Lunarium

Srnec: hatnote

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[[File:St._Gallen,_Stiftsbibliothek,_Cod._Sang._751,_p._428.jpg|thumb|Latin lunary from the medical compendium [[Abbey library of Saint Gall|St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek]], Cod. Sang. 751, at p. 428]]
A '''lunary''' (from [[Latin]] ''lunarium''), also called a '''selenodromion''' or '''moonbook''', is a book of [[Prediction|prognostication]] based on the position of the [[moon]] at any given time. It is an [[astrological]] genre with parallels as far back as [[Akkadian literature]]. From the 2nd century AD, it is common in the [[Greco-Roman world]]. There are examples in [[Koine Greek|Greek]], [[Latin]], [[Coptic language|Coptic]], [[Middle English]] and [[Old Nubian]]. [[Pagan]], [[Judaism|Jewish]] and [[Christianity|Christian]] examples are known. The lunary was "by far the most popular and widely circulated prognostic genre" during the [[Middle Ages]]. [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]].

Use of the term "lunary" for the genre is a modern convention. In Middle English, ''lunarie'' referred to [[volvelle]]s and not prognostic texts. The Latin ''lunaria'' had a similar usage. The term "lunary" is sometimes applied to the practice of creating lunaries and determining propitious days on the basis of the moon, a form of [[hemerology]].

Lunaries are similar to [[Electionary|electionaries]] in that they were used for choosing (electing) astrological propitious dates for events. They differ in that they limit themselves to the moon, ignoring the other planets and stars. Lunaries were used for predicting and planning birth, business, death, illness, marriage, planting, phlebotomy and travel. There are two main types of lunary: the day or mansion lunary, which is concerned with the [[Lunar station|station of the moon]] in its cycle ([[lunar month]] of 28 days or [[synodic month]] of 30), and the month or sign lunary, which is concerned with the moon's successive risings in the twelve signs of the [[Zodiac]]. There are picture lunaries in which the things to be done or avoided on a given day of the moon are illustrated.

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[[Category:Astrological texts]]

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