astrology

Ghirardelli, a Franciscan monk living in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, wrote on a number of subjects now considered pseudo-sciences, including astrology and physiognomy ⁠—the notion that a person's character is revealed in their physical (especially facial) appearance. The theory goes back to Aristotle and even earlier, and it was revived with a shift of focus to the cranium in the 19th century before being soundly discredited. This copy belonged to the eminent physical anthropologist, Ales Hrdlicka who worked here at the Smithsonian.