Oh, the stars… how lovely!
And what about you? Do you read the horoscope? What do you think about it? Superstition, delight or agony?
For us, it seems an harmless pastime, but for the Medici (and not only!) it was a very serious subject to study and examine.
Are you curious to unveil which is your equivalent star sign in this ironic Medici and Florentine Horoscope? And to discover the predictions for 2021?
Just a few advices before starting:
1) If you are impatient to discover your equivalent star sign, I allow you to skip the dull part concerning the history of astrology (but honestly it is not so dull! Please imagine how I worked hard to write it…)
2) If you don’t know it yet, it is better to calculate your rising sign before reading the article… the Medici used to consider the rising sign more important than the star sign!
3) Don’t trust too much Flora’s predictions for 2021… She doesn’t always guess right!
And now you are ready to start reading… I wish you a good Medici and Florentine stars hunting!
Astrology’s history from Babylon to Medici’s court
Astrology’s origins are very ancient: in the 14th cent. BC, in Mesopotamia, people consulted the stars and identified them with myths and deities. The zodiac constellations were divided into 11 months of the year, according to the epic poem of Gilgamesh. The missing star sign was the Libra: it was depicted in the Scorpio’s claws and it was part of it. Just in 3rd cent. BC, the two star signs were divided. Greek civilization learnt the basics of astrology from the Babylonian civilization: a lot of scholars wrote a constellations catalogue, studied the calculation of ellipses and the orbit of planets, and introduced the decans from Egypt. Just to mention some of them: Thales of Miletus, Eudoxus of Cnidus, Aratus, Eratosthenes of Cyrene, Teucer of Babylon, and the well-known Ptolemy, the author of “Almagest” and “Tetrabiblos”, who composed the definitive catalogue of 1022 stars, divided in 48 star constellations.
The interpretation of the horoscope had an extraordinary success during the Augustan age and the imperial age in Rome, but the mania for astrology was criticized by Cicero. Everybody knows that the first Roman emperor, Augustus, chose as his device his rising sign, the Capricorn. The same device was used, 16 centuries later, by a certain Cosimo I de’ Medici in Florence.
Cosimo – who was born on June 12th, in 1519, under the star sign of Gemini – was elected Duke of Florence on January 9th, in 1537, under the star sign of Capricorn. Hence, do not be surprised if, once entered into the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, you will be surrounded by walls embellished with Capricorns: they are a clear homage to Augustus and Cosimo I de’ Medici.
If during the Middle Age astrology was associated with Christianity (12 months, 12 star signs, 12 apostles), with the flowering of art in illuminated manuscripts, during the Quattrocento the astrological cycles became extremely important.
Commissioners and patrons, indeed, did not dare to undertake wars or diplomatic actions without firstly consult the horoscope and their “birth chart”. Astrology was at the service of the political propaganda of the patron, and, if possible, it was manipulated in order to change the stars will and their destiny.
In the Quattrocento, Florence became the custodian of a wide hermetic and neoplatonic erudition, due to the arrival of learned and erudite Byzantine scholars for the Council of Florence in 1439. The presence of the philosopher Gemistus Pletho and Cardinal Bessarion was essential for the intellectual development of Florentine culture, as the translation of “Corpus Hermeticum” by Marsilio Ficino for Cosimo the Elder de’ Medici.
The astrological apogee of this cosmic hike is undoubtedly the painting decoration of the dome in the Old Sacristy, in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, painted by Giuliano d’Arrigo known as Pesello in 1442.
It depicts the celestial vault of the 4th July 1442, when René of Anjou, king of Jerusalem, arrived in Florence.
It is the first star map of art history, the first painted horoscope, entrusted by Cosimo the Elder de’ Medici and painted by Pesello with the help of the famous astronomer Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, who helped Brunelleschi as well for the astronomical instrument of the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore. The sky of the 4th July 1442 was propitious: the hope for a Crusade just around the corner, lead by René of Anjou (who could flaunt the title of king of Jerusalem and was at the prophetic age of 33), reflected in the stars of the vault.
