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Ice Crystals > Halos > Parhelia > Parhelia in Historical Representations

Parhelia in Historical Representations

Since parhelia belong to the most common and brightest halos, they were sometimes represented in historical illustrations. The Nuremberg Chronicle, published in 1493 by the German physician, humanist and historian Hartmann Schedel - about 40 years after the invention of printing with movable type by Gutenberg - contains several woodcuts showing the sun with sundogs. At that time halos were often regarded as omens announcing political changes or natural disasters.

Since there was no understanding of how halos form, these irrational beliefs can even be found in 18th century sources.

Hartmann Schedel: Liber chronicarum. - Nuremberg: Koberger, 1493. Das fünft alter der werlt, XCIII. Stadtbibliothek Trier, Shelfmark Inc 353 gr 2°.
© Stadtbibliothek Trier, Eva Seidenfaden.

Text explaining the woodcut. Hartmann Schedel: Liber chronicarum. - Nuremberg: Koberger, 1493. Das fünft alter der werlt, CCIIII. Stadtbibliothek Trier, Shelfmark Inc 353 gr 2°. © Stadtbibliothek Trier, Eva Seidenfaden.

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