The Oedipus Romanus; Or, An Attempt To Prove, From The Principles Of Reasoning Adopted By The Rt. Hon. Sir William Drummond, In His Oedipus Judaicus, That The Twelve Cæars Are The Twelve Signs Of The Zodiac. Addressed To The Higher And Literary Classes Of Society [Bound With] Episcopacy Considered, with reference to the Modern Popular Societies [Two works in one volume].

TOWNSEND, Rev. G. & A Member of the University of Cambridge.

Published by Printed By A.J. Valpy Tooke's Court Chancy Lane. Sold By J. Hatched 190 Picadilly. 1818 & 1819, London, 1818

About this Item

Hardcover. Octavo. 148pp (Oedipus Romanus) + 70pp (Episcopacy Considered). Full leather with gilt lettering & rules on spine & gilt borders on boards. All edges gilt. Marbled endpapers.A most curious work, inspired by the "Oedipus Judaicus" of Sir William Drummond who argued "that the antient Jews, like the other nations of antiquitiy, had their esoteric, and their exoteric doctrines" and that sections of the Old Testament were actually an allegorical interpretation of the astrological / astronomical beliefs and writings of the ancients. Townsend suggests that Drummond's methods of analysis can be equally well applied elsewhere, suggesting that "the Roman historians, Tacitus, Suetonius, &c., had their esoteric and exoteric doctrines: they are enigmatical writers, and concealed certain truths from the vulgar under the disguise of a most candid, and impartial statement of facts." In particular he suggest that the twelve Caesars are actually representations of the "twelve signs of the Zodiac" - a theory he explores in full in this work. In this volume "The Oedipus Romanus" is bound together with "Episcopacy Considered," a work that is anonymous save for the attribution to "A Member of the University of Cambridge." The "Episcopacy Considered, seems to be a relatively straightforward theological tract dealing with division within the Church which may well also be by Townsend. Curiously what seems to be the very same copy of this work (with both books bound together) is listed in Quaritch's catalogue No. 223 (1903) where the cataloguer suggests that the author of both volumes is "the same." Boards rubbed at edges and hinges, corners rounded, front hinge a little tender. Occasional mild foxing & spots to pages throughout, otherwise a solid, VG copy. Scarce.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1718356230893

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Oedipus Romanus; Or, An Attempt To Prove, From The Principles Of Reasoning Adopted By The Rt. Hon. Sir William Drummond, In His Oedipus Judaicus, That The Twelve Cæars Are The Twelve Signs Of The Zodiac. Addressed To The Higher And Literary Classes Of Society [Bound With] Episcopacy Considered, with reference to the Modern Popular Societies [Two works in one volume].
• Publisher: Printed By A.J. Valpy Tooke's Court Chancy Lane. Sold By J. Hatched 190 Picadilly. 1818 & 1819, London
• Publication Date: 1818
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good