You will be surprise to ascertain that the same decoration is present in the dome of Pazzi Chapel, in the Church of Santa Croce. And imagine that the Medici and the Pazzi were sworn enemies!…
But I imagine you have enough of history – the list of astrological examples in Italian art history is still boundless – and you champt at the bit to discover your star sign, according to the Horoscope of Flora. Here you are!
THE MEDICI FLORENTINE HOROSCOPE OF FLORA. HOROSCOPE PREDICTIONS 2021!
ARIES – Leonardo da Vinci (15/04/1452)
Dear Aries,
your zodiac element is Fire, you are a an ardent son of Mars, instinctive, passionate and determined.
Like Leonardo da Vinci, you have a lot of interests and you are so magnetic that nobody can resist you.
Horoscope 2021 predicitions: Leonardo da Vinci suggests you to avoid the technique of encaustic painting… try to be less fragmentary, try to conclude something! And accept the scholarship to France: something good will come out. Leonardo docet.
TAURUS – Niccolò Macchiavelli (03/05/1469)
Dear Taurus,
your zodiac element is Earth, your planet is Venus; you are sensual, life lover, and foodie, as Niccolò Machiavelli, who did not disdain the Florentine steak and a glass of red wine during his voluntary exile in Chianti.
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Niccolò suggests you to plan as soon as possible a green holiday in Sant’Andrea in Percussina, in order to savour the pleasure of Tuscan country.
GEMINI – Dante Alighieri (29/05/1265)
Dear Gemini,
unpredictable, unstable and rebel: your zodiac element is Air, you are dominated by Mercury. As Dante, you adore travelling, but luckily you are not in exile (if you don’t consider the lockdown…)! They say Gemini are a bit ambiguous… actually, you love Beatrice, but you are married with Gemma?! Please, make a decision!
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Dante reminds you that on September 14th it will be the 700th anniversary of his death. Why do not pay homage to his tomb in Ravenna or visit Dante’s House Museum in Florence?
CANCER – Filippo Lippi (23/06/1406)
Dear Cancer,
your zodiac element is Water and your planet is the Moon. You are emotional, sensitive, and, let’s admit it: you are a bit moody and touchy. After all, you are dominated by the beautiful and silver Moon, which shapes your existence. And so was for the painter Filippo Lippi: he was the prior of a feminine convent in Prato, where he fell in love with the nun Lucrezia Buti!
Cancer is so romantic, indeed, love has triumphed! Happy ever after for Filippo and Lucrezia with their offspring (thanks to Cosimo the Elder de’ Medici). This beloved masterpiece is our fairy tale: let’s dream!
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Filippo suggests to hang out often at the church… Cupid is around the corner – or the confessional! And remember: Amor vincit omnia.
PS: don’t forget that Cancer is the star sign of St John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence. Drop in to admire the Fireworks, “i Fochi”, on next June 24th!
LEO – Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici (11/08/1667)
Dear Leo,
your zodiac element is Fire and you are dominated by the Sun, and, as the Sun, you shine and you emanate light, energy, and strength. Your ego is a bit high, let’s admit it, but you can certainly afford it! Sunlight lights up your path, be wise as Anna Maria Luisa.
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Anna Maria Luisa suggests you a dive in her favourite thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni, and, of course, a guided tour at the Uffizi Galleries.
VIRGO – Giovanni Fattori (06/09/1825)
Dear Virgo,
your zodiac element is Earth and your planet is Mercury.
The precision is your talent, you have the sense of duty and an innate perfectionism. As the painter Giovanni Fattori, you love the conversation about politics and society at a café in the city centre, or you enjoy strolling around on the seashore, completely alone, caressed by the wind, better if at Leghorn coast.
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Giovanni Fattori, leader of the Macchaioli and so precursor of the Impressionist movement, suggests you to look for the Caffè Michelangelo in Via Cavour, Florence. You will find just a memorial plaque, but it will be worth to remind the place which was the hive of art activities during the 19th century in Florence.
LIBRA – Cosimo the Elder (27/09/1389)
Dear Libra,
your zodiac element is Air and your planet is Venus. Elegant, classy and diplomatic, Cosimo the Elder de’ Medici is the best equivalent zodiac personality ever for you. The grandfather of Lorenzo the Magnificent distinguished during the Quattrocento for his discretion, privacy, and diplomacy. Take as example Cosimo and the likelihood that you become “pater patriae” is very high.
