Lycosthenes Collection

Woman hatching a baby from an egg she has incubated. Incident reported by the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus
527521 Woman hatching a baby from an egg she has incubated. Incident reported by the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus (c485-425 BC)

Ezekiels vision of chariot in sky c. 614 BC. Bible Ezekiel II: 9. One modern explanation
Ezekiels vision of chariot in sky c.614 BC. Bible Ezekiel II:9. One modern explanation is that Ezekiel, on of four great Hebrew prophets, observed parhelia (mock suns)

HEADLESS MAN, 1557. Woodcut from the Prodigiorum of Conrad Lycosthenes, 1557

Rain of frogs recorded in 1355. From Conrad Lycosthenes Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon, Basel, 1557. Woodcut

Moses striking the rock in the wilderness and producing water, 1557. From Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon by Conrad Lycosthenes. (Basel, 1557)

Moses delivering the Israelites from Egypt, 1557. The Hebrew prophet Moses, shown with horns of hair, leading the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage through the parted waters of the Red Sea

Isaac being saved from sacrifice, 1557. Isaac being saved from being sacrificed to God by his father Abraham by the appearance of a ram caught in a thicket

Comet of 1456 (Halley), 1557. The English astronomer, Edmond Halley (1656-1742) was the first to suggest that appearances of bright comets every 76 years were in fact sightings of the same comet

Jonah being spewed up by the whale, 1557. In the middle of the picture he is shown falling overboard and being swallowed. From Prodigiorum ac Ostentorum Chronicon by Conrad Lycosthenes. (Basel 1557)

Rain of frogs recorded in 1355 (1557). Accounts of deluges of frogs and fish date back to biblical times. The phenomenon ocurs when a waterspout or tornado passes over a body of water

The Ark of the Covenant, 1557. The Ark containing the two tablets of the Law given by God to Moses, sacred to the Jews. From Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon by Conrad Lycosthenes. (Basel, 1557)

CRANE-HEADED MAN, 1557. Woodcut from the Prodigiorum of Conrad Lycosthenes, 1557

MONSTER, 1557. Large-eared man. Woodcut from the Prodigiorum of Conrad Lycosthenes, 1557

Moses striking the rock in the wilderness and producing water. Woodcut from Conrad Lycosthenes Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon, Basel, 1557

Moses, shown as so often with horns of hair, leading the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. From Conrad Lycosthenes Prodigiorum ac Ostentorum chronicon Conrad Lycosthenes (Basel 1557)

Isaac being saved from sacrifice by Abraham by appearance of ram caught in the thicket. From Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon Conrad Lycosthenes (Basel 1557). Woodcut

Comet of 1546 (Halley). At this appearance the comet was excommunicated by Pope Calixtus III. From Conrad Lycosthenes Prodigioum ac ostentorum chronicon Basle 1557. Woodcut

1557 Lycosthene 1492 Einsisheim meteorite
The discovery of the Einsisheim meteorite (Alsace) in 1492. Woodcut with early handcolouring from a page of Conrad Lycosthenes (Chronicle of Prodigies and Omens)

1557 Lycosthenes rain of stones meteorite
A deadly shower of stones, comet, and discovery of Einsisheim meteorite (Alsace) 1492. Woodcut with early handcolouring from a page of Conrad Lycosthenes (Chronicle of Prodigies and Omens)

Conrad Wolffhart
CONRAD WOLFFHART Swiss churchman and philologist, known as LYCOSTHENES, whose encyclopedic book on prodigies is a classic of its kind

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"Lycosthenes: A Fascinating Chronicle of Extraordinary Phenomena" Step into the world of Conrad Lycosthenes, a renowned 16th-century scholar and author whose works captivated readers with their astonishing depictions. In his remarkable book, Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon (Chronicle of Prodigies and Portents), published in 1557, Lycosthenes unveiled a collection of extraordinary events that left people both bewildered and awe-inspired. Among these captivating accounts was Moses striking the rock in the wilderness, an event depicted vividly by Lycosthenes. The woodcut illustration portrays the miraculous moment when water gushed forth from the barren rock, quenching the thirst of thousands wandering through arid lands. It also chronicled Moses' heroic role in delivering the Israelites from Egypt. Through his meticulous storytelling and intricate woodcuts, he brought to life this epic tale of liberation and divine intervention. Another intriguing entry within Lycosthenes' chronicle is Isaac's salvation from sacrifice. With great attention to detail, he captured Abraham's hand poised mid-air as an angel intervenes at the last moment to spare Isaac's life. The celestial wonders were not overlooked either; one such phenomenon documented by Lycosthenes was Halley's Comet of 1456. His depiction showcased this rare astronomical event that mesmerized observers across continents for centuries. Intriguingly bizarre occurrences also found their place within Lycosthenes' work. One such example is Jonah being spewed up by a whale—an incredible tale immortalized through detailed engravings that conveyed both terror and wonder simultaneously. Curiously enough, even rainfalls took center stage in this compendium. Rainfall recorded as frogs falling from above in 1355 became part of Lycosthenes' collection—a testament to nature's enigmatic and unpredictable behavior.