Patere and formelle in Medieval Venice: towards an astronomical reading

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility that patere and formelle, characteristic decorative elements of medieval Venetian architecture, may represent stars and constellations: their arrangements on the facades of religious and civil buildings would have had the purpose of favouring the traveller’s geolocation, conveying simple messages such as 'You are facing north’, ‘You are facing east’, to an audience generally accustomed to reading the sun and stars for orientation. Stars and constellations are depicted not only in the Western way, but also according to iconographies of different geographic areas, particularly from the Near and Middle East