A Mathematics Latin textbook that was published in 1716 interestingly shows a UFO emerging from the clouds on the cover.
The UFO looks very similar to the reported unidentified flying objects above the Earth. The disc-shaped object is seen above rough seas and below the clouds that produce lightning. The book titled “Liber De Coloribus Coeli, Accedit Oratio Inauguralis De Deo Mathematicorum Principe,” (Amazon link) is written by Johann Caspar Funck.
The book has gained attention after it was republished on Google Books.
Writer Reid Moore shared his findings and speculated the disk shape on the cover is a UFO.
Legends of UFOs started even before the flying saucer stuff became popular.
In the early 20th century, mysterious airships spotted over Britain even prompted Winston Churchill to order a probe.
Moore wrote in his blog that the illustration depicts a classic UFO, and the similarity of it to the current consensus of flying objects makes it even more interesting. He pointed out particularly the rounded shape hovering in a dramatic effect – behind storm clouds and propelled by an electrical phenomenon.
Moore is aware that flying machines have been depicted for centuries in art. However, he still considers the UFO on the book cover unusual considering the 300-year-old date.
The image on the book cover may be the proof that flying saucer UFOs have been here on Earth since the early 1700s or at very least, it is evidence that some people in that time seem to have thought flying saucers visiting Earth, according to Moore.
It simply appears to me, since the man wasa Theologian, a religious sort, he was simply pointing to the rough seas, seeing the lightening strikes from the clouds as not the sailor’s best friend whereas the Sun is. Quite simple and quaint. Not a good example of any kind of UFO imo. “Defender Benign” is saying the Sun is our friend and defender.
Just read the Psalm given:(vulgate count) “Truth has been borne out of the earth, and justice looks (down) from heaven” So the supposed UFO is obviously a means of depicting heavenly justice in this image.
Psalm 84, verse 12 is written above the object. The text of this psalm is:
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
This leaves two possibilities:
The sun-shield may be no more than a symbolic representation of this psalm
or
Having seen an a bright disc shaped object the author may have looked for a religious explanation.
just read the inscription arround the “Ufo” This is the explanation:
Psalm 84:11-12New International Version (NIV)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
The psalm given refers to the Latin Vulgate, as all latin books of that time do. In this section of the book of psalms the vulgate count differs from the standard chapter count by one number. Here also the verse number is different by one: vs. 11 in our bibles. The Septuagint reads: (here it is verse 11) Truth has sprung out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven. King James reads the same: 85,11 having “shall look down”. Below the sun’s shield in the image it reads “I will protect in a benign (manner).
Here’s the link to an pdf edition of the vulgate, so everyone can check for themselves that PS 84,12 does not refer to the number and verse in modern bibles: wilbourhall.org/pdfs/vulgate.pdf page 611
Wow I’m in church!