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Astrology
Background
History of astrology
History of astronomy
Astrology and astronomy
Traditions
Babylonian astrology
Arab and Persian astrology
Chinese astrology
Hellenistic astrology
Indian astrology
Sidereal astrology
Western astrology
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Branches of
horoscopic astrology
Natal astrology
Electional astrology
Horary astrology
Mundane astrology
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Astrologers
Astrological texts
Astrological writers
Astrology Portal
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The history of Astrology encompasses a great span of human history and many cultures. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Astronomy is the oldest of the Natural sciences dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, Mythological, and Astrological Astrology and astronomy are historically one and the same discipline ( Latin: astrologia) and were only gradually recognized as separate in western In Babylonia as well as in Assyria as a direct offshoot of Babylonian culture (or as we might also term it "Euphratean" culture Astrology takes its Persian Astrology has its roots in the Zend-Avesta parts of which are very similar to the Rig Veda The Chinese Zodiac is a 12 year cycle Each year of the 12 year cycle is named after one of the original 12 animals Hellenistic astrology is a tradition of Horoscopic astrology that was developed and practiced in Hellenistic Egypt and the Mediterranean, whose Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English Sidereal astrology is the system of Astrology used by some Western and all Jyotish astrologers who base their interpretation around the use of the Western astrology is the system of Astrology most popular in Western countries This is an incomplete list of the different traditions types systems methods applications and branches of Astrology. Horoscopic astrology is a form of Astrology which uses a Horoscope, a visual representation of the heavens for a specific moment in time in order to interpret the Natal astrology, also known as genethliacal astrology, is the system of Astrology based upon the concept that each individual's personality or path in life can Electional astrology is a branch found in most systems of astrology Horary astrology is an ancient branch of Horoscopic astrology by which an astrologer attempts to answer a question by constructing a Horoscope for the exact time Mundane astrology is the application of Astrology to world affairs and world events taking its name from the Latin word Mundus, meaning "the This is an incomplete list of the different traditions types systems methods applications and branches of Astrology. The belief in a connection between the cosmos and terrestrial matters has also played an important part in human history. See also the main article on astrology. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems

It should be noted that there is no credible evidence to back up assertions made by astrologists, and it is generally regarded as superstition and pseudoscience. Superstition ( Latin superstitio, literally "standing over" derived perhaps from standing in awe used in Latin as a unreasonable or excessive belief Pseudoscience is defined as a body of knowledge methodology belief or practice that is claimed to be Scientific or made to appear scientific but does not adhere to the [1], [2], [3]

Contents

Overview

There are three main branches of astrology today, namely Western astrology, Indian or Jyotish astrology, and Chinese or East Asian astrology. Western astrology is the system of Astrology most popular in Western countries Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English The Chinese Zodiac is a 12 year cycle Each year of the 12 year cycle is named after one of the original 12 animals The study of Western 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. Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital It came to Greece about the middle of the 4th century B. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία C. , reached Rome before the advent of the Christian era, and India with the Hellenistic Indo-Greek kingdoms. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries

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. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now The Nile (النيل, Ancient Egyptian iteru or Ḥ'pī, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing River This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC 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. Persian Astrology has its roots in the Zend-Avesta parts of which are very similar to the Rig Veda The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Mayans of Central America and the Aztecs also developed their own form of astrology. The Maya calendar is a system of distinct Calendars and Almanacs used by the Maya civilization of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and by The Aztec calendar is the Calendar system that was used by the Aztecs as well as other Pre-Columbian peoples of central Mexico. Other cultures and civilizations around the world also developed their own astrological systems independently. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place

The terms astrology and astronomy have long been closely related. Astrology and astronomy are historically one and the same discipline ( Latin: astrologia) and were only gradually recognized as separate in western An Astrologer is an interpreter of celestial phenomena, while an Astronomer is a predictor of celestial phenomena. An astrologer practices one or more forms of Astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a Horoscope for the time of an event such as a person's birth and interprets Historically Astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky while Astrophysics attempted to explain these 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 eclipses, etc. An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when one Celestial object moves into the shadow of another "Judicial astrologers" study the supposed correlations between the positions of various celestial objects and the affairs of human beings.

Astrology in the Middle East and Europe

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. Auguste Bouché-Leclercq (1842-1923 was a French historian He was celebrated for an exhaustive history of ancient Astrology and Magic. Franz-Valéry-Marie Cumont ( Aalst Belgium, January 3 1868 – Brussels, August 25 1947) was a Belgian archaeologist 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. Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study 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). layout and formatting it should ensure no clashes with the top of the infobox A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple Gods (usually assembled in a pantheon) together with associated Mythology and Rituals Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings

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. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study In the hands of the Greeks and of the Egyptians both astrology and astronomy were carried far beyond the limits attained by the Babylonians. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital

Babylonia

Fertile Crescent
myth series
Mark of the Palm
Mesopotamia
Levantine myth
Arabian myth
Yazidic religion
Mesopotamian mythology
Topics

