Inquisition

Referenced in 1 episode

Definition

A Catholic Church institution, active from the 12th century, that prosecuted heresy. Its sentencing of Cecco d'Ascoli in 1327 made him one of the first university scholars executed for astrology.

Related episodes

#177 - Astrological Nigromancy of Cecco d’Ascoli with Mat Hadfield & Brian Johnson

Glitch BottleJul 8, 2026

Mat Hadfield and Brian Johnson discuss their new Hadean Press book, An Exposition upon The Sphere of the Cosmos: The Astrological Nigromancy of Cecco d'Ascoli. The conversation explores why the Inquisition burned this Italian university lecturer alive in 1327, and how his teaching on astrological fatalism collided with Church doctrine. They also explain the medieval magical system of the four Kings of the four cardinal directions and its links to the cardinal signs of the Zodiac.

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