Divination through the planets and stars October 15, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: advancement, ancient, astrology, astronomy, basis, charlatanry, deception, developing, divination, equinoxes, expression, fate, function, influence, knowledge, manner, planets, precession, proof, science, signs, stars, subject, suspicion, synonym, teachings, theory, wisdom, work, zodiac
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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. Ptolemy’s work on astronomy was also the basis of Western teachings on the subject for the next thirteen hundred years.
Around 130 B.C. another ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus created 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. Ancient Greeks identified Babylonia or Chaldea with astrology. The expression Chaldean 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 Chaldean carried with it frequently the suspicion of charlatanry and of more or less willful deception.
Development of horoscope astrology October 15, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: additions, ancient, ascendant, astrologers, astrological, astrology, astronomer, basis, birth, character, contribution, development, essential, horoscope, influence, measure, nation, occupation, perfection, planets, position, rule, significant, stars, system, teachings, trace, tradition, works
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So the question arises – what nation introduced ancient Europeans to astrology? Guys from our local funeral home directory are sure that it was no other but ancient Greeks. They say that it happened right after the occupation of Egypt by Alexander the Great. As you may know, in 332 B.C., Egypt came under Greek rule and influence, and it was in Alexandrian Egypt where horoscope astrology first appeared. The endeavor 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 horoscope 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 Babylonians and the Egyptians.
The system was carried to such a degree of perfection that later ages made but few additions of an essential character of drawing up of the individual horoscope by the Greek astrologers. Particularly important in the development of horoscope astrology was the astrologer and astronomer Ptolemy , whose works laid the basis of the Western astrological tradition.
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Position of heavenly bodies influenced the affairs of mankind October 15, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: affairs, astrologers, astrology, astronomers, astronomy, book, chiromancy, compliment, discoveries, false, famous, form, fortunes, history, horoscope, mankind, mathematicus, medieval, nature, position, predictions, reading, renaissance, sciences, sevices, stars, trouble, true, universe
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History of astrology. I just had to know what was going with astrology during Middle Ages. Well, Astrology became part of the Kabalistic lore of Jews and Christians, and came to be the substance of the astrology of the Middle Ages. Even church prelates and nobility were using astrologers’ services. And at that time everybody believed that the position of heavenly bodies influenced the affairs of mankind. In fact, astrology was placed on a similar footing of equality with astronomy and other sciences.
During the Middle Ages astrologer was proudly called “mathematicus”, which translated from Latin meant simply mathematician. During Middle Ages this term was used to denote a person proficient in astrology, astronomy, and mathematics. In those strange times astrologers were dominant by the terror they inspired, and by the martyrdom they endured when their predictions occasionally were either too true or too false. And the book “Liber Astronomicus” written by a couple of Italian astrologers who were famous in XIII century Europe was proclaimed to be the most important astrological work. To tell the truth, medieval and Renaissance astrologers did not give themselves the trouble of reading the stars, but contented themselves with telling fortunes by faces. They practiced chiromancy, and relied on afterwards drawing a horoscope to suit.
During the Renaissance, a new form of astrology evolved in which court astrologers would compliment their use of horoscopes with genuine discoveries about the nature of the universe as astronomers. How many of you know that Galileo Galilei, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, were themselves practicing astrologers? These guys overturned the old astrological order of the time.
The first examples of the zodiac October 15, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: ancient, archaeologists, astrology, burial, calculators, charts, combination, competition, desert, examples, historical, history, importance, interest, life, minds, origin, pharaohs, place, positions, pyramids, role, signs, sky, star, sun, zodiac
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History of ancient astrology. As far as I know, astrology of ancient Egyptians appeared slightly later in ancient Babylon. The outcome of this historical competition is still not clear, because the archaeologists still did not make up their minds. But we know, that astrology has a very ancient history in Egypt, with star charts found there going back to 4,200BC.
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 pharaohs and astrological calculators. Various pharaohs took an interest in astrology. Ramses 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. Anyways, the first examples of the zodiac as we know it today appeared in ancient Egypt.
How it progressed in the United States September 19, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: articles, astrological, astrology, attempt, books, columns, complex, concepts, contention, controversy, descriptions, factor, forecasts, interest, journalists, magazines, materials, modern, newspapers, period, points, popular, position, practice, public, readers, result, serious, sun, war, writings
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The serious and complex writings on astrological practice and concepts in America progressed into a new period of popular. Many complex astrological materials were simplified to attempt to carve a clear line through points of contention and controversy.
