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image credit: Chiromantia (1448)
A Doctor Who Studied the Occult
Johannes Hartlieb (about 1400–1468) worked as a doctor and writer at the court of Duke Albrecht III in Munich, Germany. He studied medicine in Italy but also had a deep interest in old books, magic, and ways people tried to tell the future. He was one of the first Germans to write about palm reading in his own language.
The First Palm Reading Book in GermanIn 1448, Hartlieb wrote a book called Chiromantia. It was the first known book about palm reading written in German, instead of Latin or Greek. He wrote it for the duke’s wife, Anna von Braunschweig, to explain how to read hands.
The book had 44 drawings. Little scrolls in the drawings explained what each line or mark meant. Hartlieb said the hand could show things about a person’s character, future, and even their luck in love or travel.
Old Ideas, New LanguageHartlieb’s ideas came from older Greek and Arabic traditions. He believed that palm reading was part of nature and science—not just magic. By writing clearly and adding pictures, he made palmistry easier to understand for everyday people.
A Book That Survived the CenturiesAlthough the book was written in 1448, the only copies we have today were printed around 1480, probably in Augsburg. These rare books show how important Hartlieb’s work was. He helped bring palm reading to a new audience in a new language.
Why It MattersJohannes Hartlieb made palmistry easier to learn and more respected. He used both science and pictures to explain how the hand could reveal someone’s destiny. His book was a big step in the history of palm reading—and it still matters today.
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