Wonders of the East and Astronomical-Calendrical Treatise

[Illustration: A medieval manuscript illustration of the constellation Taurus, showing a bull in profile facing left. Small golden dots representing stars are marked on the bull's head, horns, shoulder, and legs.]

[Illustration: A medieval representation of the constellation Gemini, showing two standing figures, Castor and Pollux, with stars indicated across their bodies.]

[Illustration: A medieval illustration of the constellation Cancer, depicted as a large crab with stars marked on its shell and legs.]

[He] placed Taurus The Bull among the stars in honor Concerning the Bull. of Jove Jupiter, because he was mythologically original: "fabulose" turned into a bull when he carried Europa to the island referring to Crete. They also devised another and truer reason for this: because, specifically in the month of April, the labor of oxen original: "boũ labor" is greater. It has in all fifteen stars, as is seen here.

Concerning the Twins Castor and Pollux, moreover, the brothers, were placed among the stars on account of the unbreakable concord original: "concordiã" which existed between them. They say original: "feru'"/ferunt that of these twins, one was immortal by birth, and the other was mortal. But the immortal one acquired immortality for the mortal one through the mortal's death referring to the myth where Pollux shares his immortality with Castor. They also adapt this to the Sun, because one and the same [sun] descends to the lowest depths of the world and rises again to its highest altitude. These have 15 stars, as shown here.

Cancer Concerning the crab. is said to have been placed among the stars by the favor of Juno. For when Hercules fought against the Lernaean Hydra The many-headed water serpent, this crab nipped and seized his foot from the swamp. For this reason, Hercules first killed it, but Juno Queen of the Gods and enemy of Hercules placed it among the stars. In the shell of this crab is a figure [showing how] Liber Bacchus/Dionysus, driven to madness by Juno, sought the oracle of Jove at Dodona An ancient oracle of Jupiter to recover his health. But when he was unable to cross a certain swamp, he was carried across by one of two donkeys original: "asellis"; these stars are still known as the "Asses" in Cancer today he encountered. Then, having received his health in the temple, [the donkey] was received into heaven by Liber for this favor. This has 15 stars, as they are noted here. Concerning the sign of Leo