Dante and the early astronomers . they alsoexplain the movements of the skies. For the figuresof the zodiac face west (those that have faces), andthis is why the diurnal movement of the whole heavenis towards the west, so that the constellations maymove straightforward, in the natural way. On theother hand, the planets move in the opposite directionbecause it would not be seemly for them to pass eachfigure of the zodiac arriving first at the back andmoving on to the head. This is the true reason ofthe contrary direction of the two principal celestialmovements. Ristoro does not approve of the s
Dante and the early astronomers . they alsoexplain the movements of the skies. For the figuresof the zodiac face west (those that have faces), andthis is why the diurnal movement of the whole heavenis towards the west, so that the constellations maymove straightforward, in the natural way. On theother hand, the planets move in the opposite directionbecause it would not be seemly for them to pass eachfigure of the zodiac arriving first at the back andmoving on to the head. This is the true reason ofthe contrary direction of the two principal celestialmovements. Ristoro does not approve of the solutionquoted by Brunetto Latini. He adds that the widthof the zodiac was designed to contain the figures of theanimals! After this, we are not surprised to hear that the redcolour of the planet Mars is the cause of its martialnature (not the reason for which such a nature isattributed to it). The markings on the moon Ristoroexplains by saying that some body must exist in theWorld v/hich is neither polished and shining all over,. H g o f^ P-T f§ g I !3 £ I USED BY DANTE. 249 like the stars, nor altogether rugged and dark, as theearth was supposed to be, but partaking of bothnatures; and this body must be the moon, because ofher intermediate position between the earth and thenearest of the other planets (Mercury). Of the influence of the heavens on the earth Ristorohas very much to say, from general statements such asthat the spheres impress their influence on things ofEarth, just as a seal impresses wax, down to detailsabout the births of horses. If the moon is strong inAries, and Aries is powerful, then, because the moonsignifies white among the colours and Aries signifiesthe head, the horse will be born with a white mark onits head, and if the influence is very strong it will be abeautifully-shaped mark. Again and again he tells usabout the various properties and virtues of the sevenplanets, but he does not omit to mention that thepowers which move the planets and cause the
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