Astrological and Medical Miscellany

In the Late Middle Ages, astrological medical compendia became one of the most popular genres of secular literature. These lay medical books gathered short texts, tables, and diagrams that were intended to help their readers live as healthily as possible in their everyday lives – in dependence on the celestial bodies. This was because the constellations and planets were said to have various effects on the human character and body and its state of health. The texts assume a close connection between humans and the universe and recommend medical treatments such as bloodletting based on astronomical events. The Ulm printer Johann Schäffler could not ignore this popular genre: his Astrological and Medical Miscellany from 1498 is a particularly ornate example of several almanacs he published in the 1490s. This is already indicated on the title page, which reads: “Das ist der teutsch kalender mit den figuren” (This is the German calendar with the figures). The figures in question are the 87 colored woodcuts that illustrate the 112 pages of this fascinating incunable.