Lusus Naturae
Lusus Naturae
A general term for freaks or sports of nature, sometimes applied to the area of collecting stones and minerals that appear to contain pictures on their surfaces when cut and polished. Such pictures may appear as landscapes or even portraits, arising from the principle of duplication of shapes in nature, rather as if nature draws doodles and tests out forms. The resemblance of certain roots, notably mandrake (see mandragoras ), to human shape is a well-known example of this strange principle.
More From encyclopedia.com
Principle , PRINCIPLE
Something first in a certain order, upon which anything else follows. An order of before and after is found in many things and in different… Shape , shape / shāp/ • n. 1. the external form or appearance characteristic of someone or something; the outline of an area or figure: she liked the shape o… picture , pic·ture / ˈpikchər/ • n. a painting or drawing: draw a picture of a tree. ∎ a photograph: we were warned not to take pictures. ∎ a portrait: have he… natural , nat·u·ral / ˈnachərəl/ • adj. 1. existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind: carrots contain a natural antiseptic that fights b… Gem , gem (ornamental mineral or organic substance)
gem, commonly, a mineral or organic substance, cut and polished and used as an ornament. Gems also are… Ulisse Aldrovandi , ALDROVANDI, ULISSE (1522–1605). Bolognese naturalist and collector. Known as the "Bolognese Aristotle," Ulisse Aldrovandi belonged to the generation…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Lusus Naturae