DOI: 10.17171/1-2-590-1
title: Diagram MAPD0590

description: Zodiacal Configuration: This is the only planetary diagram prescribed by the text of Macrobius. While the framework remains constant in virtually all examples cited from the manuscripts, the details of the planetary order or orders within the framework show much variation. These variations in planetary order take two main forms, and each of these forms has two main variants. There exist as well in the examples cited two further major variations in a very small number of manuscripts. The framework follows Macrobius's description (I.xxi.3-7, 24-27) and appears in these examples as follows. A circular band is divided into twelve equal parts, with the twelve radii extending almost to the center and ending at the periphery of a small central circle. Beginning at 12 o'clock and proceeding counter-clockwise, each sign of the zodiac is named in each successive section of the band, with Aries 0° at 12 o'clock (or, often at 1 o'clock). Outside the zodiacal band are the letters A - M, in counter-clockwise succession beginning at Aries 0°, at the ends of the radial lines. The small central circle is labeled for Earth. Between this central circle and the zodiacal band are six concentric circles, dividing the radial lines into seven equal segments between the terrestrial circle and the zodiacal band. The planets are placed in the resulting seven circular bands between the earth and the zodiac. Macrobius prescribes the order of the planets at three different places in his Commentary; only two of these passages seem to influence the Macrobian diagrams. One order appears in the text's description of the planetary configuration, following what Macrobius calls the Platonic order (I.xxi.24). This order, or sequence, ascends from earth as follows: Moon - Sun - Mercury - Venus - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn. In addition, the Macrobian description places each planet under a different zodiacal sign, so that we see not only an ascending sequence but the distribution of this sequence in a revolving pattern. The text places Saturn under Capricorn, Jupiter under Sagittarius, Mars under Scorpius, Venus under Libra, Mercury under Virgo, Sun under Leo, and Moon under Cancer. The text goes on to describe a further distribution of five planets to fill the remaining five zodiacal signs, always preserving the planetary order which Macrobius calls Platonic (above). The text gives a second sign to each planet except Sun and Moon. Saturn receives its second placement under Aquarius, Jupiter under Pisces, Mars under Aries, Venus under Taurus, and Mercury under Gemini. The complete arrangement prescribed by Macrobius here sets out the Platonic order twice, each time distributed over suceeding signs of the zodiac. We describe a manuscript diagram conforming to this pattern with the attributes "2b+2b" (order 2, arrangement b, appearance twice in the diagram). The same zodiacal framework can and does contain other planetary orders than the above. In an earlier passage of the text (I,xix,1-9), Macrobius described both a Caldean order (the same as Pliny and Ptolemy) and an Egyptian order (the Macrobian version of Plato), but he did not prescribe a diagram at this point. The Caldean/Ptolemaic order most often appears in the seven band-segments under a single sign, usually Aries. This pattern is classified as 1a (order 1, arrangement a, appearance once in the diagram). The two typical orders are Caldean/Ptolemaic (order 1) and Egyptian/Platonic (order 2). Either of these may appear listed under a single sign (arrangement a) or distributed in a revolving pattern over seven signs (arrangement b). Each planetary order is always given the letter corresponding to its arrangement in the zodiacal framework (a or b). If more than one order appears, each is listed in additive sequence, e.g., 1a+2b. If the same order appears twice, it is listed twice in additive sequence, e.g., 1a+1b. The diagrams of the Macrobian planetary configuration always appear in the page-space provided for text, unless otherwise indicated by our description of attributes. The list of attributes for the Macrobian planetary configurations uses the following codes and abbreviations for the diagrams in the MSS: 1. Planetary order of Caldeans (Venus and Mercury below Sun) 2. Planetary order of Egyptians (Sun below Venus and Mercury 3. Outer planets and Moon in standard order, Sun-Mercury-Venus on intersecting circles within zodiacal framework. 4. Zodiacal framework contains non-Macrobian elements in planetary circles. a. Arrangement of planetary order under one zodiacal sign. b. Arrangement of planetary order over a succession of signs. Marg. diagram appears in margin of text rather than in text-space. The two typical orders are Caldean/Ptolemaic (order 1) and Egyptian/Platonic (order 2). Either of these may appear listed under a single sign (arrangement a) or distributed in a revolving pattern over seven signs (arrangement b). Each planetary order is always given the letter corresponding to its arrangement in the zodiacal framework (a or b). If more than one order appears, each is listed in additive sequence, e.g., 1a+2b. If the same order appears twice, it is listed twice in additive sequence, e.g., 1a+1b. The diagrams of the Macrobian planetary configuration always appear in the page-space provided for text, unless otherwise indicated by our description of attributes. The list of attributes for the Macrobian planetary configurations uses the following codes and abbreviations for the diagrams in the MSS: 1. Planetary order of Caldeans (Venus and Mercury below Sun) 2. Planetary order of Egyptians (Sun below Venus and Mercury 3. Outer planets and Moon in standard order, Sun-Mercury-Venus on intersecting circles within zodiacal framework. 4. Zodiacal framework contains non-Macrobian elements in planetary circles. a. Arrangement of planetary order under one zodiacal sign. b. Arrangement of planetary order over a succession of signs. Marg. diagram appears in margin of text rather than in text-space.
description: Medieval Diagrams