19-04-2017, 12:50 AM
VViews
I think the reason that Jupiter is denoted by a sphere covered with stars is probably a bit simpler. Jupiter was ruler of the heavens.
The number seven for those stars painted on the little emblem could be incidental - just the number the painter could fit into the space - or it may have been intended as allusion to the 'seven heavens' or more literally one of the Ursae. I wouldn't care to guess which. You'd have to be a time-travelling psychic to be sure on the point.
We consider it automatic to see Polaris as the Pole star, and Ursa minor as its constellation, but medieval Latins' worship of the classical texts means that they refer as often to Ursa Major's seven as to as Ursa minor's.
Dante had to account for both usages, as well as for magnetic north and cleverly left Beatrice in astronomical north, while having the divine throne at putting the divine throne as the magnetic north of the soul.
The Pleiades was another 'seven-stars' - as was rightly noted above.
I think the reason that Jupiter is denoted by a sphere covered with stars is probably a bit simpler. Jupiter was ruler of the heavens.
The number seven for those stars painted on the little emblem could be incidental - just the number the painter could fit into the space - or it may have been intended as allusion to the 'seven heavens' or more literally one of the Ursae. I wouldn't care to guess which. You'd have to be a time-travelling psychic to be sure on the point.
We consider it automatic to see Polaris as the Pole star, and Ursa minor as its constellation, but medieval Latins' worship of the classical texts means that they refer as often to Ursa Major's seven as to as Ursa minor's.
Dante had to account for both usages, as well as for magnetic north and cleverly left Beatrice in astronomical north, while having the divine throne at putting the divine throne as the magnetic north of the soul.
The Pleiades was another 'seven-stars' - as was rightly noted above.