Gods

Heroes

Monsters

Related
Main article: 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. Ancient Semitic religion spans the Polytheistic religions of the Semitic speaking peoples of the Ancient Near East. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding In the Levantine pantheon the Elohim are the sons of El the ancient of days (olam assembled on the divine holy place Mount Zephon ( Jebel This is a sub-article to Pre-Islamic Arabia Arabian mythology comprises the ancient Pre-Islamic beliefs of the Arabs Prior to the The Yazidi (also Yezidi, Kurdish: ئزیدی or Êzidî, Arabic: يزيدي or ايزدي Assyrian/Syriac: ܓ̰ܠܟܝܐ is a Mesopotamian mythology is the collective name given to Sumerian Akkadian Assyrian and Babylonian mythologies from the land between the Tigris In Sumerian mythology and later for Assyrians and Babylonians Anu (also An; (from Sumerian *An = sky heaven was a sky-god Mesopotamian mythology is the collective name given to Sumerian Akkadian Assyrian and Babylonian mythologies from the land between the Tigris Ishtar ( D IŠTAR 𒀭𒌋𒁯 is the Assyrian and Babylonian counterpart to the Sumerian Inanna and to The history of Astrology encompasses a great span of human history and many cultures In Babylonian mythology, Tiamat is the sea personified as a Goddess, and a monstrous embodiment of Primordial chaos. In Mesopotamian Mythology, the Tablet of Destinies (not as frequently misquoted in general works the 'Tablets of Destiny' was envisaged as a clay tablet inscribed The Anunna are the fifty great gods of Sumerian mythology. Some of them are associated with specific cities while others bear a strong resemblance to the functions of patron Zecharia Sitchin (born 1922 is an author of books promoting an Ancient astronaut theory of human origins Marduk ( Sumerian spelling in Akkadian: AMARUTU 𒀫 𒌓 "solar calf" perhaps from MERI Babylonian mythology is a set of stories depicting the activities of Babylonian deities, Heroes and Mythological creatures While these stories The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from Ancient Mesopotamia and is among the earliest known works of literary fiction. The story of a Great Flood (also known as the Deluge) sent by a Deity or deities to destroy Civilization as an act of Divine retribution is a The category life-death-rebirth deity also known as a "dying-and-rising" or "Resurrection" Deity is a convenient means of classifying the many divinities Gilgamesh was the son of Lugalbanda and the fifth king of Uruk (Early Dynastic II first dynasty of Uruk ruling circa 2600 BC according to the Sumerian king The Cedar Forest is the glorious realm of the gods of Mesopotamian mythology. First Tablet Enkidu is the quintessential savage person in the beginning of the epic The whole of his body was hairy and his (uncut locks were like a woman's or the hair of Therianthropy (from n therianthrope and adj therianthropic, part man and part beast from the Greek theríon, θηρίον meaning "wild Zu, or Anzu in Persian and Sumerian, (from An "heaven" and Zu "far" in the Sumerian language) is a The Sumerian word lama, which is rendered in Akkadian as lamassu, refers to a beneficient protective female deity Kingu, also spelled Qingu meaning unskilled laborer was a god in Babylonian mythology and — after the murder of his father — the consort of the goddess Tiamat A creation myth is a supernatural mytho-[[religion religious]] story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, Earth, life, and Resheph or Reshef (Canaanite/Hebrew sem-Latn ršp he רשף was a Canaanite deity of plague and war. In Mesopotamian mythology Namtar was a hellish Deity, god of death and the messenger of An, Ereshkigal, and Nergal. In Sumerian mythology, a me ( Sumerian, conventionally mɛ or ñe ( or parşu ( Akkadian) is Ma is a Sumerian word meaning "land" that in Sumerian mythology was also used to design the primeval land In Akkadian and Sumerian mythology, Irkalla (also Ir-Kalla, Irkalia) is the Hell -like Underworld from which there In the study of Mythology and Religion, the underworld (gr κάτω κόσμος) is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term Afterlife The Religions of the Ancient Near East were mostly Polytheistic, with some early examples of emerging Henotheism ( Atenism, early The Fertile Crescent is a Crescent -shaped region in the Middle East, originally incorporating the Levant and Ancient Mesopotamia, and often In Babylonia as well as in Assyria as a direct offshoot of Babylonian culture (or as we might also term it "Euphratean" culture Astrology takes its Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital 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). Early history The most Neolithic site in Assyria is at Tell Hassuna, the center of the Hassuna culture Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems This article discusses cult in the original and typically ancient sense of "religious practice" (cultus A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the Future, often signifying the advent of change

The earliest extant Babylonian astrology text is the Enuma Anu Enlil (literally meaning "When the gods Anu and Enlil. In Babylonia as well as in Assyria as a direct offshoot of Babylonian culture (or as we might also term it "Euphratean" culture Astrology takes its Enuma Anu Enlil (EAE (literal translation When the gods Anu and Enlil) (meaningful translation In the days of 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 [follow]. " 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. Divination (from Latin divinare "to be inspired by a god" related to Divine, Diva and Deus) is the attempt of ascertaining The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning "to make sacred" from Old French, from Latin sacrificium: sacr, "sacred"

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. Nomadic people, (from the νομάδες nomádes, "those who let pasture herds" also known as nomads, are communities of people that Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture "Sun god" redirects here For the Ramsey Lewis album see Sun Goddess (album.

