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The history of astrology encompasses a great span of human history and many cultures. The belief in a connection between the cosmos and terrestial matters has also played an important part in human history. See also the main article on Astrology . OVERVIEW There are three main branches of astrology today, namely Western Astrology , Indian Or Jyotish Astrology , and Chinese Or East Asian Astrology . The study of astrology and the belief in it, as part of astronomy, is first found in a developed form among the ancient Babylonians ; and directly or indirectly through the Babylonians, it spread to other nations. It came to Greece about the middle of the 4th century B.C., and reached Rome before the advent of the Christian Era . In India and China , astronomy and astrology developed largely independently. With the introduction of Greek culture into Egypt , both astronomy and astrology were actively cultivated in the region of the Nile during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Astrology was further developed by the Arabs from the 7th to the 13th Century , and in the Europe of the 14th and 15th Centuries astrologers were dominating influences at court. The Mayans of Central America and the Aztecs also developed their own form of astrology. Other Cultures and Civilizations around the World also developed their own astrological systems independently. The terms Astrology And Astronomy have long been closely related. An Astrologer is an interpreter of celestial phenomena, while an Astronomer is a predictor of celestial phenomena. Astrology itself can be divided into two camps, comprised of "natural astrologers" (i.e. astronomers) who study the motions of the heavenly bodies, timing of Eclipse s, etc. "Judicial astrologers" study the supposed correlations between the positions of various celestial objects and the affairs of human beings. During the last century as astrology gained widespread popularity with the general public, its detractors became increasingly more vocal against it. ASTROLOGY IN BABYLONIA See Also: Babylonian astrology The history of astrology can now be traced back to ancient Babylonia , and indeed to the earliest phases of Babylonian history, in the third millennium B.C. In Babylonia as well as in Assyria as a direct offshoot of Sumerian culture (or in general the "Mesopotamian" culture), Astrology takes its place in the official Cult as one of the two chief means at the disposal of the Priests (who were called ''bare'' or "inspectors") for ascertaining the will and intention of the Gods , the other being through the inspection of the Liver of the sacrificial animal (see Omen ). The earliest extant Babylonian Astrology text is the Enuma Anu Enlil (literally meaning "When the gods Anu and Enlil..."), dating back to 1600 B.C. This text describes various astronomical omens and their application to national and political affairs. For example, a segment of the text says: "If in Nisannu the sunrise appears sprinkled with blood, battles {Link without Title} ." Nisannu is the Babylonian month corresponding to March/April in the Western calendar. Theory of Divine government Just as the sacrificial method of Divination rested on a well-defined theory - to wit, that the liver was the seat of the Soul of the animal and that the deity in accepting the Sacrifice identified himself with the animal, whose "soul" was thus placed in complete accord with that of the god and therefore reflected the mind and will of the god - so astrology is sometimes purported to be based on a theory of divine government of the world. Starting with the indisputable fact that man's life and happiness are largely dependent upon phenomena in the heavens, that the fertility of the soil is dependent upon the sun shining in the heavens as well as upon the rains that come from heaven; and that, on the other hand, the mischief and damage done by storms and floods (both of which the Euphratean Valley was almost regularly subject to), were to be traced likewise to the heavens - the conclusion was drawn that all the great gods had their seats in the heavens. In that early age of culture known as the " Nomadic " stage, which under normal conditions precedes the " Agricultural " stage, the moon cult is even more prominent than Sun Worship , and with the moon and sun cults thus furnished by the "popular" faith, it was a natural step for the priests, who correspond to the "scientists" of a later day, to perfect a theory of a complete accord between phenomena observed in the heavens and occurrences on earth. Gods and planets Of the Planets five were recognized - Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Mars - to name them in the order in which they appear in the older Cuneiform literature; in later texts Mercury and Saturn change places. These five planets were identified with the gods of the Babylonian pantheon as follows:
