Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Lemay 1980 S. Astrología Med.

    Uploaded by

    Juan
    45 views12 pages

    Original Title

    Lemay 1980 s. Astrología Med.

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    45 views12 pages

    Lemay 1980 S. Astrología Med.

    Uploaded by

    Juan

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 12
    ‘The Stars and Human Sexuality: Some Medieval Scientific Views Helen Lemay Isis, Vol. 71, No. 1, (Mar., 1980), pp. 127-137, Stable URL: hyp:flinks jstor.org/sieisici-O021-1753928198003%2971 93 L83C 12799 ATSAHSS%3E2.0,.CORIB2Z, Isis is eureently published by The University of Chicago Press ‘Your se of the ISTOR archive indicates your acceptance of ISTOR’s Terms and Conditions of Use, available at htipsfwww.jstor.orglabouttems.html. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part that ualess you have oblained prior peemission, you may not download aa catire issue ofa journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use cootent in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commectcial use. Please contact the publisher regavdling any fusther use ofthis wark. Publisher contact information may be obtained at hup./forwow jstor.org/jaurnalsfucpress. hte, Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright aotice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission, an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of scholarly journals. For more information regarding ISTOR, please contact support @jstor.org, hup:svwo jstor orgy Wed Dee 6 16:49:10 2006 THE STARS AND HUMAN SEXUALITY a common to both, Platzeck’s deriva especially persuasive Whatever the inspiration for Lull's disk, it seems ar excellent candidate as the source of the Alberti device that created poiyalphahetie substitution. If so, Albert's disk provides yet another example of the fate of Lul's techniques. Devised to convert the heathen 10 the ultimate truth, tiey ended by being themselves converted to secular ends of the rotating disk from the Hebrew work is THE STARS AND HUMAN SEXUALITY: SOME MEDIEVAL SCIENTIFIC VIEWS By Helen Lemay* Astrology was_an integral part of the Arabic scientific corpus which was so decisive in transforming Western intel- lectual life in the «weifth and Chirteenth centuries, Along with purely Aristotelian ‘writings, asitological works expanded considerably the sources of scientific in- formation available 10 the Latin West Astrology was teferred to by the Arabs as the “science of the stars,” and this science bad as its object the examination of all aspects of man in his social con- text, including the study of the buman reproductive system. Sexual behavior is Biven extensive consideration in Arabic, astrological treatises Western scientists did not merely re- ceive Arab astrology as part of the bag- gage that contained Aristotelian science: they eagerly embraced the study of the stars and their effects on man. Arabic astrological works were widely tcans- lated and copied; Latin authors eom- posed their own summaries of astrology; ind astrologers played an important part im the eultural life of the West, For exe ample, Michael Scot served as court as- trologer for Frederick Il, and Giovanni Pontano, the renowned Italian human- ‘st, composed a major astrological trea- tise, Both of these men treat human sexuality in detail in their writings. Astrology played a particularly signit- icaat role in the field of medicine. As trological works were formally ineor- porated in the curricula of medieval 1515, 10076, ay medical faculties from at least the four teenth ceatury, and even from the mo- ment of their reception in the West they were studied avidly by doctors, The pscudo-Ptolemaic Consiloguivan, for ex ample, an astrological handbook de- signed primarily for the use of phy- sicians, was translated into Latin. six times during the twelfth century by many of the central Ggures of this period, and over 150 manuscripts have been identi fied so far.! Physicians wrate treatises on “Department of History, Sue Univecsty of New Yank, Stony Bragk, N¥. 