Mystery markings...

[John_Clements]

Anyone have a clue what it is he is marking in the cirlce here?
It's from the title page of Achille Marozzo's 1536 'Opera Nova.'

[Guest]

Looks like alchemcial symbols.

[Guest]

John, you might consider to get in contact with Italian Masonic lodges.
If you whant me to do it, drop me a note and attach the picture.
In order to better understand what's going on in the picture, nearby text could help.
Regards
Carlo

[Shane Smith]

Sigels obviously.Marozzo wasn't an occultist by chance was he? <img src="/forum/images/icons/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Thats the impression I get considering all of the symbolism present within the sigels and elsewhere in the image(the engravings on the pillars and the like).

[Jeffrey Hull]

I think all the ideas are excellent so far. I might only add that such could have meaning in kabal-derived angelology, and might be the sigel-names of angels for strength as per the given ruling angel of any particular hour of the day, or point of the compass. JH

[Brian Hunt]

The writings rather remind me of the Sanscript symbol for the mantra "om" or "Aum". They also appear to have similarities to the written symbols for the zodiac. Just a thought.

[Guest]

I cannot vouch for all of the markings but the one nearest the bottom left corner is Angelic script for the Archangel Michael. Being the angel who led the battle against Satan and his rebellion, I can see why this might have been written by a soldier and swordsman.

[Jeffrey Hull]

I was thinking that might be the case. I no longer have my "Dictionary of Angels" - I gave it away. It had a bunch of the more common kabalic name-sigels of angels and so forth.

JC, if you can get this book or something like it, it could help you find the specific name-sigel, whether Michael's or another, as the case may be. JH

[John_Clements]

Any thoughts as to whether such marking were always written around a circle or not and the significance of that (other than the obvous relation it has to fencing)?

[Shane Smith]

Among occultist(if we accept the premise that these markings are indeed sigils) there seems to be a great veneration of the protective circle.It was and is not uncommon for practitioners of the occult to draw a circle on the ground and then empower it with signs and sigils for supposed protection from outside influences that the occultist feels will interfere with the work they are/were intent upon performing within the protective confines of the circle.They believe that the sigils invoke the power and support of the supernatural beings that are represented by the the sigils themselves.Perhaps Marrozo is evoking the power of supernatural beings to protect and guide him in his quest for mastery of the Art of life and death with the sword? It sounds silly but people still believed in such things in those days....Some still do.I'm NOT among them however.

[Randall Pleasant]

Shane

You don't watch modern sports do you? American society and main stream religions are full of it <img src="/forum/images/icons/shocked.gif" alt="" /> - we just don't like to think so. <img src="/forum/images/icons/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Scott Anderson]

my first thought was that maybe there was a connection to the Templars? but i really don't know that much about it.

SPA

[John_Clements]

My Swedish colleage David Lincholm tells me know that
the circle and markings in Marozzo are a magic circle and the signs are a kind of glyph that is constructed by writing several Hebrew or Latin letter on each other and then removing certain lines. A few also seem to be angelical signals. All important information and the key can be found in Cornelius Agrippa’s books on occult philosophy (written and printed in Italy in the 16th century).

Interesting also that Marozzo's figure is shown in full plate armor...given how later fencing historians (who praised Marozzo) dismissed armored combat as clumsy and artless...

[Mike Cartier]

Well it wasn't always about just belief in the gods or powers invoked but sometimes more of a invitation to the energy type.

For instance if you were to go into a battle situation you might try to draw down the energy type you need by invoking that particular custodian(s) signs and other symbols.
Not necessarily because you beleived in say the god Mars or Ares or Athena but instead because you are recognizing personality archetype as one of the custodians of that energy type.
So by invoking Mars or Ares (some also assumed the godhead, priests and orders) you were putting out a call to that energy type you require.
In modern terms you would be meditating on the goal and therfore creating the energy within your self to power you.
Whether this happens because you beleive in Mars or Ares, or becuase you have succesfully invoked the Yang energy of war or you have mind tricked yourself to get a more Yang energy , the result is the same, you have gained a source of energy in some way.
Of course if nothing happened you just felt silly <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Björn Sollander]

Yes i agree with much of what has been said about these symbols. I recognise the style of the symbols as Alchemy symbols for the 7 main elements. I think i can identify the symbol for lead in the circle. The circle and the writing of the symbols may be something for protection or for blessing, or maybe it has a scientific meaning. I have not been able to research any further but my advice is to search the net for alchemy symbols. This link may be a place to start your search, http://www.hexagongirl.com/y/22-Alchemy&amp;Symbols.html
Achille marozzo´s Opera Nova, was published in a time when major works on Alchemy, Occultism and Sciense were published. Henry Cornelius Agrippa 1486-1535 was a important person of Renaissance esoterica. So was John dee 1527-1608, scientist and occultist, he was also Queen Elisabeths Scientific advisor. Maybe even the italian Giovanni Pico della Mirandola´s Opera Omnia can be of interest.

/Björn Sollander
ARMA-Uppsala
Sweden