Gods and planets

Detail of the Ishtar Gate in Babylon
Detail of the Ishtar Gate in Babylon

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. A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is

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. The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is Sin (Akkadian Sîn, Suen; Sumerian Nanna) is a Sumerian God in Mesopotamian mythology. For the Canaanite sun godess see Shemesh Shamash was the common Akkadian name of the Sun-god and god of justice in Babylonia If, therefore, one could correctly read and interpret the activity of these powers, one knew what the gods were aiming to bring about. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always

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. The names of the days of the week in various world languages can be classified as either numerical or planetary; however in either case the names of one or more days

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. Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is A star is a massive luminous ball of plasma. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the Energy on Earth

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. An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the Future, often signifying the advent of change 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:

Hellenistic astrology

Main article: Hellenistic astrology
Further information: Egyptian 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. Hellenistic astrology is a tradition of Horoscopic astrology that was developed and practiced in Hellenistic Egypt and the Mediterranean, whose Classical astrology in Egypt only developed after it was conquered by Alexander the Great. Horoscopic astrology is a form of Astrology which uses a Horoscope, a visual representation of the heavens for a specific moment in time in order to interpret the 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. In Astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun Moon planets the Astrological aspects, and sensitive angles 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 Babylonians and the Egyptians. Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now

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. In Astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun Moon planets the Astrological aspects, and sensitive angles 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. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca 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. [1] 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. Hipparchus ( Greek; ca 190 BC &ndash ca 120 BC was a Greek Astronomer, Geographer, and Mathematician of the Hellenistic 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. In Astronomy, Precession refers to the movement of the rotational axis of a body such as a planet with respect to Inertial space.

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. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Divination (from Latin divinare "to be inspired by a god" related to Divine, Diva and Deus) is the attempt of ascertaining A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is A star is a massive luminous ball of plasma. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the Energy on Earth

Astrology in Egypt developed under the Ptolemies after the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ'

Astrology and the sciences

Astrology played an important part in Medieval medicine; most educated physicians were trained in at least the basics of astrology to use in their practice.
Astrology played an important part in Medieval medicine; most educated physicians were trained in at least the basics of astrology to use in their practice. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems For contemporary medicine practiced outside of Europe see Islamic medicine, Byzantine medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda

Partly in further development of views unfolded in Babylonia, but chiefly under Greek influences, the scope of astrology was enlarged until it was brought into connection with practically all of the known sciences: botany, chemistry, zoology, mineralogy, anatomy and medicine. Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Botany, plant science(s, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of Biology and is the scientific study of plant Life Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties Zoology (from Greek ζῷον, zoon, "animal" + λόγος, " Logos " "knowledge" is the branch of Mineralogy is an Earth Science focused around the Chemistry, Crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of Minerals Anatomy (from the Greek anatomia, from ana separate apart from and temnein, to cut up cut open is a branch of Biology that is the consideration Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the 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. The M acro E xpansion T emplate A ttribute L anguage complements TAL, providing macros which allow the reuse of code across In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Medication, also referred to as medicine, can be loosely defined as any substance intended for use in the diagnosis cure mitigation treatment or prevention of disease A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is In Astrology, a planet's domicile (or less commonly house, not to be confused with the astrological house system) is the zodiac sign over which it

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. In Science, the term natural science refers to a naturalistic approach to the study of the Universe, which is understood as obeying rules or law of Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems

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 . Destiny refers to a predetermined course of events It may be conceived as a predetermined future whether in general or of an individual As commonly used, individual refers to a Person or to any specific object in a collection A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is With regard to living things, a body is the integral physical material of an individual Medical astrology (traditionally known as Iatromathematics) is an ancient medical system that associates various parts of the body diseases and drugs as under the influence 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 . Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the Constellations that divide the ecliptic 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. Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the Constellations that divide the ecliptic The human body is the entire physical and mental structure of a Human Organism. The head was placed in the first sign of the zodiac, Aries, the Ram; and the feet in the last sign, Pisces, the Fishes. Aries, the ram, is the first Astrological sign in the Zodiac. Pisces is the twelfth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, which originates from the Pisces constellation. 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. In Astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun Moon planets the Astrological aspects, and sensitive angles

With human anatomy thus connected with the planets, with constellations, and with single stars, medicine became an integral part of astrology. Human anatomy, which with physiology and biochemistry is a complementary basic medical science is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the adult Human body 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

