De Astronomica
Also known as: Astronomica, De Astronomia, Poeticon Astronomicon
A Latin handbook of constellation lore that retells the myths behind the stars and zodiac, arranging Greek and Roman catasterisms with brief astronomical notes, long transmitted under the name of Hyginus.
Description
De Astronomica is a concise mythographic guide to the heavens: a prose compendium that explains how heroes, gods, animals, and objects became constellations. Drawing heavily on earlier Greek catalogues (notably the Catasterismi) and reflecting Ptolemaic ordering, it preserves many variants—sometimes our only witness to obscure tales. The four books move from creation and divine order to the individual constellations, zodiacal signs, planets, and notable star-group stories, occasionally giving practical notes on risings and settings. While authorship and exact date remain debated, the work decisively shaped medieval and Renaissance star iconography, especially through the richly illustrated Venetian printings of the late fifteenth century.
Historiography
Survives in medieval manuscripts and saw influential incunable editions, including the 1482 Ratdolt with constellation woodcuts that standardized later sky-atlas imagery. Modern scholarship often labels the author Pseudo-Hyginus, noting stylistic simplicity, textual corruptions, and close dependence on Greek sources; nonetheless the work remains a key witness for catasterism traditions.
Date Notes
Authorship and date are disputed. Traditionally ascribed to Gaius Julius Hyginus, but language and dependence on Ptolemaic order suggest a possible later abridgment/compilation. Editio princeps 1475; illustrated Ratdolt edition 1482.
Archetypes
Major Characters
- Orion
- Perseus
- Andromeda
- Heracles
- Callisto
Myths
- Callisto and Arcas: Ursa Major and Minor
- Perseus and Andromeda
- The Constellation of Orion
- Phaethon and the Eridanus
Facts
- A Latin prose handbook on catasterisms traditionally transmitted under Hyginus’ name.
- Structured in four books covering creation lore, constellations, zodiac, planets, and notable star myths.
- Relies heavily on Greek sources, especially the Catasterismi; mirrors Ptolemy’s constellation order.
- Key witness for otherwise obscure myth variants tied to star names and figures.
- Medieval manuscript circulation; earliest printed edition 1475, with famed illustrated edition by Erhard Ratdolt in 1482.
- Influenced Renaissance constellation iconography through standardized woodcut imagery.
- Book III includes descriptive star listings associated with each figure.
- Authorship likely pseudonymous; many scholars refer to the author as Pseudo-Hyginus.