OFFICINA ADRIATICA: HOW TO BUILD A ‘TRILINGUAL PRISM’ OF RENAISSANCE KNOWLEDGE STARTING FROM THE ORDO UNIVERSI (1581) BY ANDREA BACCI
Silvia FIASCHI, Guido GIGLIONI | University of Macerata
The second meeting of the VIII cycle of seminars on Adriatic Humanism actively involved the entire audience, offering a workshop in a new interactive format, led by the speakers and enriched by the participation of Professors Carlo Pongetti and Rosa Marisa Borraccini.
After an introduction to the figure of Andrea Bacci, a scholar and naturalist born in 1524 in Sant’Elpidio a Mare, and author of works on hydrology, pharmacology, and zoology, the seminar focused on an in-depth exploration of the subject text: Tabula in qua ordo universi et Humanarum Scientiarum prima monumenta continentur, first printed in Rome in 1581. This table, which contains information related to the history of sciences, such as astrology, medicine, and philosophy, is an interesting example of a graphic and visual representation aimed at education. In fact, the table served as an educational tool to introduce students, offering a reasoned synthesis model designed for a kind of early remote learning, a type of visual schematization that transcends the concept of time in favor of a logical and encyclopedic development. Rich in references and citations, it opens with a Pythagorean maxim, which encourages the study of the scheme, the image, to proceed in research: τό σχῆμα καί βῆμα.
A significant aspect of the codicological tradition was also highlighted: the manuscript, completed in 1557, had its printing delayed due to various reasons, including Bacci’s role as a consultant following the flooding of the Tiber.
Finally, the objective of the meeting was presented, which opened up a lengthy discussion on procedural and methodological strategies to be adopted for the creation of a ‘trilingual totem.’ Many attendees expressed enthusiasm and support for a collaborative effort that, involving students, professors, and researchers, will produce a transcription and translation of the text into Italian and English, expected to be published next spring. The attendees were then given a high-resolution poster depicting the Ordo universi table.
Thank you all for your participation, and see you on November 12 with a seminar dedicated to chiromancy.