11794 "The Conzdguaum (Kitab al-Tamara or Liber ructus was composed by pseudo Fay (Abt Jaar ‘Atnad ibn Yiaut von foahame at-Katiyal-Tatue {he late Sch or early Oth century Cara Ihwas ‘sed In Pacis (LMS), Bologna (1405), and Cracow (quid Tatts), “See Heil Dente and Emi Chatelain, Chorezlariune Univortats Parsons, Auctarner: (Pans: Dealain, 1889}, Vol 1, 235 Catia Malagola, Siazut dele Uneserstae dei Col Iogl della Studin Relognsee (Bologna. Zaniche, 1685), pp. 276 and 21a, Aleksander Biskermaer, Beudes histone des sciences en Palogne, Studia Copermeara, 1873, 4468-495, Toe Contiogirn is‘heing studied at present by research group at the CUNY Graduate Center inder the direction of Richard Lemay. See Lemay. “Origin ard Stecess af the Kig Tamara of AbO Jaiar Abmad iba, ‘Yast ibn Tai from the Tenth to the Sever teenth Cenuy in the World of lam snd the Latin We" Alegpo University, Proseedings ef the Bost Inuaaitonal Syrptian forthe History of Arabic Selence, 4-12 April 1976 (Aleppo: University of ‘Aleppo lasttue forthe History of Arabi Science, 1978), pp. $1107. The author ofthe Contigutum i nenceforth be referred to 28 Ahmad ibn YUSt 128 asttology, and astrologers wrote on med- ical topies or incorporated medical find ings in their astrological writings. Michael Scot's treatise on physiognomy, which is really an account of human generation, and Alubather’s treatment of fetal development in his Book on Nativities are among the more promi- nent examples of the averlap of the «wo disciplines in society and of the interest medieval astrologers had in the human reproductive system, Astrologers, doctors, and natural phi losopaers of the period share a basic assumption that the stars influence ter- restrial events, They are not, however, in accard aver the degree of this influence: medical and natutal-philosophical wri- fers grant a much more limited power to the planets than do the astrologers. Many medical works do not mention extvaterrestrial control over human sex- uality, and Latin treatises om human generation Limit their discussion of stel- lar influence to the section on embryo- logical development. For example, the thirtenth-century author of the De se- ‘cretis mudierum: and the fifteenti-eentury humanist Peter Candidus Decembrius state that during the fifth month of fetal life Vepus is in control and takes on responsibility for the configuration of the exterior members—ears, nose, fingers, and sexual organs. Venus bestows upor the individual the capacity for physical esire, which is ruled over by the sign af the zodiac Scorpia.? When these authors discuss sterility, determination of virgin ity, or other aspects of adult sexual conduct, however, they turn first to terrestrial phenomena for their explana~ tions. Hat or cold complexions, foreign Pseudo-Albereus Magnus, De seroris matenest Lyons: Quadratus, 1580), pp. 82, 66, ce Petes Candicus Decesibeus, "De" gerture hominis (Rome: Stephan Plecnek, © 1487). On the av thorship ofthe De secrets mulirum see Lan ‘Vnoredike, “Further Consideration af the Exper monta, Specular avvonoriiae, acd. De teres Imiorum ascribed <2 Alberts Magnus,” Speci Jin, (985, 3415-445, On Peter Candids Deceme bes see Lynn Thorndike, #81) of Magic and Espertranial Seignee, Nol IV (New Wark, Coles bya University Press, 1930), pp. 98-389 HELEN LEMAY matter in the urine, diet, and elimate are some of the factors that physicians and ratural philosophers lst as determinants of sexual behavior. The astrologers’ approach is very dif ferent. When seeking to understand par- ticular events, astrologers Jook first at the configuration of the heavens, and they are very precise about how informa- tion ean be derived from the sky. Astro~ logical writings are divided into a number of branches, each serving a spe- cific purpose in the practitioners attempt (0 understand human sexual behavior The dntroductoria or Judgments are gen~ exal works, setting down rules and prin- ciples; the Nativities apply these rules to individuals, explainiag the proper man ner for casting, horoscopes; the study of Interrogations uses the stats to find the answers fa questions; and Bleetions eon- centrate on choosing the right moment {o act, Thus, a general writing will fel us that the sperma receives its power directly from the firmament;? a Nativities will spell out precisely the position of Venus, Mars, and the moon that will cause large senitals