Main article: Arab and Persian astrology

The system was taken up almost in its entirety by the Arab astrologers. Persian Astrology has its roots in the Zend-Avesta parts of which are very similar to the Rig Veda The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding 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. Ja'far ibn Muḥammad Abū Ma'shar al-Balkhī ( 10 August 787 in Balkh, Afghanistan &ndash 9 March 886 in al-Wasit Also important was Al Khwarizmi , the Persian mathematician, astronomer, astrologer and geographer, who is considered to be the father of algebra and the algorithm. Algebra is a branch of Mathematics concerning the study of structure, relation, and Quantity. In Mathematics, Computing, Linguistics and related subjects an algorithm is a sequence of finite instructions often used for Calculation 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. This is a list of traditional names for Stars mostly derived from Arabic and Latin 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. In Astrology, the Arabian/Arabic parts or lots are constructed points based on mathematical calculations of three horoscopic entities such as 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

Astrologer-astronomer Richard of Wallingford is shown measuring an equatorium with a pair of compasses in this 14th century work
Astrologer-astronomer 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 Jews and Christians,[2] and through these and other channels came to be the substance of the astrology of the Middle Ages. Astrology and astronomy are historically one and the same discipline ( Latin: astrologia) and were only gradually recognized as separate in western For the Constable of Wallingford Castle see Richard of Wallingford (constable. An equitorium (plural equitoria) was an astronomical calculating instrument. See also Jewish views of astrology Note This article does not describe normative Judaism as practiced by the majority of Jewish PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems 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. [3]

During the Middle Ages astrologers were called mathematici. Historically the term mathematicus[4][5][6] was used to denote a person proficient in astrology, astronomy, and mathematics. Inasmuch as some practice of medicine was based to some extent on astrology, physicians learned some mathematics and astrology. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the A physician, medical practitioner or medical doctor who practices Medicine, and is concerned with maintaining or restoring human Health Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and

In the XIII century, Johannes de Sacrobosco (c. Johannes de Sacrobosco or Sacro Bosco ( John of Holywood, c 1195 &ndash c 1195 - 1256) and Guido Bonatti from Forlì (Italy) were the most famous astronomers and astrologers in Great Britain (the first) and in Europe (the second): the book Liber Astronomicus by Bonatti was reputed "the most important astrological work produced in Latin in the 13th century" (Lynn Thorndike). Guido Bonatti from Forlì (d between 1296 and 1300 was a famous Italian astronomer and astrologer. Forlì ( Latin: Forum Livii) is a Comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy famed as the birthplace of the great painter Melozzo da Forlì Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Lynn Thorndike (born 1882 in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA died 1965 was an American historian of medieval science and Alchemy.

Jerome Cardan (1501-1576) hated Martin Luther, and so changed his birthday in order to give him an unfavourable horoscope. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer In Astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun Moon planets the Astrological aspects, and sensitive angles In Cardan's times, as in those of Augustus, it was a common practice for men to conceal the day and hour of their birth, till, like Augustus, they found a complaisant astrologer. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was

During the Renaissance, a form of "scientific astrology" evolved in which court astrologers would compliment their use of horoscopes with genuine discoveries about the nature of the universe. Many individuals now credited with having overturned the old astrological order, such as Galileo Galilei, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, were themselves practising astrologers. Galileo Galilei (15 February 1564 &ndash 8 January 1642 was a Tuscan ( Italian) Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, and Philosopher Tycho Brahe, born Tyge Ottesen Brahe ( December 14 1546 &ndash October 24 1601) was a Danish nobleman Johannes Kepler (ˈkɛplɚ ( December 27 1571 &ndash November 15 1630) was a German Mathematician, Astronomer

But, as a general rule, medieval and Renaissance astrologers did not give themselves the trouble of reading the stars, but contented themselves with telling fortunes by faces. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere They practised chiromancy (also known as palmistry), and relied on afterwards drawing a horoscope to suit. Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir (χειρ “hand” manteia (μαντεία “ Divination ” is the art of characterization

As physiognomists (see physiognomy) their talent was undoubted, and according to Lucilio Vanini there was no need to mount to the house-top to cast a nativity. Physiognomy ( Gk physis, nature and gnomon, judge interpreter is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance especially Lucilio Vanini, or as he styled himself in his works Giulio Cesare ( 1585 - February 9, 1619) was an Italian Free-thinker "Yes," he says, "I can read his face; by his hair and his forehead it is easy to guess that the sun at his birth was in the sign of Libra and near Venus. Astrological signs represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the Zodiac. Libra is the seventh Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Libra. The VENUS ( V ictoria E xperimental N etwork U nder the S ea project is a cabled sea floor observatory operated by the University Nay, his complexion shows that Venus touches Libra. By the rules of astrology he could not lie. "

Astrology in India

Main articles: Indian astronomy and Hindu astrology

The term jyotiṣa in the sense of one of the Vedanga, the six auxiliary disciplines of Vedic religion, is used in the Mundaka Upanishad and thus likely dates to Mauryan times. Indian astronomy —the earliest textual mention of which is given in the religious literature of India (2nd millennium BCE—became an established tradition by the 1st millennium BCE Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English The Vedanga ( vedāṅga, "member of the Veda" are six auxiliary disciplines for the understanding and tradition of the Vedas. This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period see Hinduism and Indian religions for details The Muṇḍaka Upanishad is one of the older "primary" ( Mukhya) Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military The Vedanga Jyotisha redacted by Lagadha dates to the Mauryan period, with rules for tracking the motions of the sun and the moon. The Vedanga Jyotisha, is an Indian text on Jyotisha ( Indian astronomy) redacted by Lagadha (लगध The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military

