

Julius Schiller, Lucas Kilian, 1627

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
Stephen J. Gertz: When the Heavens Converted to Christianity

Engraver Lucas Kilian
Source: Wikipedia

Schiller's constellations on a celestial globe
Source: paperpino.net

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

Flagellation of Christ
Coma Berenices

Coronæ XPI Spineæ

Crown of Thorns
Corona Borealis

Sanctorum Trium Regum

The Three Wise Men
Hercules

Præsepii Salvatoris Christi

Nativity
Lyra

Cum Cius Inventrice
S. Helena

Saint Helena
Cygnus
Sanctæ Mariæ
Magdalenæ

Mary Magdalene
Cassiopeia
Sancti Pauli Apostoli

Paul the Apostle
Perseus

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

King David
Canis Major

Agni Paschalis

Lamb of God
Canis Minor

Archæ Patriarchæ
Noachi

Noah's Ark
Argo Navis
Iordanis Fluvii

.
River Jordan
Hydra

Sanctæ Arcæ Foederis

.
Ark of the Covenant
Crater, Corvus

Sanctorum Patriarcharum
Abrahami et Isaaci

Abraham and Isaac
Centaurus

Sancti Israelis
Sive Jacobi Patriarchæ

Jacob
Lupus

Altaris Thymiamatis et
Diadematis Regis Salomonis

Showbread Table and
King Solomon's Crown
Ara, Corona Australis
Hydriæ Farinæ Sarepthanæ Vidvæ

Flour Barrel of the
Widow of Zarephath

Piscis Austrinus

Aaronis Summi Sacerodotis

High Priest Aaron
Grus, Phoenix

Servi Dei Iob

.
Job
Pavo, Indus

Evæ Matris Cumctorum Viventium et
Signi Mystici Tav

Eve and The Tau Cross
Musca, Triangulum Australe
Abbelis Iusti

.
Abel
Volans, Dorado

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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