or sickness in these orxans;* a treatise on Interrogations will give’in- structions on how to determine if a Woman is a virgin’ and a work on Elec- tions will indicate when an individual is most likely to experience great desire ‘This neat elasstication of the astrolog- ical sciences is found in the Arab writers and was etained by Western astrologers. “The two groups disagreed, however, on the role actually played by the stars in causing an individual's sexual makeup. ‘The Latin astrologers in particular were exteemely wary of falling into the trap of ddecerminism, and long apologies for as- teology such as the one found in the beginning of Guido Bonatti’s thizteenth- century Latin asteological teeatise pro- Vide us with clear evidence of con 2B g, ‘Al tbe Ridwan, Conmancarame super Proleniael Quadripartaam (Vaaiee, V3, fo Sach “Eg, Aleubscher, 1492, fo. <3. Meg, Zabel, De interrogasanitur (Venice, 1433) fot E20 De nasiwvaniues (Nene, ‘THE STARS AND HUMAN SEXUALITY temporary theological apposition to this science.* Although Bonatti does of- fer the argument from authority that asiralogy was used by the holy fathers and therefore should not be shunned, he stresses planetary control over nattcal phenomena in his discussion of deter minism. Treating stellar influence as a Kind of physical force chat acts upon men, Bonatti states that the stars are noble, perfect beings who rule over crea tures in the corruptible worid of the four elements, But they do not cule man or a hhorse or a ship in the same way that a man would; rather they govern thera by controlling ‘the elements of which cor uptible Beings are composed? Like other Latin astrologers, he accepts the Arabie astrological interpretation of Aristotle's statements in his Treatise on Generation and Corruption and his Meteorology that inferior things are sub- ject to superior ones.’ Thus, om the sub~ ject of human sexuality, we find Bonatti repeating the statement of the ninth- century Arab astrologer Albubather that the stars act directly on the seed, at times corrupting the womb or semen, as well as, Ahmad ibn Yusut’s assertion in the Cen- tiloguivm that masculine planets cause males, and feminine planets females ‘Arabic. discussion on the question of determinism is more developed. Ale though the problem of the freedom of the will versus divine power was not so easily solved for Muslim theologians, te astrologers resolved the issue By Con- cluding that the heavens control human sexuality. They consideced that the stars were a natural force directly dependent upon God, just as individual human be- ings also derived their powers directly from Allah. Thus, according to the Arab astrologers, ane's sexual behavior is (0 sce Thamnlke, History of Magic. Voll, p 0. "Guida Borates, Devens tractetus atronarie (Weriee, 1506). 1, ‘Poe a lisa of Aritatalian statements on ths poincsce Richard Lemay, Abu Mrshar and Dat nicietignion inthe Tween Century (Belt Publication ofthe Facay of Ans and Sciences of the Ametiean Crivetsity, 1962), p. 60, 2.4 129 large degree beyond his control. The astrological texts underline this notion of divine omnipotence by constantly re- peating insha’lah, “if God wills it," ren~ dered into Latin as si deus voluerit, or ut Det “The Centiloguiuon, composed in Cairo in the Jate ninth or eariy tenth century, provides us with pethaps the clearest formulation of Arabic astrological think- ing on the issue of determinism, Verba 1 and 2 state that the stars are animate beings, of a higher order than man. They ‘operate accarding (0 immutable laws, and itis up to maa to diseern these laws, to reach the level of peroeption where hs ‘soul becomes one with the iatelligences.