The movements of the Sun , Moon and five Planets were regarded as representing the activity of the five gods in question, together with the moon-god Sin and the sun-god Shamash , in preparing the occurrences on earth. If, therefore, one could correctly read and interpret the activity of these powers, one knew what the Gods were aiming to bring about. The influence of Babylonian planetary lore appears also in the assignment of the Days Of The Week to the planets, for example Sunday, assigned to the sun, and Saturday, the day of Saturn. System of interpretation The Babylonian Priests accordingly applied themselves to the task of perfecting a system of interpretation of the phenomena to be observed in the Heavens , and it was natural that the system was extended from the Moon , Sun and five Planets to the more prominent and recognizable fixed Stars . The interpretations themselves were based (as in the case of Divination through the liver) chiefly on two factors:
Thus, if on a certain occasion, the rise of the new moon in a cloudy sky was followed by victory over an enemy or by abundant rain, the sign in question was thus proved to be a favourable one and its recurrence would thenceforth be regarded as a Omen for good fortune of some kind to follow. On the other hand, the appearance of the new moon earlier than was expected was regarded as unfavourable, as it was believed that anything appearing prematurely suggested an unfavourable occurrence. In this way a mass of traditional interpretation of all kinds of observed phenomena was gathered, and once gathered became a guide to the priests for all times. Limitations of early knowledge Astrology in its earliest stage was marked by three characteristics:
ASTROLOGY IN INDIA See Also: Vedic astrology , early 19th century]] Indian astrology is Vedic in origin and has been part of Hindu teachings for thousands of years. Derek and Julia Parker, "The New Complete Astrologer" Crescent Books, New York 1991 The religious compilations known as Vedas have six supplementary appendixes known as the Vedangas, limbs of the Vedas. Of these the Jyotish Vedanga forms the foundations of Indian Astrology . From India, Vedic astrology spread westward to the Persians and the Babylonians, and from them to the Greeks and Romans Cheiro's Numerology and Astrology: The Book of Fate and Fortune (Paperback) by "Cheiro" . As a result of the Islamic conquest Arabs gained access to astrology from both the Greek Hellenistic astrologers on one side (the West) and Vedic astrology from India on the other side (the East). ASTROLOGY IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST The history of astrology in Europe and the Middle East are inextricably linked, with each region contributing to astrologial theories and continually influencing each other over time. Bouché-Leclercq , Cumont and Boll hold that the middle of the 4th century B.C. is when Babylonian astrology began to firmly enter western culture. This spread of astrology was concomitant with the rise of a genuine scientific phase of Astronomy in Babylonia itself. This may have weakened to some extent the hold that astrology had on the priests and the people. Another factor leading to the decline of the old faith in the Euphrates Valley may have been the advent of the Persians , who brought with them a Religion which differed markedly from the Babylonian-Assyrian Polytheism (see Zoroastrianism ). The spread of Astrology beyond Babylonia is thus concomitant with the rise of a truly scientific Astronomy in Babylonia itself, which in turn is due to the intellectual impulse afforded by the contact with new forms of culture from both the East and the West. In the hands of the Greeks and of the Egyptians both Astrology and Astronomy were carried far beyond the limits attained by the Babylonians . Egyptian astrology .]] See Also: Egyptian astrology Astrology has a very ancient history in Egypt, with star charts found there going back to 4,200BC. Derek and Julia Parker, "The New Compleat Astrologer", Crescent Books, New York, 1990 Egyptian astrology was dominated by the combination of the sun and the dog-star Sirius, as it foretold when in the year the Nile river would flood, bringing fertility and life to what was otherwise barren desert. The pyramids of Egypt also reflect the importance given to astrology, as they are oriented towards the North pole of the sky and had a dual role as burial place for the pharoahs and astrological calculators. Various pharoahs took an interest in astrology. Rameses II or Ozymandias as he was traditionally better known, was credited with fixing the positions of the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Some zodiac signs are said to be Egyptian in origin, including Aries, Leo, and possibly Gemini; and the first examples of the zodiac as we know it today appeared in Egypt. Hellenistic astrology See Also: Hellenistic astrology After the occupation by Alexander the Great in 332BC, Egypt came under Greek rule and influence, and it was in Alexandrian Egypt where Horoscopic Astrology first appeared. The endeavour to trace the Horoscope of the individual from the position of the planets and stars at the time of birth represents the most significant contribution of the Greeks to astrology. This system can be labeled as "horoscopic astrology" because it employed the use of the ascendant, otherwise known as the ''horoskopos'' in Greek. Although developed under Hellenistic rule, it was in large measure derived from the teachings of the Babylonian s and the Egyptian s. The system was carried to such a degree of perfection that later ages made but few additions of an essential character to the genethlialogy or drawing up of the individual Horoscope by the Greek astrologers. Particularly important in the development of horoscopic astrology was the astrologer and astronomer Ptolemy , whose work, the ''Tetrabiblos'' laid the basis of the Western astrological tradition. Under the Greeks and Ptolemy in particular, the planets, Houses, and Signs of the zodiac were rationalized and their function set down in a way that has changed little to the present day. Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid, p16, 1990 Ptolemy's work on astronomy was also the basis of Western teachings on the subject for the next 1,300 years. To the Greek astronomer Hipparchus belongs the credit of the discovery (c. 130 B.C.) of the theory of the Precession Of The Equinoxes , for a knowledge of which among the Babylonians we find no definite proof; but such a single advancement in pure science did not prevent the Greeks from developing in a most elaborate manner the theory of the influence of the planets upon the fate of the individual. Babylonia or Chaldea was so identified with astrology that " Chaldaean wisdom" became among Greeks and Romans the synonym of Divination through the Planets and Stars , and it is perhaps not surprising that in the course of time to be known as a "Chaldaean" carried with it frequently the suspicion of charlatanry and of more or less willful deception. Astrology and the sciences played an important part in Medieval Medicine ; most educated physicians were trained in at least the basics of astrology to use in their practice.]] Partly in further development of views unfolded in , Chemistry , Zoology , Mineralogy , Anatomy and Medicine . Colours , Metals , Stones , Plants , Drugs and Animal life of all kinds were each associated with one or another of the Planets and placed under their Rulership . By this curious process of combination, the entire realm of the Natural Sciences was translated into the language of Astrology with the single avowed purpose of seeing in all phenomena signs indicative of what the future had in store. The Fate of the Individual , as that feature of the future which had a supreme interest, led to the association of the Planets with different parts of the Body and so with Medicine . Here, too, we find various systems devised, in part representing the views of different schools, in part reflecting advancing conceptions regarding the functions of the organs in man and animals. From the planets the same association of ideas was applied to the constellations of the Zodiac . The Zodiac came to be regarded as the prototype of the Human Body , the different parts of which all had their corresponding section in the zodiac itself. The head was placed in the first sign of the zodiac, Aries , the Ram; and the feet in the last sign, Pisces , the Fishes. Between these two extremes the other parts and organs of the body were distributed among the remaining signs of the zodiac. In later phases of astrology the signs of the zodiac are sometimes placed on a par with the planets themselves, so far as their importance for the individual Horoscope is concerned. With Human Anatomy thus connected with the planets, with constellations, and with single stars, medicine became an integral part of astrology. Diseases and disturbances of the ordinary functions of the organs were attributed to the influences of planets and explained as due to conditions observed in a constellation or in the position of a star. Arab and Persian Astrology See Also: Arab and Persian astrology The system was taken up almost in its entirety by the Arab astrologers. From their great centres of learning in Damascus and Baghdad they revived the learning of the ancient Greeks in astronomy, astrology, mathematics and medicine which Europe had forgotten and developed it immensely. Their knowledge was then re-imported into Europe, helping to start the Renaissance. Albumasur was the greatest of the Arab astrologers, whose work 'Introductorium in Astronomiam' was later highly influential in Europe. Also important was Al Khwarizmi , the Persian mathematician, astronomer, astrologer and geographer, who is considered to be the father of Algebra and the Algorithm . The Arabs greatly increased the knowledge of astronomy, naming many of the Stars for the first time, such as Aldebaran, Altair, Betelgeuse, Rigel and Vega. In astrology they discovered a system still known as Arabic Parts , which accorded a significance to the difference or "part" between the ascendant and each planet. The Arabs were also the first to speak of favourable and unfavourable indications in astrology, instead of categorical events fated to happen. Astrology in Medieval and Renaissance Europe Richard Of Wallingford is shown measuring an Equatorium with a pair of compasses in this 14th century work]] Astrology became embodied in the Kabbalistic lore of Jew s and Christian s, and through these and other channels came to be the substance of the Astrology of the Middle Ages . In time this would lead to Church prelates and Protestant princes using the services of astrologers. This system was referred to as "judicial astrology", and its practitioners believed that the position of heavenly bodies influenced the affairs of mankind. It is now usually regarded as a pseudo-science. At the time, however, it was placed on a similar footing of equality and esteem with "natural astrology", the latter name for the study of the motions and phenomena of the heavenly bodies and their effect on the weather. Article on astrology from the Catholic Encyclopaedia, 1907 edition |
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