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Early modern prints depicting parhelia (sun dogs / three suns) / looking for additional examples (1500–1800)

Hi all,

I’m currently working on a thesis on the depiction of parhelia (sun dogs / “mock suns”) in early modern prints, especially cases where the phenomenon is visualised as three suns in the sky.

So far, I’ve been able to gather a small corpus including:

  • German broadsheets and Wunderzeichen pamphlets
  • Illustrations from Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon, Die Wickiana and Wunderwerck Oder Gottes vnergründtliches Vorbildren
  • Several folios from the Augsburger Wunderzeichenbuch (1502–1549 range)
  • Early observational diagrams (e.g. Zürich 1528, Erfurt 1575)

I’m particularly interested in visual (not just textual) representations of three suns/parhelia in printed material between roughly 1500–1800.

If anyone has come across lesser-known broadsheets, regional prints, or archival material depicting this phenomenon, I’d really appreciate any pointers.Early modern prints depicting parhelia (sun dogs / “three suns”) — looking for additional examples (1500–1800)

Thanks in advance!

Posted Apr 29, 2026, 7:08 AM UTC

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