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In my personal opinion and experience I think that the text intended to define things in a manner that didn't translate well.
I will quote from the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (available in the library)
Dat
annulum virtutum: Docet absolute
Geometriam, Arithmeticam, Astronomiam,
Mechanicam: Ad interrogata plene & vere
respondet: Hominem reddit invisibilem: Loca
thesaurorum ostendit & custodit, si fuerit de
legionibus Amaymonis.
The beginning (Dat annulum virtutum) translates to he giveth a ring of virtues:
Note though that there is then a semicolon and a list beginning with
He teacheth absolutely Geometry, Arithmetic, Astronomy, and Mechanics it then continues with his other gifts.
I feel the word ring should be thought of in terms of "circle" or an arrangement of objects in a circle and not an actual physical ring worn on the finger. Think tree ring, boxing ring, etc. The virtues making up the ring are then described.
Geomotry, Arithmetic, Astronomy, and Music make up the Quadrivium or the four greater liberal sciences of Latin thought although at the time period of the Pseudomonarchia(1577) Music was rapidly being overtaken by mechanics. Kepler and Galileo were entering the arena and DaVinci had left recently.
Just some observations.
chaoscrowley.txt
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"For many years I have been a Lapsed Idiot. With faith and penance, I hope one day to be a devout Imbecile again." - chaoscrowley
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Ring of Virtues
Aug 28 2005, 07:17 PM
