Observing the Sky, mapping the Earth

Astronomy played a fundamental role in medieval monasteries because it helped regulate religious and daily life.

Observing the sky was essential for establishing the liturgical calendar and the dates of movable feasts, i.e. those without a fixed date. Easter, for example, is determined by the lunar cycle and the spring equinox. Therefore, monks had to be able to perform complex astronomical calculations to establish the date of the feast. Astronomy, however, also regulated daily life in the monastery. Observing the movements of the sun and stars was necessary to measure the passage of time and understand when to wake up, when to pray and when to work. In addition to these practical purposes, its study also included more spiritual and religious aspects. Studying the firmament and the stars meant reflecting on the greatness and harmony of divine creation.

As in many medieval monasteries, the monks of Montecassino were also interested in astronomy.

Pagina del Codice 3 con due figure femminili stilizzate: una seduta in trono con le braccia aperte e l’altra in piedi tra due forme montuose schematiche, accompagnate da testo latino.

Cod. 3, p. 183

Proof of this can be found in a beautiful manuscript created during the time of Abbot Bertario (850-883): Cod. 3 [https://omnes.dbseret.com/montecassino/view.jsp?cid=IT-FR0084_0003]. The book contains a description of the heavens in Latin, derived from that of the famous Greek astronomer Aratus of Soli and illustrated with drawings of the constellations and signs of the zodiac. In these, the classical world had identified pagan heroes and gods: Hercules, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Andromeda.

Pagina del Codice 3 con una figura umana che brandisce una testa recisa e un’arma, sotto un disegno di due creature serpentiformi, accompagnata da testo latino.

Cod. 3 p. 185

The monks’ attention was not focused solely on the sky. The study of the earth and geography was also important, as demonstrated by manuscript Cod. 391, which contains the ‘Collectanea rerum memorabilium’ by Solinus, a Roman author of the 3rd century AD. It is a collection of descriptions of places, lands and peoples of the known world, enriched with curious details about plants, minerals, ethnic groups and animals, including monstrous ones. The codex was created during the years of Abbot Desiderius and was also used later on. At the beginning of the 12th century, a drawing of a globe was added: the Earth, surrounded by the sea, is divided into three parts, with Asia occupying most of it and Europe and Africa the other two.

Pagina del Codice 391 con testo latino in alto e due diagrammi geometrici in basso: un cerchio suddiviso in sezioni e un grande labirinto circolare a più anelli concentrici.

Cod. 391, p. 176