Attached Paper Annual Meeting 2024

1666: AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE BEAST OF THE TAILED STAR

Abstract for Online Program Book (maximum 150 words)

In November 1666, an illustrated book arrived in Edirne, Turkey, captivating its Ottoman spectators with peculiar images, including an image of a hybrid monster that theologian Muḥammad bin ‘Abd al-Rasūl al-Barzanjī (1630-1691) documented in one of his works. A close examination of al-Barzanjī's description led to an intriguing discovery: the images were Western astronomical maps that illustrated the trajectory of two comets that appeared in the years 1664-65, printed in Polish astronomer Stanislaw Lubieniecki's (1623-1675) Theatrum Cometicum. The appearance of these comets sparked scientific enthusiasm and apocalyptic fears in European and Ottoman lands, as reactions spread through the communication paths of the “Republic of Letters,” a community of intellectuals who exchanged ideas via correspondence. By delving into the intersections of science, religion, culture, and imagination, this paper explores this cross-cultural “encounter” and seeks to unravel the adaptability of celestial narratives and their impact on diverse audiences.