ASTROLOGY

Astrology is the study of the impact of the celestial bodies Moon, Mercury, Venus,
Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the xed stars, and sometimes the lunar nodes upon the
sublunar world. It presupposes a geocentric and nite universe. e inuence of the
celestial bodies is variously considered
to be absolutely determinative of all motions of the four sublunar elements (Aristotelian physics is accepted as the basis for describing this inuence, in a form
somewhat modied by Neo-Platonic concepts);
to be directional (that is, to indicate trends which may be changed by future astral
inuences or by the intervention of a supernatural being, usually on the pleading
or at the behest of an astrologer or of a priest); or
to be merely indicative of the divine will.
Astrology so dened could not have existed before the Hellenistic period, and is
certainly not of Babylonian, Egyptian, or Indian origin. 1
ere are four broad categories of astrological practice. 2
Genethlialogy relates the situation of the heavens at the moment of an individuals
nativity to all aspects of his life.
e original purpose of astrology was to inform the individual of the course of his life on the basis
of the positions of the planets and of the zodiacal signs (the 12 astrological constellations) at the
moment of his birth or conception. From this science, called genethlialogy (casting nativities), were
developed the fundamental techniques of astrology. 3

General astrology relates the situation of the heavens at particularly signicant

moments e. g., at the vernal equinox, at an eclipse, or at a conjunction of the
planets to events aecting broad classes of people, nations, or the entire world.
1

2
3

Cf. D. Pingree, Mshallah: Some Sassanian and Syriac Sources, in: George Fadlo Hourani (Ed.),
Essays on Islamic philosophy and science, pp. 5 14: Astrology, created in Ptolemaic Egypt (p. 9),
is the union of Hellenistic mathematical astronomy and physics with the Pythagorean doctrine of
opposites and Mesopotamian astral omina (p. 8).
Cf. D. Pingrees review of Tamsyn S. Barton, Power and Knowledge: Astrology, Physiognomics,
and Medicine under the Roman Empire [e Body in eory: Histories of Cultural Materialism],
Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1994, in: Bulletin of the History of Medicine 71, 1997, p.
331: e chapter on astrology is wrien without any hint of an awareness of the philosophical
(and scientic) distinctions that need to be made between
astral divination in which the gods proclaim their intentions through omens, in part at least
in the hope that humans will propitiate them with sacrice, ritual, and prayer so that they will be
pleased to alter those intentions and
astrology as the Greeks who invented it in about 100 B.C. conceived of it: a purely mechanical
working out of the complicated machinery of celestial motions and their natural inuences on the
sublunar world, a process with which humans are powerless to interfere.
Cf. id., EB 2, 151977, p. 219: Astrology is a method of predicting mundane events based upon
the assumption that the celestial bodies particularly the planets and the stars considered in their
arbitrary combinations or congurations (called constellations) in some way either determine
or indicate changes in the sublunar world. e theoretical basis for this assumption lies historically
in Hellenistic philosophy and radically distinguishes astrology from the celestial omina (omens)
that were rst categorized and cataloged in ancient Mesopotamia.
Cf. W. Gundel und H. G. Gundel, Astrologumena, 1966, S. 1: Die ausgebildete Astrologie, die
vor allem gekennzeichnet ist durch eine Planeten und Tierkreis bercksichtigende Horoskopierkunst, ist ein Kind des Hellenismus.
Cf. en.wikipedia s. v. Horoscopic astrology: ere are four main branches of horoscopic astrology: natal astrology, mundane astrology, electional astrology, horary astrology.
D. Pingree, EB 2, 151977, p. 220.

Astrology
General astrology studies the relationship of the signicant celestial moments (e. g., the times of
vernal equinoxes, eclipses, or planetary conjunctions) to social groups, nations, or all of humanity.
It answers, by astrological means, questions formerly posed in Mesopotamia to the bru. 4

Cataric astrology is the determination, from an examination of the situation of

the heavens, of whether or not a particular moment is suitable for the commencement of a particular act.
Cataric (pertaining to beginnings or sources) astrology determines whether or not a chosen
moment is astrologically conducive to the success of a course of action begun in it. Basically in
conict with a rigorous interpretation of genethlialogy, it allows the individual (or corporate body)
to act at astrologically favourable times and, thereby, to escape any failures predictable from his
(or its) nativity. 5