* The relation between man and these higher powers is ane of relative subservi- ence, however. Although an individual ‘can come (o know the rules by which the slats operate, he can do nothing to cchange them. AC best he can work around the inevitable, choosing favor- able moments for his acts, or fabricating amulets in the shape of a constellation to capture a certain position of the sky and prolong its effect. Yet not all the astrological writings state as clearly as the Centifoguiu that the stacs are actually the causes of an individual's sexual maseup. Many Arabs and their Latia interpreters are mare ambivalent. Abu Ma ‘sha, for example, the ninth-century Arab whose Iniroduc. lorium maius i astronomnian was the ‘most influential astrological writing for Western scientific development, alter nates hetween this position and the stance that the heavens are merely indi- ators of what already exists; indeed, the Latin manuser:pis of the Iniraductoriura clearly divide into two groups, ane using facere and. the other significare quad." ‘Aad ibn Yost, Conioqu, rans, Pato of Tival, Verba Land 2 10 Liber Quadipartst Proiomact (Vena, 1684), fol. Ja See ato ed Venice, 49, fa [07 indi, 1498 ed, Vevba 5 an6-9, fos. (07a, vb See Rishars Lemay, "Faures et contresens dana es radvesions arabe Satines mdidvaes: Le troductariom be Astromomara Abou Mahar de Balkt,” in Colgate Taster des rapport, XTF 130 ‘The same disagreement ig found among, the Lacin interpreters af Alchabitius, the tenth-century summarize of Abu Ma “shac. John of Seville, the twelfth-century uanslator of Alehabitius' treatise on as- trological judgments, renders the Arabic by referring to the planet Venus as the sigraficatrix of women and wives and ‘mothers; a later commentator, however, perhaps John of Saxony, adds the re- ‘mar that Venus has an influence over the humors and especially the genitalia and private parts of women, Thus, ale though Arabic and Latin astrologers proceed from the assumption that ult mate responsibility for physical pheno- mena lies in the supercelestial world, they never entirely agree upon the scope of this planetary influence. The differ- fences among astrologers, however, as the examples below show, are less important than the wider gap between astrologers and medical writers; the former, regard= ing their discipline as heuristic, look for signs, while the latter, regarding theirs as potentially therapeutic, look far cures. vineintty ‘A question tat preoccupied Arabs and Latins, astrologers, doctors, and natural philosophers, was how to determine if 2 woman's virginity had been corrupted This aspect of sexuality obviously pos- sessed a social significance that was nat limited to the Middle Ages, and the copie was consequently well developed in the scientific sources. For astrologers it fell logically under the category of Interroga- tions, the use of the planets as indicators of all things hidden to men, and Zane in his ninth-century treatise De interroga Congrts international dksiowe des sciences, Re- ‘ue de Sythe, 3rd Ser Noy 49-52 (Pars Alin Michel, 1963), p. (22 osAadito, Venus habet sntentans super humores superfuuates muaxime cia genalia et mlerato puciburds.” Alchahits,Atronomie udietate prompt, tears. Zohn of Savile Cyn, 1520), fel. a. On Alehabius see Manieed Ui ttann, Die Nature snd Geheinontaanschofian ia Islam (Leiden) Colagse: Brill. 1972) p. 302 HELEN LEMAY ontbus, translated from the Arabic by John of Seville, includes a section on how to determine from the stars whether @ woman is a virgin. Abenragel’s eleventh-century treatise on Judgments, translated into Latin about 1256, is also concerned with this problem. If the as- cendent and the moon are in fixed signs, he tells us, the woman isa virgin and free fcom all suspicion; if they are in mobile signs, she is corrupt, The planets can tell us as Well whether she was proposi tioned, what she answered, and whether she really sent her besuiler away.! Latin astrologers were just as eager to make use of the stars to inguire into a girl's purity. John of Saxony in the four- teenth century copies Abenragel practi- cally word for word on this question '* The fullest treatment by a Latin astrol- oger of how to detect the corruption of virginity, however, occurs a century car lier in Guido Bonatti, Bonatti was deter- mined to establish by looking at the stars exaetly how far coward final penetration by the male the woman had progressed; while the Arabs gave indications af how fone could make judgments, he worked cout the fall details on his own. Titus he states that if the lord of the ascendent and the moon are in fixed signs and the angles are in mobile signs, she was tenipted and did not give in. If the moon is joined to Venus or Mercury, another ‘woman delivered the man's message but she still remained