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Cosimo suggests you to entrust a nice palace in pietraforte from a stararchitect of your century. But please: be sober and virtuous.
SCORPIO – Benvenuto Cellini (01/11/1500)
Dear Scorpio,
your zodiac element is Water and your planet is Uranus.
Shadowy, sharp, and witty, you have for sure a temper. Benvenuto Cellini knows it very well. He was the most brilliant, narcissist, outlandish artist of the Mannerism. His charm marked him as one of the most captivating personalities of the Cinquecento. He could not avoid his jokes against his colleagues, when he told for example that “Hercules and Cacus” sculpted by Baccio Bandinelli looked like a bag of melons leaning on the Palazzo Vecchio.
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Benvenuto suggests to fall in love with men and women, get arrested, escape from Castel Sant’Angelo, write a best-seller, and live perpetually followed by paparazzi.
SAGITTARIUS – Pope Leo X (11/12/1475)
Dear Sagittarius,
your zodiac element is Fire, your planet is Jupiter. Optimist, sporty, and adventurous, you love travelling and you are often broke! Pope Leo X perfectly understands you: he loves hunting, blowouts and he struggles for support his 687 servants (and so he had to practice the sale of indulgences!…)
Horoscope 2021 predicitions: Pope Leo X suggests you a new pet, an elephant or a rhino could be a great choice. If not available, a good second-best could be to entrust a nice villa with formal gardens from a young and handsome stararchitect, Raphael, for example.
CAPRICORN – Lorenzo the Magnificent (01/01/1449)
Dear Capricorn,
your zodiac element is Earth and your planet is Saturn.
Stubborn, loyal, and ambitious, do you know that you were born under the most desired star sign of the Medici dynasty? The Capricorn, indeed, has led illustrious ancestors of the Medici house, be proud of this honour!
Like Lorenzo, you are deeply concentrated on your career: don’t give up and you will succeed.
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Lorenzo suggests you to keep an eye on your know-it-all intellectual friends, to guard your brother, to write poems and to live joyfully, because “How beautiful is youth, though quickly it does flee! Be happy if you want to: for tomorrow may not come!”
AQUARIUS – Galileo Galilei (15/02/1564)
Dear Aquarius,
your zodiac element is Air, and, given that you are unique, you are dominated not just by one planet, but two: Uranus and Saturn.
You have a fervid imagination, you are idealist and nonconformist, like Galileo you are always in a daydream.
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Galileo suggests you to carefully ponder the publishing house, before publishing a novel or whichever you prefer, or, even better, to publish under a pseudonym, to avoid any trouble. Concerning travels, Galileo suggests you a trip to Padova University!
PISCES – Michelangelo Buonarroti (06/03/1475)
Dear Pisces,
your zodiac element is Water and your planet is Neptune.
You are undoubtedly the greatest dreamer of the whole Zodiac, you are emotional, intuitive, and romantic. But… mamma mia, how you feel misunderstood! Like Michelangelo, you lose yourself, you are confused, and firstly it is finished, and then it is non-finito, and then not, it is finished in this way, but you say it is non-finito. Is it clear, right?
Horoscope 2021 predictions: Michelangelo doesn’t give any advice, neither prediction, because you can not teach the talent; you have the talent, or you don’t have any talent!
Dear readers, I wish you a Happy New Year! May the coming year be full of grand adventures and opportunities.
I hope you enjoyed in discovering your equivalent star sign in the Medici Florentine Horoscope and you will appreciate the advices for 2021 given by Leonardo da Vinci, Niccolò Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, Filippo Lippi, Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, Giovanni Fattori, Cosimo the Elder, Benvenuto Cellini, Pope Leo X, Lorenzo the Magnificent, Galileo Galilei and Michelangelo.
I would like to specify that they are not all born in Florence… but they are all Florentine inside, a bit like me! 😊
I will wait for you for the next Florence guided tours, under the stars of Renaissance!
Please stay tuned to my social media pages for updates and if you need any information please contact me at: info@myfloraguide.com
Bibliography:
Mori, G., “Arte e Astrologia”, Giunti Editore S.p.A., Milano, 1987.
