Pagan symbols associated with the female anatomy in the Medici Chapel by Michelangelo Buonarroti

• Published in: Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 572 - 577
• Main Authors: De Campos, Deivis, Oxley Da Rocha, Andrea, De Oliveira Lemos, Rodrigo, Malysz, Tais, Antonio Bonatto‐Costa, João, Pereira Jotz, Geraldo, Pinto De Oliveira Junior, Lino, Da Costa Oliveira, Miriam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2017
• Subjects: Anatomy; Anatomy - history; Art works; Famous Persons; Female; female anatomy; Genitalia, Female - anatomy & histology; History, 16th Century; Humans; Medici Chapel; Memorials & monuments; Michelangelo; Pagan symbols; Renaissance period; Symbolism; Symbols; Medici Chapel; Pagan symbols; Michelangelo; female anatomy
• ISSN: 0897-3806; 1098-2353
• DOI: 10.1002/ca.22882

Numerous studies have shown that many works of art from the Renaissance period contain hidden symbols and codes that could have religious, mathematical and/or pagan significance and even anatomical allusions. In this context, the present manuscript offers new evidence that the great genius of anatomy, Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564), included pagan symbols associated with female anatomy in the funerary monuments found in the Sagrestia Nuova/Medici Chapel (1519–1533) in Florence, Italy. The interpretation of the symbols provided in this study will interest those with a passion for the history of anatomy. Clin. Anat. 30:572–577, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.