Camille Flammarion, Urania; translated by Augusta Rice Stetson, undated Boston illustrated edition
Urania
Flammarion introduces Urania through a young observer’s attachment to a statue at the Paris Observatory. The narrator identifies her as the Muse of astronomy and describes her beside an astronomical clock, with a compass and a small telescope. Changing light seems to animate the figure. As he falls asleep, she speaks and invites him into the sky. In the following chapter she accompanies his imagined ascent, pointing out Earth as its familiar regions diminish. This portrayal brings the precision of astronomical instruments together with desire, imagination and a widening sense of scale.
Also known as The Heavenly Muse
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In the sources
Muse and astronomical attributes
DocumentedThe narrator calls Urania the Muse of astronomy. His description of the clock and statue gives her a compass and a small telescope.
A guide in a dream
DocumentedThe invitation to enter the sky occurs as the narrator falls asleep. Urania then accompanies him beyond the observatory and points out the world below.
Context & interpretation
Urania as portrayed in the opening two chapters of Flammarion’s illustrated English translation. This is not a general survey of the ancient Muse or independent verification of the narrative’s astronomical and supernatural claims.
Original passages
Source 1
Urania
one of the nine Muses who presided over astronomyOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Part First, “A Dream of Youth”, unnumbered opening before printed p. 10
Actual Reader page visually inspected against this edition. The citation documents Flammarion’s literary portrayal, not independent evidence of supernatural events or the historical object.
- Edition
- IMJ-0251-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0251-E001-P0008
- Original scan leaf
- 13
- Recorded leaf number
- 13
- Current Reader position
- 8
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Urania
by the aid of a compassOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Part First, “A Dream of Youth”, printed p. 12
Actual Reader page visually inspected against this edition. The citation documents Flammarion’s literary portrayal, not independent evidence of supernatural events or the historical object.
- Edition
- IMJ-0251-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0251-E001-P0011
- Original scan leaf
- 16
- Recorded leaf number
- 16
- Current Reader position
- 11
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 3
Urania
telescopeOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Part First, “A Dream of Youth”, printed p. 13
Actual Reader page visually inspected against this edition. The citation documents Flammarion’s literary portrayal, not independent evidence of supernatural events or the historical object.
- Edition
- IMJ-0251-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0251-E001-P0012
- Original scan leaf
- 17
- Recorded leaf number
- 17
- Current Reader position
- 12
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 4
Urania
come up into the skyOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Part First, “A Dream of Youth”, printed p. 17
Actual Reader page visually inspected against this edition. The citation documents Flammarion’s literary portrayal, not independent evidence of supernatural events or the historical object.
- Edition
- IMJ-0251-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0251-E001-P0016
- Original scan leaf
- 21
- Recorded leaf number
- 21
- Current Reader position
- 16
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 5
Urania
Urania was with meOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Part First, “Unknown Humanities”, opening before printed p. 19
Actual Reader page visually inspected against this edition. The citation documents Flammarion’s literary portrayal, not independent evidence of supernatural events or the historical object.
- Edition
- IMJ-0251-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0251-E001-P0017
- Original scan leaf
- 22
- Recorded leaf number
- 22
- Current Reader position
- 17
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 6
Urania
How very small it all is!Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Part First, “Unknown Humanities”, printed p. 19
Actual Reader page visually inspected against this edition. The citation documents Flammarion’s literary portrayal, not independent evidence of supernatural events or the historical object.
- Edition
- IMJ-0251-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0251-E001-P0018
- Original scan leaf
- 23
- Recorded leaf number
- 23
- Current Reader position
- 18
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
