The Ptolemaic Zodiac Project

No worries! For each constellation I will prepare an image with the stars already rendered in their appropriate positions. You can then trace or use this in some other fashion to create your art on top of this. Just remember to make sure the stars are still represented.

Please Email your submissions to submissions@ptolemaiczodiac.net. Please include your SCA name, title, local group, kingdom, a photograph of yourself, and any social media or website you would like included as well.

Submitted work will be displayed on this website with proper attribution and links to any social media or websites the creator would like. If other sources ask to display any of the work, they will be referred to the original creator for permission.

Please do! Part of the intent behind this project is to help make the recognition of the history of astronomy more widespread in the SCA. By showing off your work in other places, you are helping with that goal!

I have chosen to start with the zodiac constellations for 2 reasons:

1. One of the focuses of this project is to make historic astronomy more accessible in the SCA and tying into a portion that connects to astrology is likely to draw a wider audience.

2. Because of the historic importance of the zodiac, this offers more source material from which to draw inspiration.

Once this project completes the zodiac, we may continue into other constellations depending on interest.

There's plenty of other ways to study astronomy! In particular, I have done a lot of work with the mathematical models of Ptolemy as well as some observational astronomy. Both are detailed in my blog. There, I also have a post on several other spin-off projects that may be of interest.

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an international organization dedicated to re-creating pre-1600's history as it "should have been". In general, we are a historical re-creation group, but intentionally leave out some of the less desirable parts of history.

One of the aspects that I personally enjoy about it is that we are encouraged to understand the history by doing. This means that members often find ways to immerse themselves in the history by learning the skills directly instead of just reading about them. My own study of 2nd century astronomy and finding gaps in the research that I cannot close on my own (due to a distinct lack of artistic skill) is what inspired this project!

Absolutely! While this project was designed with members of the SCA in mind, anyone is welcome to submit.

And if you're not in the SCA, consider joining! While many people choose to become members and pay an annual due, it's not required although it gets you a discount at events. But participation at local meetings is usually free. If you're interested in finding your local group, I recommend starting by finding which kingdom you're in.