Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 253

GIROLAMO CARDANO (1501-1576) La metoposcopie. Thomas Jolly 1658 [8] viii, 225 [2] pp., illus. 33.4 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 246

Cardano was not only an accomplished physician but a skilled and highly sought-after astrologer as well. In the present work he addresses the subject of metoposcopy, which deals with the determination of character traits as well as foretelling the future by interpretation of the lines on an individual's forehead in conjunction with some aspects of their physiognomy. Cardano believed that metoposcopy was an art but was not infallible; however, reasonably accurate forecasts and judgments could be made if the individual's lineage, education, age, horoscope, and palmistry findings were taken into account. He recognized seven horizontal regions of the forehead and each was correlated with one of the planets. The divisions then took on the astrological characteristics and properties of their assigned planet. In addition, other facial marks such as naevi and macules were also taken into consideration. Cardano includes a great number of case reports in the book and with each he provides a frontal view of the face depicting the forehead lines and other facial marks. He also gives a brief forecast for each individual but does not indicate whether his predictions were accurate. He also fails to correlate the individual cases with his general principles so it is not possible to determine how he applied his theories in actual practice. Also included with Cardano's treatise on metoposcopy is a very short tract attributed to Melampus. Melampus, a figure from Greek mythology, was his nation's earliest prophet and physician. In this tract entitled Divination par les seings (ou marques naturelles) du Corps, Melampus addresses the meaning and interpretation of facial warts. The French text was translated by Claude Martin de Laurendiere (fl. 1650) and the Greek text appears on the facing page. Written at Milan in 1550, the book was not published until 1658 and then appeared in both French and Latin during that year.

Cited references: Cushing C85 (Latin ed.); Garrison-Morton 152 (Latin ed.); Osler 2242; Waller 1767; Wellcome II, p. 300

Gift of John Martin, M.D.