Great public interest in astrology made publishers realize that millions of readers were interested in astrological forecasts and the interest grew ever more intense with the advent of America’s entry into the First World War. The war heightened interest in astrology. Journalists began to write articles based on character descriptions and astrological forecasts were published in newspapers based on the one and only factor known to the public: the month and day of birth, as taken from the position of the Sun when a person is born. The result of this practice led to modern-day publishing of Sun-Sign astrology columns and expanded to some astrological books and magazines in second half of the twentieth century.
How it was in the beginning September 19, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: astrologer, astrological, astrology, celebrities, distribution, forecasts, horoscope, interest, journals, papers, popular, practice, precedent, readings, texts
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In the first half of twentieth century a great surge of popular interest in astrology took place in the US. A very popular astrologer Evangeline Adams from New York City helped quench the public’s thirst for astrology readings with many accurate forecasts. Adams was even arrested and charged with illegal fortunetelling in 1914. But the case was dismissed when Adams correctly read the horoscope of the judge’s son provided with just his birth date. Her acquittal set a precedent, establishing that astrologers can practice freely and was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
The wave of interest towards astrology even increased by wide distribution of astrological journals, text, papers, and textbooks throughout the United States. Astrologers became celebrities, like, for example, Alan Leo, Sepharial, Paul Cheisnard and Charles Carter.
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Mayan calendar and Mayan astrology September 19, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: ancient, astrologer, astrology, beginning, calendar, constellation, curious, cycle, evidence, horoscope, influence, life, mayan, movements, observatory, planets, priest, profession, ritual, rulers, solar, superstitions, system, victim, warfare, year, zodiac
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Ancient astrology. It is an interesting subject. Call me superstitious, but where do we turn in the times of crisis? Recently I read curious stuff about Mayan astrology. It turns out that the distinctive Mayan calendar and Mayan astrology have been in use in Meso-America from at least the 6th Century BC. There were two main calendars, one plotting the solar year of 365 days, which governed the planting of crops and other domestic matters; the other called the Tzolkin of 260 days, which governed ritual use. Each was linked to an elaborate astrological system to cover every facet of life.
On the fifth day after the birth of a boy, the Mayan astrologer-priests would cast his horoscope to see what his profession was to be: soldier, priest, civil servant or sacrificial victim. A 584 day Venus cycle was also maintained, which tracked the appearance and conjunctions of Venus. Planet Venus was seen as a generally inauspicious and baleful influence, and Mayan rulers often planned the beginning of warfare to coincide with when Venus rose. There is evidence that the Maya also tracked the movements of Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, and possessed a zodiac of some kind. The Mayan name for the constellation Scorpio was also ’scorpion’, isn’t it something?
There is evidence for other constellations being named after various beasts, but it remains unclear. The most famous Mayan astrological observatory still intact is the Caracol observatory in the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in modern day Mexico.
Influence of stars September 12, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: ancient, astrological, astrology, astronomy, belief, branches, connection, cosmos, crisis, cultures, history, human, influence, lives, matters, nations, report, research, science, stars, study, superstition, time
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While working on my research for funeral home directory, I started thinking more about the influence of stars, in general, and astrology on our lives. I know, what you are going to say – this is not a real science, it is a superstition, etc, etc. Well, a lot of people would agree with you and then in the time of crisis would check in privacy of their homes astrological reports. And I am not an exception, at least I admit this.
As you may well know, the history of astrology encompasses a great span of human history and many cultures. The belief in a connection between the cosmos and terrestrial matters has also played an important part in human history. Basically, there are three main independent branches of astrology: Western, Indian, and Chinese. The study of Western astrology and the belief in it, as part of astronomy, is 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.
Series of cryptic prophecies September 3, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: astrologer, astrologers, astrology, cryptic, events, famous, horoscope, popular, predictions, prophecies, publications, supporters
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The most famous predictions about European and world affairs were made by the astrologer Nostradamus. His claim to fame came after the publication in 1555 of his work Centuries. A book that represented a series of cryptic prophecies. So obscure are the predictions that they have been interpreted as relating to a great variety of events since, including the French and English Revolutions, and the World War 2.
Nostradamus became so popular that in 1556 he was summoned to the French court by queen Catherine de Medici and commissioned to draw up the horoscope of the royal children. She was one of his most staunch supporters. Later Nostradamus fell out of favor with many in the court and was accused of a witchcraft, but Catherine de Medici continued to support him and patronized him until his death.
Beyond Your Imagination 