steadfast in virtue. If the ascendent and the moon are in mo- bile signs she was tempted and is still thinking it ovec. Further refinements of these planetary positions indicate that ‘Questo de mules sit vega vel eoceupca.” Zabel, De imterrogtsontue, fo. 130e. O8 Zane sce Ullmann, Die Nano und Gehewmwissenschaf= on m Ilr, pp. 38-312. TsAbenrapel tAlbohazen), Liber tn dudtetit as srorum (Venice, LARS), (oh 21, See Carla A. Ki Iino, Receolte de serie edt snediti (Rowe: Iatteto pet TOriante, 1944) Vol. V. pp. 340-34k, Francis I Cacmoay, Arabic Asronamical end Astrological Sctnces Lato Translation (Berke leyjLoe Angeles: University of Calfornia Pes, 1955), pp. 150-156, ‘Blgbannes Saxoni, Commentaruas in Alebabic ius, Astronomietudtarie prinesp, Tol X8Ki ‘THE STARS AND HUMAN SEXUALITY the man touched the female subject's private parts; that he placed his organs ‘on top of hers, causing her to believe mistakealy that her virginity had been lost; or that he ejaculated withaut pene- tration. Bonatt’s discussion of virginity gives us evidence of how the practitioner af tae science of the stars could have fone= tioned as an arbiter of sexual disputes Within the society. Having set down de~ tailed information about haw a deter~ imine the trath about a git’s corruption from the configuration o! the heavens, ne continues his exposition by giving in- structions on Row this information should be presented. If you find chat a ‘woman is truly a virgin, Bonatti declares, tell the questioner that nothing can be said against ker. However, he continues, corruption of vieginity isa complex mat- ter. A female's virginity can expire with out her engaging in sexual intercourse with a man. She can be devitginized by her own hands or someone else's tla tion with the fingers can canse ber 10 ejaculate (or emit her awn seed) and therefore leave the condition of purity In this ease, the astcologer can rational- jae that although. the gi may have laughed oF played with another, she was not krawn by a man in the way she has been accused, and thetefare he should not tll his client the full truth, He should say simply teat the stars indicate that she is excused before her interrogator, b:- cause if he gives the full information, the girl will be taken as corrupt, as ifshe nad actually been with a man.! Tais sympathy for the female is also present octasionally in the medical ‘works, and. physicians sometimes pro- vide “cures” to make a corrupt woman appear to be a virgin, In attempting to determine whether a woman has lost her virginity, doctors and natural philoso phers concentrate most on the urine —its color and the manner in which it is passed are (Wo of the more important indicators. Physical examinatiaa also UeAgnatus, Décem actatus aurononie, fos 1iy-25 Phd, Col, 2dr, 131 plays a role in finding the answer to this question, although it is less emphasized than urinalysis. Whether the reason for this is chat women did not easily submit fo this sort of serutiny, or that gyneco- logical examination was practiced so infrequently that dactors were unable ‘0 develop sulficient expertise to make an. accurate assessment on this tapic is a matter of conjectute.* SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES Arab astrologers took a great deal of interest in the varieties of sexval expres- sion, and in their discussions of sexual proclivities they grant 2 large deuree of control to the stars. Indeed, they ace convinced that the precise manner in Which the individual will perform the carnal act is fixed at the moment of conception. They rely on the outline in the basic work af Greek astrology, Prole- my’s Quadripartitum, composed approx- imately 150 4, in Alexandria, which was an important source for Arabie un- derstanding of the science of the stars. Ptolemy states that if the luminaries are Alone in the masculine signs (for certain parts of the sky ate considered to be masculine and otters feminine), women possess an exceeding amount of unnatu- tal quality. This stellar configuration in- creases the virility of their souls and makes them lustful for unnatural con- saresses, when they act as if their female fiends were their wives. Depending upon the position of Mars and Venus they may perform these acts either se- cretly or openly. The stars can also cause women to become harlots, and they can produce similar aberrations in men." Tye author of the De sereis uterus tes ft that che sis of virginity can be feigned, Ineluding among them a Gat vaginal opening. He sects thatthe only sure sgn is fad tthe urine Peeudo-Albertus Megs, De seretlsmaitorum, 119 Ptolemy, Tetraiblos UML 14, ed. and t FE. Robbins (Candan/Cambrigge, Mase vard University Press, 1931, pp. 308-369. 