Series | Antiquity Studies
Edited book | Certissima signa
Chapter | On Aldus’ Scriptores astronomici (1499)
On Aldus’ Scriptores astronomici (1499)
Abstract
The Scriptores astronomici veteres were published by Aldus Manutius in Venice 1499. This book represents the most ambitious humanist attempt to reconstruct ancient astronomical wisdom by presenting the original texts of ancient authors. As such, the volume raises several questions. What is the rationale of Aldus’ selection? What do we know about his manuscript sources and the editorial process? What is the history of the incunable's remarkable illustrations (most notably those in Firmicus’ books 2 and 6, and in Germanicus’ Aratea)? How does this edition fit into one of the most difficult periods of Aldus’ Venetian enterprise? This paper attempts to tackle some of these issues.
Submitted: Jan. 13, 2017 | Accepted: March 31, 2017 | Published Sept. 1, 2017 | Language: en
Keywords Astronomy • Aldine Press • Classical Tradition • Book Illustration • Manuscripts • Illumination • Incunables • Italian Humanism • Editorial Technique
Copyright © 2017 Filippomaria Pontani, Elisabetta Lugato. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.14277/6969-165-2/ANT-13-11
