Image du Monde

By Gauthier de Metz. French title of a work first written in Latin in 1245, under the title Imago Mundi (Image of the World). "An encyclopedic work about creation, the Earth and the universe, wherein facts are mixed with fantasy." Translated from Latin into French in 1245. Issued in an English translation as The Myrrour of the World by William Caxton in 1480. [Gautier de Metz, Wikipedia, 1/16/2021] Caxton's version is available online at Google Books.

While exploring the Nameless City, the narrator recalled infamous lines from the delirious Image du Monde of Gauthier de Metz [HPL Nameless (online text)]. It is not clear what lines the narrator was thinking of. There is a reference to a mysterious city; the modern introduction by Oliver H. Prior summarizes:

In most maps and works of the Middle Ages, we find Jerusalem situated in the middle of the world; but Gossouin assigns this position to a mysterious city, round in shape, called "Aaron." According to the Arab legend this place lies on the extreme limits of the inhabitable world; it is the refuge of demons and the seat of Iblys, their prince and master. "Aaron," or " Arym," is occasionally mentioned in works of the thirteenth century; but it is difficult to say how this Eastern legend found its way into Gossouin's work; it certainly appears in none of his usual sources.

The actual text by de Metz/Caxton is a bit tamer than Prior's introduction. It seems that Aaron was a city on the equator, where astronomy was first studied:

Of the equator and the city of Aaron. And in the ende of this lyne, lyke as she gooth right by lyne, we may see a cyte whiche is callyd Aaron. It is sette in the myddle of the world and was made all rounde. There was founden first Astronomye by grete studye, by grete maistrye, and by grete dilygence.

There's a passing reference to Necromancy that might have interested Joseph Curwen:

In Ynde is plente of grete contrees merueyllously whiche ben peopled with dyuerse maners of peple & of grete plente of bestes of many dyuerse facions and condicion. Emonge alle other ther is a contree named Perse, and conteyneth xxxiii regyons; of whiche the first is the Royame of Perse, where as a science called Nygromancie was first founden; whiche science constrayneth the enemye, the fende, to be taken and holde prisonner. In this contree groweth a pese whiche is so hoot that it skaldeth the handes of them that holde it; and it growyth with encresyng of the mone, and wyth wanyng it discreceth at eche tyme of his cours. It helpeth wel to them that ben nygromanciers.

There's a discussion of various marvels supposedly performed by Virgil (Virgyle) in ancient times, and a tribute to astronomy (astrology?):

Alle thynge is knowen by Astronomye, sauf suche thynge as God wylle that it be not knowen. And so it is better to lerne that, than to lerne to amasse and gadre to gydre grete tresours. Ffor who that coude Astronomye proprely, he shold haue all that he wold haue on erthe; ffor hym shold faylle nothyng, what someuer he wold and yet more.

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