Johannes Virdung

Johann or Johannes Virdung of Hasfurt was a celebrated astrologer of the early sixteenth century. [Dates given as c.1465-c.1535. [http://catalog.lib.washington.edu:2082/search/aVirdung%2C+Johann%2C+ca.+1465-ca.+1535/avirdung+johann+ca+1465+ca+1535/-3,-1,0,B/browse] .] He had an official position at Heidelberg, at the court of the Elector Palatine. He wrote various works under generic names ("Prognosticon", "Practica"), including a millennarian work, "Practica von dem Entchrist". [Around 1510, according to [http://www.bu.edu/mille/publications/winter98/crouzet.PDF this PDF] by Denis Crouzet. Published 1525, [http://www.reiss-sohn.de/php/showpic_kat101.php3?nr=2894&lang=en title page] .] [An early work is the "Prognosticon" printed 1490. It was followed by others (1492, 1493, 1494, 1497 at least). ( [http://microformguides.gale.com/Data/Download/9013016A.pdf This PDF for details] .)] [There is the 1584 "Joannis Hasfurti medici ac astrologi praestantissimi", the title of which implies Virdung had a reputation as physician; he may not have contributed more than his name.]

He was a correspondent of Johannes Trithemius. One of the early sources for the Faust legend occurs in a letter of Trithemius to Virdung. [20 August 1507, [http://www.kerber-net.de/literatur/deutsch/drama/goethe/faust/faustrib.htm] (German language). In connection with this, [http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/hausarbeit/del/9397.html] describes Virdung as 'mathematician and court astrologer'.]

It has been suggested [By Kazimierz Piekarski] that Virdung was of the school of the astronomer Albertus de Brudzewo, and had studied with him and Johannes de Glogovia [Jan Glogowczyk, Jan Glogau, Jan of Glogow (1455-1507). See .] in Cracow.

Notes

References

*Max Steinmetz (1986), "Johann Virdung von Hassfurt, sein Leben und seine astrologischen Flugschriften", in "Astrologi hallucinati, stars at the end of the world in Luther's time"
*Lynn Thorndike "Johann Virdung of Hassfurt again" Isis 25, 1936, p. 363; "Faust and Johann Virdung of Hassfurt", Isis 26, 1936/37, p. 321; "Another Virdung Manuscript", Isis 34, 1942/43, p. 291; "Johann Virdung of Hassfurt: dates of birth and death", Isis 37, 1947, p. 74