Human Bodies, Heavenly Bodies, Sacred power

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.