The documented history of Jyotisha begins with the interaction of Indian and Hellenistic cultures in the Indo-Greek period. This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries The oldest surviving treatises, such as the Yavanajataka or the Brihat-Samhita, date to the early centuries CE. The Yavanajataka ( Sanskrit for "Saying ( Jataka) of the Greeks ( Yavanas)" is the earliest writing of Indian astrology The Bṛhat Saṃhitā is a 6th century Sanskrit encyclopedia by Varahamihira of wide ranging subjects of human interest including Astrology The oldest astrological treatise in Sanskrit is the Yavanajataka ("Sayings of the Greeks"), a versification by Sphujidhvaja in 269/270 CE of a now lost translation of a Greek treatise by Yavanesvara during the 2nd century CE under the patronage of the Western Satrap Saka king Rudradaman I. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The Yavanajataka ( Sanskrit for "Saying ( Jataka) of the Greeks ( Yavanas)" is the earliest writing of Indian astrology Yavanesvara ( Sanskrit for "Lord" ( Svara) "of the Greeks" ( Yavanas)" was a man who lived in the Gujarat region The Western Satraps, or Western Kshatrapas ( 35 - 405) were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India ( Saurashtra The Sakas ( English form of Old Iranian Sakā, Nominative plural masculine case; Ancient Greek Σάκαι, Rudradaman I (r 130 - 150) was the Saka ruler of Malwa, a member of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty [7]

The first named authors writing treatises on astronomy are from the 5th century CE, the date when the classical period of Indian astronomy can be said to begin. Besides the theories of Aryabhata in the Aryabhatiya and the lost Arya-siddhānta, there is the Pancha-Siddhāntika of Varahamihira. Āryabhaṭa ( Devanāgarī: आर्यभट (AD 476 &ndash 550 is the first in the line of great mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Indian mathematics Āryabhatīya, an astronomical treatise is the Magnum opus and only extant work of the 5th century Indian mathematician Aryabhata. Daivajna Varāhamihira ( Devanagari: वराहमिहिर 505 &ndash 587 also called Varaha or Mihira was an Indian Astronomer, Mathematician Daivajna Varāhamihira ( Devanagari: वराहमिहिर 505 &ndash 587 also called Varaha or Mihira was an Indian Astronomer, Mathematician

Astrology in China and East Asia

The tradition usually called 'Chinese Astrology' by Westerners is in fact not only Chinese, but has a long history in other East Asian countries such as Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Chinese Astrology

Main article: Chinese astrology
Replica of an oracle bone -- turtle shell
Replica of an oracle bone -- turtle shell

Astrology is believed to have originated in China about the 3rd millennium BC. The Chinese Zodiac is a 12 year cycle Each year of the 12 year cycle is named after one of the original 12 animals Astrology was always traditionally regarded very highly in China, and indeed Confucius is said to have treated astrology with respect saying: "Heaven sends down its good or evil symbols and wise men act accordingly". [8] The 60 year cycle combining the five elements with the twelve animal signs of the zodiac has been documented in China since at least the time of the Shang (Shing or Yin) dynasty (ca 1766BC - CA 1050BC). The Shang Dynasty ( Chinese: 商[[wiktionary 朝|朝]] or Yin Dynasty ( 殷[[wiktionary 代|代]] was according to traditional sources the Oracles bones have been found dating from that period with the date according to the 60 year cycle inscribed on them, along with the name of the diviner and the topic being divined about. Oracle bones ( Chinese: 甲骨 Pinyin: jiǎgǔpiàn are pieces of Bone or turtle shell that were heated and cracked during divination One of the most famous astrologers in China was Tsou Yen who lived in around 300 BC, and who wrote: "When some new dynasty is going to arise, heaven exhibits auspicious signs for the people". Zou Yan ( 305 BC - 240 BC was the representative thinker of the School of Yin-Yang (or School of Naturalists during the Hundred Schools of Thought era in Chinese Astrology in China also became combined with the Chinese form of geomancy known as Feng shui . Feng shui ( ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ fehng-shway in English is an ancient Chinese system of Aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy and earth (geography


Astrology in MesoAmerica

The calenders of Pre-Columbian MesoAmerica are based upon a system which had been in common use throughout the region, dating back to at least the 6th century BCE. The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC. The earliest calendars were employed by peoples such as the Zapotecs and Olmecs, and later by such peoples as the Maya , Mixtec and Aztecs. The Zapotec civilization was an indigenous Pre-Columbian civilization that flourished in the Valley of Oaxaca of southern Mesoamerica. The Olmec were an ancient Pre-Columbian people living in the Tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in what are roughly the modern-day states The Maya civilization is a Mesoamerican Civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the Pre-Columbian Americas The Mixtec (or Mixteca) are an indigenous Mesoamerican people inhabiting the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla The Aztec calendar is the Calendar system that was used by the Aztecs as well as other Pre-Columbian peoples of central Mexico. Although the Mesoamerican calendar did not originate with the Maya, their subsequent extensions and refinements to it were the most sophisticated. Mesoamerican calendars are the calendrical systems devised and used by the Pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. Along with those of the Aztecs, the Maya calendars are the best-documented and most completely understood.