Interrogatory astrology is the answering of specic questions on the basis of the

situation of the heavens at the time of the query.
Interrogatory astrology provides answers to a clients queries based on the situation of the heavens
at the moment of his posing the questions. is astrological consulting service is even more remote
from determinism than is catarchic astrology; it is thereby closer to divination by omens and insists
upon the ritual purication and preparation of the astrologer. 6
is branch of astrology was an Indian invention, drawing upon both jtaka, for the subjects of
the query, and Greek catarchic astrology, for the answer; if not devised by Sphujidhvaja himself,
he must have been able to derive it from some Indian astrologer writing in the century before he
composed the Yavanajtaka in 269/270. e dierence between catarchic and interrogational astrology is that with the former the astrologer determines a propitious time for his client to begin
doing something, while with the laer he answers a specic question from the horoscope of the
moment at which the question was asked. Interrogations were an important contribution by Indians to later astrologies; so also was military astrology, which is based on a combination of omens
with catarchic astrology. 7
ere is no evidence that interrogational astrology was known in classical times; it seems to have
been an Indian invention that achieved great popularity amongst Islamic astrologers. 8

Other types of astrology e. g., medical astrology or military astrology are

merely adaptations of methods used in the four basic types enumerated above.
David Pingree in: Dictionary of the History of Ideas, Vol. 1, 1973, pp. 118 125.

e science of astrology was developed in, most probably, the late 2nd or early 1st
century B. C. as a mean to predict, from horoscopic themata draw up for the moment
of an individuals birth (or conception), the fate of that native. is form of astrology,
called genethlialogy, is rooted in Aristotelian physics and Hellenistic astronomy, but
also borrowed much from Mesopotamia and some elements from Egypt as well as
developing many theories of its own.
e adaptation of this form of astrology to determine the best time for initiating
actions is termed cataric astrology.
ese are the two main forms of astrology known in the West; interrogational
astrology was developed in India in the 2nd and 3rd centuries A. D. on the basis of
Greek catarchic astrology, and historical astrology in Sasanian Iran in perhaps the
5th or 6th century A. D. on the basis of continuous forms of Greek genethlialogy.
4
5
6
7
8

D. Pingree, EB 2, 151977, p. 220.

D. Pingree, EB 2, 151977, p. 220.
D. Pingree, EB 2, 151977, p. 220.
D. Pingree, From Astral Omens to Astrology. From Babylon to Bkner, Rome 1997, p. 36.
Cf. Charles Burne, Astrology, in: Medieval Latin: An Introduction and Bibliographical Guide, ed.
by Frank Anthony Carl Mantello and A. G. Rigg, Washington 1996, pp. 369 382, here p. 375.

Astrology
A massive program of translation into Pahlav of books gathered from India and the Roman Empire
was initiated by the rst two Sasanian kings, Ardashr I and Shpr I; these translations were revised
under Anshirwn.
Sasanian astrologers were famous as practitioners of the art of using the celestial science to reconstruct the political and religious history of the world through the theory of conjunctions, and to
make general annual predictions on the basis of the horoscopes of the revolutions of the years and the
prorogations of the fardrs, intihs, and qismas. 9

All of these types of astrology depend on the notion that the planets, in their eternal rotations about the earth, transmit motion (change) to the four elements and to
the assemblages of elements, animate and inanimate, in the sublunar world.
is theory is completely dierent from that of celestial omens, in which the gods,
whose physical manifestations are the constellations and planets, send messages concerning their intentions regarding kings and countries by means of celestial phenomena. at these divine intentions can be altered by the use of propitiatory rituals
(namburbis in Mesopotamia, ntis in India) emphasizes the fundamental conceptual
dierence between omens and astrology. 10
Sometime in the late 2nd or early 1st century B. C. someone, perhaps in Egypt, invented genethlialogical astrology, which assumes an Aristotelian universe in which
the earth at the center, consisting of the four sublunar elements, is surrounded by
the eternally circling spheres of the seven planets in the so-called Hellenistic order
(Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn). is author also assumed the ability to compute the longitudes of the planets and the rising-point of the ecliptic for any
given time, and to divide the ecliptic into the twelve astrological places. To each of
these twelve places he assigned an aspect of the natives life (life, wealth, siblings,
parents, children, sickness, marriage, death, travels, occupation, gain, and loss; the
rst eight are sometimes treated as a set). Furthermore, each of the planets and each
of the zodiacal signs was endowed with certain characteristics and inuences over
particular components of man and of the sublunar world in general; and the planets
were endowed with rulership over the zodiacal signs and their parts (the decans or
thirds, the dodecatemoria or twelhs, and the terms), and they inuenced each other
and the astrological places by means of either conjunction with them or aspect (sextile to 60, quartile to 90, trine to 120, and opposition to 180). While many further
particulars were added to this collection of indicators, and some modications were
made, this is the basic set of assumptions that astrologers rely upon.
Some elements in addition to the central idea of predicting the life of a native from
celestial phenomena came to the Greeks from Mesopotamia. 11

9
10
11

D. Pingree, From Astral Omens to Astrology. From Babylon to Bkner, Rome 1997, p. 50 and p. 44.
D. Pingree, From Astral Omens to Astrology. From Babylon to Bkner, Rome 1997, p. 21f.
D. Pingree, From Astral Omens to Astrology. From Babylon to Bkner, Rome 1997, p. 26f.

