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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