Mayan Astrology

Main article: Maya calendar

The distinctive Mayan calendar and Mayan astrology have been in use in Meso-America from at least the 6th Century BCE. The Maya calendar is a system of distinct Calendars and Almanacs used by the Maya civilization of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and by 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. Tzolk'in (in the revised Guatemala Mayan languages Academy Orthography which is now preferred formerly and commonly tzolkin) is the name bestowed by 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. [9] A 584 day Venus cycle was also maintained, which tracked the appearance and conjunctions of Venus. The VENUS ( V ictoria E xperimental N etwork U nder the S ea project is a cabled sea floor observatory operated by the University 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', while the name of the constellation Gemini was 'peccary'. There is evidence for other constellations being named after various beasts, but it remains unclear. [10] The most famous Mayan astrological observatory still intact is the Caracol observatory in the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in modern day Mexico.

Aztec Astrology

Main article: Aztec calendar

The Aztec calendar shares the same basic structure as the Mayan calendar, with two main cycles of 365 days and 260 days. The Aztec calendar is the Calendar system that was used by the Aztecs as well as other Pre-Columbian peoples of central Mexico. The 260 day calendar was called Tonalpohualli by the Aztecs, and was used primarily for divinatory purposes. The tonalpohualli, a Nahuatl word meaning "count of days" is a 260-day sacred period (often termed a " Year " in use in Pre-Columbian Like the Mayan calendar, these two cycles formed a 52 year 'century', sometimes called the Calendar Round . In the Mesoamerican calendars, Calendar Round dates are composed by interlacing the dates of a 260-day period ( Tzolk'in in the Maya Calendar, Tonalpohualli

Astrology in the 20th century

Astrology in the United States

In the United States, a great surge of popular interest in astrology took place between 1900 through 1949. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A very popular astrologer based in New York City named Evangeline Adams helped feed the public's thirst for astrology readings with many accurate forecasts, her biographers say. Evangeline Smith Adams, born on 8 February 1868, was perhaps the best known American Astrologer of her day A famous court case involving Adams, who was arrested and charged with illegal fortune-telling in 1914 - was later dismissed when Adams correctly read the horoscope of the judge's son with only a birthdate. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Her acquittal set an American precedent that if astrologers practiced in a professional manner that they were not guilty of any wrong-doing.

The hunger for astrology in the earliest years of the 20th century by such astrologers as Alan Leo, Sepharial (also known as Walter Gorn Old), "Paul Cheisnard" and Charles Carter, among others, further led the surge of interest in astrology by wide distribution of astrological journals, text, papers, and textbooks of astrology throughout the United States. Alan Leo, born William Frederick Allan, ( Westminster, 7 August 1860 - Bude, 30 August 1917) was a prominent Dr Walter Gorn Old (1864-1929 was a notable 19th century mystic and astrologer better known as Sepharial. Charles Ernest Owen Carter (1887-1968 was an English Astrologer and astrological writer

The serious and complex writings on astrological practice and concepts in America progressed from the turn-of-the-century years and into a new period of popular expansion in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Many complex astrological materials were simplified to attempt to carve a clear line through points of contention and controversy. The result of this attempt was to "simplify astrology" in the minds of professionals and gave the impression of settled and agreed positions on many points that were not resolved.

The period between 1920-1940 gave way to the popular media jumping on board the great public interest in astrology. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Publishers realized 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. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All 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 Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. The result of this practice led to modern-day publishing of Sun-Sign astrology columns and expanded to some astrological books and magazines in later decades of the 20th century.

Noted predictions

See also Mundane astrology, Horary astrology, Electional astrology

Throughout history many astrologers have made predictions about the future course of world events, and these are often remarkable either for their fulfilment or for the ruin and confusion they brought upon their authors. Mundane astrology is the application of Astrology to world affairs and world events taking its name from the Latin word Mundus, meaning "the Horary astrology is an ancient branch of Horoscopic astrology by which an astrologer attempts to answer a question by constructing a Horoscope for the exact time Electional astrology is a branch found in most systems of astrology

A favourite topic of the astrologers of all countries has been the immediate end of the world. As early as 1186 the Earth had escaped one threatened cataclysm of the astrologers.

