Medical and Astrological Almanac

A wonderful glimpse of everyday life in the Upper Rhine region during the Late Middle Ages: the Medical and Astrological Almanac goes above and beyond the standard medieval calendar manuscript and contains advice regarding weather, health, and diet based upon the movements of the stars. Written in a Swiss-German dialect, the artistic style of the manuscript points to the region around Freiburg and Colmar ca. 1460. The medallion miniatures, zodiac signs, and other depictions resemble the work of the so-called “Master B”, who was associated with the Alsatian workshop of Diebold Lauber (active 1427–71). Saints’ festivals listed in the calendars indicate a recipient for the diocese of Strasbourg. However, further information eludes researchers because the 24 pages (12 leaves) appear to be a fragment of a larger manuscript. Nevertheless, the artist created wonderful miniatures of months’ labors and other activities with rich opaque colors and gold ink, and the scribe executed a gorgeous text in black, red, and blue ink.

Macrocosm and Microcosm

In the Middle Ages, it was believed that events in the cosmos, the “macrocosm”, had a clear effect on man as a “microcosm” thereof. According to this philosophical concept, the balance of humors in man’s body is effected by the changing forces of the stars and there is a connection between the four humors, four elements, four major winds, and four cardinal directions. Originally conceived of by Pythagoras and developed by Plato, the concept continued to be popular in the Middle Ages and attracted the attention of great minds like Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) and Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). While other medieval calendars show zodiac signs and constellations related to a month, what sets the Medical and Astrological Almanac apart is the processing of this information into specific advice that is elucidated in the text. For example, in May it is recommended that one should start the day with a glass of goat milk with fresh herbs. This manuscript was designed to be consulted regularly by “learned” medieval Europeans trying to keep their humors in balance.