132 HELEN LEMAY In. his eleventh-century commentary ‘on the Quadripartitum, ‘Ab ibn Ridwan, relying most probably on the pseudo- Prolemaie Cenilloguiven, interprets Ptol- emy to mean, when he states that women fact as if their female friends were their wives, that they rub one another as if they were men ® Similarly detailed ac- counts of the effect of the stars on sexual prodivities are found in Albubather, Jon Ezra, Albahali, Abenragel, and Alchabi- tus, For exaraple, Albobal tells us that the planets can cause a woman (0 be sexually aggressive” Ibn Ezra. relates that Venus in the twelfth or seventa house leads to daily sexual intercourse;?? Albubather asserts that certain signs nco- duce sodomy, excessive sexual appetite, impotence, sterility, and hermaphrodi tusm. (Albubather is so detailed on stellar influences that he even informs his reader when the individual will suffer hemor rhoids or had breath.®} According to ‘Abencagel, it is even possible to satisfy one’s euricsity about a neighbor's sex life by means of astrology, he outlines a mettod for detecmining whether the peo- ple next door will have sexual inter course on a certain night. A personal testimony of the conse- quences of planetary determination of sextial makeup for the life of a ninth- century individual is found in Verbum 95 of the Centiloguaum, where we ate privy to the confession of a man who suffers from secret desires, “Although you see AN ian Rid, Commentarium, fo. Bea. On ‘Al ibn Ridusr see Manfted Uilmaaa, Die Mea Bini flame (eden Cogn Bil, 1970) p58 Balboa, De mdieuy ratlturs, eas Sako of Seville (Nuremberg, 1546), fo. ku. See Nelline, ‘Raceata, Vol. V,p. 380; Carmody, Arabic Astro nomic and Astrological Stences, p49, Ullman, Die Nacur td Geheonwassenschafen im lems, pp. 312-113, Lynn Teornaike, “Tone of Sevile,” Speculum, 1989, 36:20608, esp. p32 “oAbraleia Hen Meir tht Ena, nah Avonarét Jude: ssrofogt pertssant i re ludiill pera trans. Petrus de Abuvo (Venice, 107), fol. Dov This weiting was compoced during the [th cetury and translated by Peter of Abeno in 1295. See Thorndike, History of Magic, Vol, Up. 909. Si Albunather, De matiitrbns, Zs ees seabereagel, Liber iui antearuna Tal 2 Cap. Ba "In questine si habuertcem cure eoulire hae nocte el no 1e dressed in clean clothes,” he tells us, do this for the eves af men... Tam in ateat tension, for my inclination is other~ wise.” His desire, it turns out, isto spend the nighe with a negress or negro, prefer~ ably the latter, wrapped in a coarse blan- Ket of goat’s hair. This urge springs directly from the constellation Aries which determined his nativity, or horo- scope, and he is powerless to change it Altiough the poor man swears by God that he has always hated homosexuality, this desire continues (a torment him, He does not act on it, however, nor does he reveal it (o his soldiers and familiars. For this individual, his sexual complex- ion is predetermined by the heavens, and he can conform to the mores of society only with a good deal of inner Curmoil Latin astrologers do not provide us with a similarly detailed case history, although Giovanni Pontana daes cite 2 number of individuals by name to dem onstrate the effects of planetary conjunc- tions on sexual behavior. Pontano ‘maintains that not only do the planets cease perversions, but they cause sex change as well. He names a number of ‘women in Ttaly wha changed into men— cone after twelve years of marriage; and another, forty years old, whe was so fidiculed that she joined & monastery. For the mast part, however, Western authors fallow the Arabs on this subject, Guide Bonatti quotes the Arab writers extensively. For example, he cites the lace eighth: o early ninth-century astral- ‘ger Aamar, who was translated in the velfth century, to the effect that