This did not prevent Stöffler from predicting a universal deluge for the year 1524 - a year, as it turned out, distinguished for drought. Johannes Stöffler ( December 10, 1452 &ndash February 16, 1531) was a German Mathematician, Astronomer, His aspect of the heavens told him that in that year three planets would meet in the aqueous sign of Pisces. Pisces is the twelfth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, which originates from the Pisces constellation. The prediction was believed far and wide, and President Aurial, at Toulouse, built himself a Noah's ark - a curious realization, in fact, of Chaucer's merry invention in the Miller's Tale. Toulouse ( pronounced in standard French, and in the local accent ( Occitan: Tolosa, pronounced) is a city in southwest Noah's Ark, according to the Book of Genesis (chapters 6-9 is the story of a large vessel built at God 's command to save Noah, his family Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat.

The most famous predictions about European and world affairs were made by the French astrologer Nostradamus (1503 - 66). Michel de Nostredame (14 December 1503 or 21 December 1503 &ndash 2 July 1566 usually Latinized to Nostradamus, was a French Apothecary [11] Nostradamus became famous after the publication in 1555 of his work Centuries , which was a series of prophecies in cryptic verse. 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 Second World War. In 1556 Nostradamus was summoned to the French court by Catherine de Medici and commissioned to draw up the horoscope of the royal children. Although Nostradamus later fell out of favour with many in the court and was accused of witchcraft, Catherine continued to support him and patronized him until his death.

Historical figures and astrology

Throughout history many astrologers have made their mark, including such figures as Ptolemy, Albumasur, Tsou Yen and Nostradamus. For a more extensive listing see:CategoryAstrologers by nationality A Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca Ja'far ibn Muḥammad Abū Ma'shar al-Balkhī ( 10 August 787 in Balkh, Afghanistan &ndash 9 March 886 in al-Wasit Zou Yan ( 305 BC - 240 BC was the representative thinker of the School of Yin-Yang (or School of Naturalists during the Hundred Schools of Thought era in Chinese Michel de Nostredame (14 December 1503 or 21 December 1503 &ndash 2 July 1566 usually Latinized to Nostradamus, was a French Apothecary In addition, many famous people over the centuries have expressed opinions either in favour or in opposition to astrology, and have either used it or refused to use it in their actions.

Historical proponents of astrology

The influence of the Medici made astrologers popular in France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

Richelieu, on whose council was Jacques Gaffarel (1601-1681), the last of the Kabbalists, did not despise astrology as an engine of government. This article is about a cardinal For information on the Russian also called The Red Eminence, see Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov. Jacques Gaffarel (Latin Jacobus Gaffarellus 1601‑1681 was a French Scholar and Astrologer. Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism.

At the birth of Louis XIV a certain Morin de Villefranche was placed behind a curtain to cast the nativity of the future autocrat. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent A generation back the astrologer would not have been hidden behind a curtain, but have taken precedence over the doctor.

La Bruyère dares not pronounce against such beliefs, "for there are perplexing facts affirmed by grave men who were eye-witnesses. "

In England William Lilly and Robert Fludd were both dressed in a little brief authority. William Lilly ( May 1 ( OS)/ May 11 ( NS) 1602 – June 9, 1681) was a famed English Astrologer Robert Fludd, also known as Robertus de Fluctibus (1574 Bearsted Kent &ndash September 8 1637, London) was a prominent The latter gives us elaborate rules for the detection of a thief, and tells us that he has had personal experience of their efficacy. "If the lord of the sixth house is found in the second house, or in company with the lord of the second house, the thief is one of the family. If Mercury is in the sign of the Scorpion he will be bald, &c. "

Francis Bacon abuses the astrologers of his day no less than the alchemists, but he does so because he has visions of a reformed astrology and a reformed alchemy. Francis Bacon 1st Viscount St Alban KC QC (22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626 was an English Philosopher, Statesman, and author

Sir Thomas Browne, too, while he denies the capacity of the astrologers of his day, does not venture to dispute the reality of the science. Sir Thomas Browne ( October 19, 1605 &ndash October 19, 1682) was an English author of varied works which disclose his wide learning The idea of the souls of men passing at death to the stars, the blessedness of their particular sphere being assigned them according to their deserts (the metempsychosis of J. Reincarnation Metempsychosis is a philosophical term in the Greek language referring to the belief of Transmigration of the soul, especially its Reincarnation Reynaud), may be regarded as a survival of religious astrology, which, even as late as Descartes's day, assigned to the angels the task of moving the planets and the stars.

Joseph de Maistre believed in comets as messengers of divine justice, and in animated planets, and declared that divination by astrology is not an absolutely chimerical science. Joseph-Marie Comte de Maistre (1 April 1753- 26 February 1821 was a French-speaking Savoyard lawyer diplomat writer and philosopher A comet is a small Solar System body that orbits the Sun and when close enough to the Sun exhibits a visible coma (atmosphere or a tail —

Kepler was cautious in his opinion; he spoke of astronomy as the wise mother, and astrology as the foolish daughter, but he added that the existence of the daughter was necessary to the life of the mother. Johannes Kepler (ˈkɛplɚ ( December 27 1571 &ndash November 15 1630) was a German Mathematician, Astronomer

Kepler may have said this with the cynical meaning that the "foolish" work of astrology paid for the serious work of astronomy - as, at the time, the main motivation to fund advancements in astronomy was the desire for better, more accurate astrological predictions.

