The Seven Planets: Venus

Engraving, part of a set of seven oval engravings illustrating the seven planets, created by Etienne Delaune in 1575. Each print contains an allegorical representation of one of the seven planets, made up of the god that presides each planet, sitting on clouds and endowed with their traditional attributes, with one or two astrological signs representing the planet being, and the corresponding symbols for each planet, which are also chemical symbols.




In this engraving, Venus is represented with a bow and quiver on her back, her right hand holding an arrow, her attribute, with a flaming tip, and posing the index finger of her left hand on a flaming heart, another of her attributes. On the left is a bull, representing Taurus, flanked above by its symbol; in the center, above the tip of Venus' arrow, is a balance, representing Libra, with its symbol. These two signs are, respectively, the 'day house' and 'night house' of the planet. Behind the head of the goddess is the symbol for the planet, which is also a chemical symbol for copper.