the stars can cause a woman to be insatiable, virile, or, presumably, both,”” Leopold of Austtia draws from’ che Centiloguium and its commentaries in explaining this MAnmad ibe Yesut, Comtloguium, 1493 Verbam 98, fle. UFSHB- 16a "lokannes Tova Poncanue, De rebus coeler usin Opera oninia (Venice, 1319}, Wal. Hf 380 TEC dixt Agar... siquder fuerteuliee et fuer in signa femining ert naatorabsbs etter fata com et mote fet EL aise Aamat 4 SHoednt in supraditg loci va eaivitarbus fel Iara planeteroacubet pels que aatasoae fo river virits qoast masculnts" Borat, Decene fractatar aitenonie, Tel. 312, THE STARS AND HUMAN SEXUALITY phenomenon: masculine tendencies are determined by humidity, feminine by dryness, and the oriental stars control the former and the occidental the latter. Bonaiti often cannot resist adding extra details, such as that if Venus is in a certain position when a male child is conceived, his future sexual intercourse will be in’ the woman-above position. ‘The physicians and natural philoso- phets do not spell out as clearly the variations of sexual activity, and they emphasize organic causes in their discus- sions of sexual proclivities. Arnald of Villanova, for example, following Aver- rods, states that a man’s sexual appetite is dependent on the complexion of his testicles; if they are hot, he will have a seat desire for sexual intercourse, beget many males, and grow at abundance of pubic hair. Michael Scot describes women with hot natures in similac terms.” Physicians are also apt to pre~ scribe therapy—for example, corrective diet—for sexual disorders, where the ase trologers counsel resignation, IIlustrative of the different approaches Of the (wo disciplines are two passages dealing with a desire for foul odors dur- ing sexual intercourse, In the Centilo- guium Ahmad iba Yusuf states that if Mars is ia the ascendent at a person's conception, ke will take delight in terre ble odors, and if Saturn should also be in bis nativity, he will want to smell feces during coitus. “I once knew a rich man,” hhe continues, “who swore that when he ‘was with deautiful and pleasant-smelling women he was unable to have an erec- tion.” When he was with a vile, stinking cone, hawever, this problem was solved.” The Arab offers no remedy for his ie- potenee; in the Centiloguttem it is clear- Mzaxold of Austria, Compilais de aurora seitnt (Vere) Angsbic, 1489), fol hw Shonawuy, Decent eactei atmonomie, fl. 3t2ee ‘eADnaldus de Vilinova, De com in Opera Lyons, 1508), fo. 273, Soe Averrats, Colliger (Wesice, 1549), fl 68 SiMieate! Seats, Laber phytionomise (Vetice, 187, {ol bts. See alsa ed. Lyons, (SAO fentled De secrets naturas), 9.296, “Abmad ibn Yusul, Cenoguium, 99 ody eran 0, fol 1G. 133 ly stated that one should simply fol low one’s natural inclinations.” The fifteenth-century physician Anthonius Gusinerius takes an entirely different approach to this situation. Chapter 24 of his Treatise on che Womb states that a desire for foul-smelling odors can pre- vent delectation in sexual intercourse, and therefore impede conception. In contrast to Almad ibn Yusuf, Guaine- fivs attempts to cure this condition by natural remedies, prescribing a oumber of ainterents to be applied to the penis to produce long-lasting exections.¥ MARITAL FIDELITY AND ILLEGITIMATE PROGENY Sexual loyalty to one’s spouse is another (opie treated in detail in the astrological literature. According to practitioners of the science of the stars, the heavens are divided into twelve houses, and the sev- ‘nth of these controls marriage. Leopold fof Anstria outlines all sixteen parts of this louse, which include the marriage of men, the marriage of worten, male cun- ning used against women, and sexual intercourse. The fifth part is of particular Importance; it controls licentiousness and coitus of men. If this partis in a ‘200d position, states Leapold, the marti- age will be successful; if nat, i¢ will fil ‘The tenti-century Arab Alchabitius gives us more specific information, on how to determine the character of a fu ture husband, in particular, his sexual behavior. In his weatise on astrological judgments, teanslated during the twelfth century by Joba of Seville, Alchabitius states that we must determine the posi: tion of