Historical opponents of astrology

Lastly, we may mention a few distinguished men who ran counter to their age in denying stellar influences.

Panaetius, Augustine, Martianus Capella (the precursor of Copernicus), Cicero, Favorinus, Sextus Empiricus, Juvenal, and in a later age Savonarola and Pico della Mirandola, and La Fontaine, a contemporary of the neutral La Bruyère, were all pronounced opponents of astrology. Panaetius (Παναίτιος of Rhodes, lived c 185 - c 110 BC was a Stoic philosopher and head of the Stoic school in Athens. "Martianus" redirects here For the beetle Genus, see Martianus (beetle. Marcus Tullius Cicero ( Classical Latin ˈkikeroː usually ˈsɪsərəʊ in English January 3, 106 BC &ndash December 7, 43 BC was a Roman Favorinus of Arelata (ca 80&ndash160 was a Hellenistic Sophist and Philosopher who flourished during the reign of Hadrian. Sextus Empiricus (c 160-210 AD was a Physician and Philosopher, and has been variously reported to have lived in Alexandria, Rome, or The Girolamo Savonarola ( September 21, 1452 &ndash May 23, 1498) was an Italian Dominican priest and leader of Florence from Count Giovanni Pico della Mirandola ( February 24, 1463 - November 17, 1494) was an Italian Renaissance Philosopher.

In the Hellenistic and Roman Empire eras, a number of notable philosophers and scientists, such as Diogenes of Babylon (Middle Stoic), Galen, and Pliny accepted some aspects of astrology while rejecting others. [4]

Cultural influence of astrology

Main article: Cultural influence of astrology

To astrological politics we owe the theory of heaven-sent rulers, instruments in the hands of Providence, and saviours of society. During its long history Astrology has had a profound impact on cultures throughout the world especially in art literature and popular customs Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions In Theology, Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is the sovereignty superintendence or agency of God over events in people's lives and throughout A society is a Population of Humans characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinctive Culture and Institutions

Napoleon, as well as Wallenstein, believed in his star. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Many passages in the older English poets are unintelligible without some knowledge of astrology. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems

Chaucer wrote a treatise on the astrolabe; Milton constantly refers to planetary influences; in Shakespeare's King Lear, Gloucester and Edmund represent respectively the old and the new faith. Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. The astrolabe is a historical Astronomical instrument used by classical astronomers, Navigators John Milton ( 9 December, 1608 – 8 November, 1674) was an English Poet, Prose Polemicist and William Shakespeare ( baptised King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in

We still contemplate and consider; we still speak of men as jovial, saturnine or mercurial; we still talk of the ascendancy of genius, or a disastrous defeat. A genius is a person of great Intelligence or remarkable abilities in a specific subject who shows an exceptional natural capacity of intellect and/or ability especially The word "disaster" comes from the Greek "dys-astria" meaning "unfavorable star(s)".

In French heur, malheur, heureux, malheureux, are all derived from the Latin augurium; the expression né sous une mauvaise étoile, born under an evil star, corresponds (with the change of étoile into astre) to the word malôtru, in Provençal malastrue; and son étoile palit, his star grows pale, belongs to the same class of allusions. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A star is a massive luminous ball of plasma. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the Energy on Earth

The Latin ex augurio appears in the Italian sciagura, sciagurato, softened into sciaura, sciaurato, wretchedness, wretched. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy.

The influence of a particular planet has also left traces in various languages; but the French and English jovial and the English saturnine correspond to the gods who served as types in chiromancy rather than to the planets which bear the same names. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir (χειρ “hand” manteia (μαντεία “ Divination ” is the art of characterization A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is

In the case of the expressions bien or mal luné, well or ill mooned, avoir un quartier de lune dans la tetê, to have the quarter of the Moon in one's head, the German mondsüchtig and the English moonstruck or lunatic, the fundamental idea lies in the strange opinions formerly (and in some cases, still) held about the Moon. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States

Footnotes

  1. ^ Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid, p16, 1990
  2. ^ Astrology and The Bible
  3. ^ Article on astrology from the Catholic Encyclopaedia, 1907 edition
  4. ^ http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/colloquia0405.html Galileo, Astrology and the Scientific Revolution: Another Look
  5. ^ Stemmed search for mathematicus. Ultralingua Online Dictionary. Ultralingua. Retrieved on 2007-03-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow.
  6. ^ http://members.aol.com/jeff570/m.html Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics
  7. ^ Mc Evilley "The shape of ancient thought", p385 ("The Yavanajataka is the earliest surviving Sanskrit text in horoscopy, and constitute the basis of all later Indian developments in horoscopy", himself quoting David Pingree "The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja" p5)
  8. ^ Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid 1991
  9. ^ Parker and Parker Ibid, 1971
  10. ^ Michael D. Coe, 'The Maya', pp227 - 229, Thames and Hudson, London, 2005
  11. ^ Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid, p201, 1990

Further reading

See also: List of books about astrology

See also

External links

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