Interpretation of the figures that were found in Nuremberg - Außlegung der Figuren, so zu Nürenberg gefunden send worden

1569

Author: Paracelsus

Subject: Alchemy

These are comments that Paracelsus bases on figures that he found while he was probably traveling in Nuremberg in a monastery of theCarthusian Order. Prophetic, they are also committed since he affirms the inevitable fall of the papacy due to its multiple moral failings . He will continue this astrological and prophetic work with his Prognostication .

Figure 15 is the most famous of all , as evidenced by the fact that it was moved to a vignette from the 1569 edition. Originally, we found it (as well as the others) in a work anti-papal Lutheran, thus illustrating the leader of the Catholic Church in a parodic and chimerical manner. The engraving series was originally commissioned by the reforming theologian Andreas Osiander from the meistersingers Hans Sachs. Paracelsus described it as a salamander and even today it is readily used to illustrate the “classic” appearance of this creature .