The Chariots of the Sun and the Moon

This page is occupied by a magnificent full-page miniature illustration. In medieval manuscripts, such images were not merely decorative but served to summarize complex ideas about the cosmos through personification—representing celestial bodies as human figures.

In the upper half of the illustration, the Sun original: "Sol" is depicted as a royal figure driving a golden chariot across the sky. He is shown with a radiate crown a crown with pointed rays signifying the light of the sun and is set against a vibrant, fiery red background, symbolizing the heat and light described on the previous page. His chariot is pulled by four powerful horses, representing the speed with which the sun completes its daily circuit around the world.

In the lower half, the Moon original: "Luna" is shown in a contrasting scene of the night. She wears a horned headdress that mimics the shape of a crescent moon. Unlike the Sun’s four horses, Luna’s chariot is pulled by two oxen.

Oxen were traditionally chosen for the Moon's chariot because their slow, steady gait reflected the perceived movement of the moon, and their horns were seen as a natural symbol for the lunar crescent.

The background is a deep, celestial blue, marking the transition from the "unknown paths beneath the earth" mentioned earlier to the visible night sky.