Astrology
Arabic astrological science came to include these ve principal divisions.
1. A theoretical or introductory part (mudkhal [sic!]) exploring its foundations in
physical science and metaphysics. Here Ab Mashars Kitb al-mudkhal al-kabr
shared ultimate authority together with Ptolemys Tetrabiblos.
2. A section dealing with Nativities (mild, mawld) which consisted of drawing up
diagrams (horoscopes) of the state of the sky at the time of any beginning. Its most
natural occasion was at the time of birth (hence nativities), or even of conception
when possible, and it would be held as an indication of the probable unfolding of
the various life circumstances of the individual person or object for whom it was
drawn up.
3. Interrogations (masil) which dealt mostly with enquiries about objects hidden
or lost, innermost thoughts or intentions, purposes, etc. A kind of oracle, it aimed
to assist individuals in their important decision making or help recover missing
objects.
4. Elections or Choices (ikhtiyrt), which were concerned with determining the
most favourable moment for starting on important undertakings, such as the construction of cities, opening of hostilities in wartime, investiture or inauguration,
or starting on a journey.
5. Weather predictions or meteorology, which were almanacs which astrologers operating for courts, cities, or institutions like universities would issue at the beginning of each new year, as part of their ocial duties. Weather predictions were of
course a prime concern in any predominantly agrarian society. 12

12

R. Maya, Astrology, in: N. K. Singh, M. Zaki Kirmani (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of Islamic science and
scientists, 2005, s. v. Astrology, p. 68f.

Astrology
e dierent branes of astrology 13
e rst of these, according to Albertus Magnus, is general astrology (de revolutionibus), which pertains to whole nations and regions.
Next comes genethlialogy or nativities (nativitates : genezia), by which birth charts
are drawn up and the course of life of the newborn child or native (natus) is
predicted. It was a common practice to cast a horoscope when the sun returned to
the same degree of the zodiac where it was at the time of birth, and to compare it to
the astrological chart of the birth (radix). is subbranch of genethlialogy is called
solar returns or anniversary horoscopes (revolutiones nativitatum).
Albertus next deals with interrogations (interrogationes), in which the astrological
chart of the moment when the question is posed determines the outcome of what is
asked. In this case the state of mind of the inquirer the radical intent (intentio mdicalis) is important. ere is no evidence that interrogational astrology was known
in classical times; it seems to have been an Indian invention that achieved great popularity amongst Islamic astrologers.
is branch of astrology is oen conned (in medieval and modern sources) with
cataric astrology, Albertuss next division, in which the best time for beginning
an activity is determined. e Medieval Latin term for catarchic astrology is electiones
or electiones homrum laudabilium. Interrogational and electional chapters oen occur
together in works loosely entitled iudicia.
e Four Parts of Astrology 14
Medieval Arabic and Arabo-Latin astrology is commonly divided into four main branches: nativities, revolutions, elections, and interrogations.
e study of nativities (genethlialogy) is founded on the horoscope of birth of
an individual and of the new or full moon preceding the birth. e astrologer calculates the position of the planets, the ascendant, the astrological houses, and the partes
(lots) on the zodiacal circle. en he selects the most signicant parameters in the
horoscope, notably the planet hyleg or signicator vite and he is supposed to be able
to predict the main steps of the subjects life. But this implies that he knows the precise place, date, and hour of the birth, which was very rare outside the courtly milieu
before the end of the Middle Ages. He is thus frequently obliged to verify the time of
birth by a method called annimodar.
Revolutions are related to the return of the Sun to the precise zodiacal point occupied at an initial moment. e study of revolutions of nativities is based on the
examination of the sky at the time of the subjects birthday, while that of the revolutions of years rested on the horoscope of the vernal equinox of a particular year,
and of the new or full moon preceding it. Examining these horoscopes, the astrologer
is supposed to predict the weather of the next year, natural catastrophes, epidemics,
the immediate future of peoples, and other political events. He is helped in this by a
system of relations between zodiacal signs, planets, countries, and social categories.
13

14

Charles Burne, Astrology, in: Medieval Latin: An Introduction and Bibliographical Guide, ed. by
Frank Anthony Carl Mantello and A. G. Rigg, Washington 1996, pp. 369 382, here p. 375f.
Jean-Patrice Boudet, Astrology, in: Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine: An Encyclopedia,
ed. by omas F. Glick, Steven John Livesey, Faith Wallis, 2005, pp. 62f.

