File:Dante and the early astronomers (1913) (14596942379).jpg

Identifier: danteearlyastron00ever (find matches)
Title: Dante and the early astronomers
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Evershed, M. A. (Orr)
Subjects: Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321 Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321 Astronomy
Publisher: London : Gall & Inglis
Contributing Library: PIMS - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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and Jews.Cecco dAscoli was not so fortunate. This learnedItalian received the high and honoured post of pro-fessor of astrology in Bologna, where he lectured andcast horoscopes for his students. He was well versedin natural science, but the shady side of astrology hada fatal attraction for him: he fell under suspicion as asorcerer, was condemned, and burned at the stake inFlorence in 1327 (six years after Dantes death). The reputations achieved by these and otherthirteenth-century astrologers in Italy, belonging tosuch different ranks of life, show what an immenseimportance was attached to their art by the generalpublic. Yet we shall be greatly mistaken if we thinkthat it was only to acquire skill in this fascinatingpursuit that men thronged to hear Cecco lecture, orpored over Latin manuscripts. The intense ardour forknowledge which marks this period made them eager 1 That other, round the loins So slender of his shape, was Michael Scot,Practised in every sleight of magic wile. Carey.
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ASTRONOMY. From a fresco in Ike Spanish Chapel of Santa Maria Novella, Florence.(To face p. 217.) IN DANTES TIME. 217 to understand the world around them and the skyabove their heads. It would be a shame, writes one, to live in a houseand not know how it is built or what shape it has,never to examine the walls, and floors, and ceilings, norto consider the use of the wooden beams used in itsconstruction. In like manner we should not be contentwithout understanding the form and structure of theUniverse in which we live. Man, with his uprightattitude and his head held high, unlike the animals,was designed by his Creator to look and listen, to knowand comprehend this marvellous Universe, and especiallythat noblest part of it above him, the heavens and theirwonderful movements. For thus alone can he learn toknow God Himself, the great Architect of the World. In writing thus, Ristoro, the monk of Arezzo, wasnot only echoing the thoughts of Plato and Cicero, hewas expressing the feeling for

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