the sun at the hour af a wamaa’s, nativity. IC its in the two eastern quat- ters her husband will either be very young himself, or after a few days he will mE ego dni et osten et Nullur est dedecus a operat giod eiue nats exit sed tune et smaxjumy desecus cum abs cantuetode natura: Superat" Pd, Verburt 98, fol IS. WAmtosio Gusinelus, Tracie de maricibue, Cap, 24 ia Opera omnia (Pasia, 481), “izogekt af Auta, Comprlati, (ol. 3 use ered inthe Columbia Unversity Library sop), 134 copulate with a young boy. If itis in the two westera quarters, ether he will begin to have sexual intercourse late in life, or he will choose ax ald woman as a sexual partner soon after the marriage. If the sun is joined with Saturn, be will be a man of the law who likes to work; if it participates with Jupiter he will be prone to abstinence and have a good and noble heart; and if itis linked with Mars he will bee brave in heart but bear her no lave.™ ‘The tweltth-century Jewish astrologer Abraham ibn Ezea, whose book on Na- Uivities was translated in [293 by Petet of Abano, adds that if Verus is in the twelfth or seventh house of a man’s na~ tivity, he will kave sexual intercourse with his wife daily? ‘Almost all the Arabic astrological treatises include a description of the con- figuration of the heavens that will pro~ duce an adulterous spouse. Ibn Ezra states that if Jupiter dees not face Mars the individual will be adulterous,” and the ninth-century Arab Albubather aut lines the position of Venus, Mercury, and Mars that indicates whether a new. barn child will Become a foraicater and Whether children will result from his ili- cit sexual activity.” Albubather’s con- temporary Albohali also considers that Venus can cause an individual to be unstable ia marriage, with straying sex- val desires.“ Abenragel in the eleventh century devotes a chapter af his baok on Judprients to the method for determin- ing whecher a girl child will be faithful to her husband, and Zahel, another ninth- century Arab, gives instructions on how to tell from the planets whether a woman hhas a lover.*! These statements became SAlevabiive, Auronomie dudcieie pricips, fal, at ® Abeatans hen Mei ibe Ezra, Liber nasa ct revolutionuns conus Inre jude opera £3. bev, Bind Dv"Quanda Verus in accident tel medio oxi et Meccuiue cu ea in terminn Matis ues ats tit forncator ac prolem 19 Toriestione habebst™ Albubather, De naiiactbus, (0. b6v “albotli, De ditt maivuaeurs, fol. KS: S1Cap 1, "peo mliene went dels wea so de corpore vel nan.” Abenragel, Liber i uct a Urarur, (ol, 28. Zabel, De ouerrogedontbu, (0, ‘Hoes. HELEN LEMAY part of Western scientific literature in the {wellth and thirteenth centuries and were adopted by the Latin astrologers. For example, Giovanni Pontano it his fifteenth-century treatise On Celestial Matters also stresses the importance of Venus in causing a woman to become adulterous." The question of marital idlity is di- rectly related to legitimacy of children, and the astrologers also believed that they could determine paternity by the position of the planets, Thus Zahel and Abearagel each devote a chapter of their astrological works ta the topic of how to tell whether a pregnancy is legitimate or a result of fornication. I have seen no attempt in these writings to decide this question after the child has been born, nor have I seen any mention it the medi- cal or natural-philasophical literature of how fo tell wiether a particular man is the father of a child, The topies of nered- itary characteristics and length of gesta- tion are treated in a general manner in the thirteenth- and. fourteeath-century treatises on the development of the exi- bryo, however, and these discussions did haves certain legal iafluence in paternity Another topic that interested the as- trologers was whether a spouse was guilty of incest. The three ninth-century Arabs Zahel, Aomar, and Alkindi, Whose writings were “translated into Latin in the (welfih century, give dices tions on how to tll whether suspicion of incest is well founded. According ‘0 Alkindi, the position of the sun and moon with respect to Mars tells us Whether an individual has an incestuous ‘Quad si Verus quoque et ipst feerinea in ‘gna constants fueniey

    You might also like