Astrology
ese annual predictions appeared to have been regularly preserved in Europe from
the end of the fourteenth century.
Connected to annual revolutions, analysis of the conjunctions of the three superior planets, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, as well as that of comets, belongs to historical
astrology. Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter occur every twenty years, and conjunctions of Saturn and Mars in Cancer, supposed to be malec, occur every thirty
years. According to the doctrine of great conjunctions standardized by Albumasar,
they inuence the major natural, political, and religious events: the birth of Muhammad and of Islam aer the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter of 571; the demise of
the Caliphate of Crdoba, related to the conjunction Saturn and Jupiter in 1007; the
hypothetical tempests of 1186, linked to the presence of all the planers in the sign of
Libra; the Black Death of 1348 and the Great Schism of 1378, interpreted post eventum
as the consequences of the Saturn-Jupiter conjunctions of 1345 and 1365; the possible
defeat of the king of France by the English aer the conjunction of Saturn and Mars
in 1357; the appearance of a false prophet aer the conjunctions of 1484 and 1504;
the false ood of 1524, and so on. As for comets, they were usually taken to foretell
catastrophes, notably the imminent death of some king or prince, as in the case of
Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, in 1402.
Elections (or cataric astrology) deal with the forecasting of undertakings and
the choice of proper times for initiate actions: the mythical or real foundation or refoundation of cities such as Constantinople, Gaza, Baghdad (founded by al-Mansur in
762), Cairo, Vioria (near Parma, founded by Frederick II in 1247), Florence, Venice,
Bologna, and Milan; the foundation of a university such as that in Bratislava by
Mahias Corvinus in 1467; declarations of war; consecrations of marriage; the begetting of a child; the beginning of a dicult medical operation, such as that performed
on the cataract of the King John II of Aragon in 1468, etc. Elections may be established occasionally or by the use of an annual almanac, supposed to program all the
owners activities or, more modestly, indicate the good days for bleeding and purgatives, which were among the basic practices of medieval medicine.
Interrogations deal with responses to queries, which may be of special or general
interest. Will my pregnant wife have a boy or a girl? Where is my stolen golden cup?
Will a new pope be elected during the Council of Constance before Christmas? e
astrologer draws up a horoscope of the precise moment of the question and tries to
answer it.

Astrology
Among the classic forms of astrological practice we nd genethlialogy, catarchic astrology, and interrogatory astrology, all three interrelated.
Genethlialogy asserts that the celestial omens at the moment of ones birth aect
the course of ones life. To predict this course one needs to know the exact moment
and place of birth. One must calculate where the planets were and calculate certain
relations between them such as conjunctions and oppositions.
Cataric astrology asserts that any act is inuenced by the celestial omens at
the moment of the inception of the act. erefore, from a knowledge of the future
position of the planets, one can forecast auspicious dates for the occurrence of
important events.
Interrogatory astrology invites questions of all sorts. Where did I lose my wallet?
Should I marry such a one? It asserts that the moment of interrogation aects the
correct answer. us does astrology give answers in a world full of bier problems,
where advice is rare and of doubtful quality. 15
ere are several distinct branches of Astrology:
Natal, or Genethliacal having to do with the birth gure and the subsequent
transits of the bodies and their Progressed, or average net progress.
Horary: fundamentally a Figure cast for the birth-moment of an idea, a question,
or an event. Practitioners of this branch of Astrology usually take the moment
when the question is propounded.
Electional: an application of Horary art whereby to choose the most propitious
moment for initiating a new enterprise, or commencing a journey, etc.
Mundane, also termed Judicial Astrology: a consideration of the current positions
of the planets with respect to their inuence upon entire populations, or portions
thereof, by countries, cities or localities, at Ingresses, eclipses, ordinary Lunations
and Full Moons, and major transits or conjunctions.
Medical: the application of the science to questions of health, chiey as a diagnostic aid when confronted with baing symptoms of disease and obscure ailments.
Meteorological, also known as Astro-Meteorology: the application of the science
to the forecasting of weather conditions, earthquakes and severe storms. 16

15

16

Philip J. Davis, Reuben Hersh, Elena Marchisoo, e mathematical experience, 1981 (2002, 2003),
p. 114.
Nicholas DeVore, Encyclopedia of Astrology, 2005 (1947), s. v. Astrology.