Fig. 6

Top, Fludd’s scale that intends to depict the whole of the universe (Fludd 1617–1621: 5). In the center of the spheres, the “ape of nature” (the human knowledge seeker) is represented holding a compass and globe in his hands (right, bottom). One of the ape’s hands is chained by “mother” nature (the woman) whose hand in turn is chained by God (left, bottom). That man is depicted by an ape, is without any connection to present evolutionary theory. Under the globe upon which the ape sits, the spheres hierarchically represent, from core to outer spheres, the different human arts, the elements, plants, animals, the celestial bodies, and the angels. God stands outside and above creation. The rest of the image is filled with examples of the different spheres. Homo is depicted on the left