Page - 59 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 07/01

Born under a Lucky Star | 59www.jrfm.eu 2021, 7/1, 45–65 body parts are assigned the 12 zodiac signs.36 This tradition is known from Christian and Jewish sources from the 13th century onwards and is called “Zodiac Man” (fig. 3). The image had a medical function, related to determining the correct time for bloodletting at the respective parts of the body. For this purpose, the zodi- ac signs were often assigned to designated parts of the body as follows: Aries to the head, Taurus to the neck, Gemini to the shoulders or arms, Cancer to the chest, Leo to the heart, Virgo to the stomach or generally the abdomen, Libra to the kidneys or the pelvis, Scorpio to the genitals, Sagittarius to the thighs, Capricorn to the knees, Aquarius to the calves, and Pisces to the feet. 36 See Hübner 2013. Fig. 3: Printer: Itzig ben Löb Buchbinder, A 133, print with woodcut, size unknown, 1784/5, Landesarchiv Speyer. (© Photo: Prof. Andreas Lehnardt)