Abstract

The illumination and decoration of manuscripts became associated with scientific subjects such as medicine، astronomy، agriculture، and alchemy from the early centuries of the Islamic period. Under Mongol rule، manuscript painting flourished across Iran and other parts of the Islamic world، serving a range of purposes، including ornamentation and visual embellishment، the communication of particular concepts and meanings، or a combination of both. The Kitāb al-Bulhān، an illustrated work dating to the ninth century AH (fifteenth century CE)، is a notable example of this tradition.

The seven planets and the twelve zodiacal signs were among the most frequently represented visual elements in illustrated astrological and astronomical manuscripts، books of wonders، and، in some cases، talismanic texts. Within the astrological tradition، the planets and zodiacal signs constituted fundamental elements in the formulation of astrological concepts and practices. Over time، astrologers represented the planets and zodiacal signs through relatively established visual forms and، in some contexts، employed these forms to convey specific astrological meanings. Against this background، this study asks how the celestial illustrations of the Kitāb al-Bulhān relate to the tradition of depicting the constellations and in what ways they extend beyond astronomical representation to convey specifically astrological meanings. To address this question، the study employs a comparative examination of textual sources and uses a historical approach to describe and analyze the visual evidence.

The findings demonstrate that some of the celestial illustrations in the Kitāb al-Bulhān، rather than serving merely decorative purposes، correspond to concepts and principles of astrology and visually represent astrological beliefs through human، animal، and mythological figures. These illustrations also convey fundamental astrological concepts، including the planetary houses (buyūt)، the exaltation and fall of the planets، and the lunar mansions. At the same time، comparison with descriptions of planetary hayākil in sources relating to the Harranian Sabians reveals significant correspondences and demonstrates the value of examining these two textual and visual traditions in relation to one another.