Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune

Table Of Contents

Foreword XIII
Acknowledgements XV
Introduction XIX

1 Early Astrology in Mesopotamia and Egypt                1
  Mesopotamian Astrology..................................1
  Egyptian Astrology......................................6

2 Origins of Hellenistic Astrology                        11
  The Hellenistic Period..................................11
  Alexandria..............................................12
  Berossus and the Transmission of Astrology..............13
  The Emergence of Hellenistic Astrology..................15
  Obscure Origins of Hellenistic Astrology................18
  Ancient Views on the Origins of the Tradition...........24
  Debate Over the Origins of Hellenistic Astrology.........30
  The Development of Hellenistic Astrology.................36

3 Practicing Astrology in the Roman Empire                51
  The Roman Empire........................................51
  The Three Branches of Hellenistic Astrology.............52
  Surviving Horoscopes or Charts..........................60
  
4 The Hellenistic Astrologers                             67
  Hermes Trismegistus.....................................68
  Asclepius...............................................71
  Nechepso and Petosiris..................................72
  Timaeus.................................................77
  Teucer of Babylon.......................................78
  Thrasyllus..............................................78
  Balbillus...............................................82
  Marcus Manilius.........................................83
  Antiochus of Athens.....................................85
  Critodemus..............................................89
  Abraham.................................................91
  Zoroaster...............................................92
  Serapio of Alexandria...................................94
  Anubio..................................................95
  Dorotheus of Sidon......................................98
  Manetho.................................................100
  Anonymous Michigan Papyrus..............................100
  Claudius Ptolemy........................................101
  Vettius Valens..........................................105
  Antigonus of Nicaea.....................................106
  Porphyry of Tyre........................................108
  Firmicus Maternus.......................................109
  Paulus of Alexandria....................................114
  Anonymous of 353........................................115
  Maximus.................................................116
  Hephaestio of Thebes....................................116
  Hypatia and Female Practitioners of Astrology...........117
  Julian of Laodicea......................................119
  Olympiodorus............................................120
  Rhetorius of Egypt......................................120

5 Decline and Transmission                                123
  Decline of the Roman Empire and Astrology...............123
  Transmission to Other Cultures..........................126
  The Rediscovery of Hellenistic Astrology................134

6 Philosophical Issues in Hellenistic Astrology           143
  Astrology, Divination and Signs.........................143
  Divination from Origins.................................145
  An Astrology of Causes..................................146
  The Study of Fate.......................................153
  Astrological Determinism................................158
  Four Philosophical Positions............................162

7 Planets                                                 165
  The Seven Wandering Stars...............................165
  Names of the Planets....................................166
  Significations According to Valens......................167
  Benefics and Malefics...................................184
  Sect....................................................190
  Masculine and Feminine..................................197
  Under the Beams.........................................200
  Morning Star versus Evening Star........................205
  Planetary Speed, Retrogrades and Stations...............206
  Ascending and Descending Nodes..........................208

8 Signs of the Zodiac                                     213
  The Zoidia..............................................213
  Qualities of the Signs..................................215
  Tropical versus Sidereal Zodiacs........................216
  Names of the Signs......................................222
  Masculine and Feminine Signs............................224
  The Thema Mundi.........................................228
  Domicile Rulership......................................232
  Exaltations and Depressions.............................242
  Adversities.............................................249
  Quadruplicities.........................................252
  Triplicities............................................256
  Irregular Distribution of Secondary Qualities...........272
  Zodiacal Melothesia.....................................273
  Subdivisions of the Zodiac..............................275
  Interpreting Planets in Signs...........................286

9 Configurations                                          289
  Reconstructing the Aspect Doctrine......................289
  Definition of Witnessing or Testimony...................291  
  The Five Configurations.................................294
  Sign-Based Configurations...............................296
  Degree-Based Configurations.............................300
  Qualities of the Configurations.........................305
  Right versus Left.......................................309
  Overcoming..............................................311
  Mitigations and Alternative Aspect Doctrines............315
  
10 The Twelve Places                                      319
   The Whole Sign House System............................320
   Names of the Places....................................323
   Conceptual Models Underlying the Places................324
   The Angles or Pivtos...................................325
   Angular Triads.........................................328
   Good and Bad Places....................................332
   Busy or Advantageous Places............................333
   Joys of the Planets....................................336
   Significations of the Places...........................340
   Survey o Each of the Twelve Places.....................352
   Interpreting Planets in Places.........................362

11 The Issue of House Division                            365
   The Midheven and the Three Forms of House Division.....366
   General Survey of Surviving Horoscopes.................370
   References to Whole Sign Houses in the Manuals.........375
   Quadran Houses and Dynamic Strength....................386
   Equal Houses and the Asclepius Text....................395

12 The Domicile Lord of the Hour-Marker                   415
   The Natural Metaphor...................................418
   The Domicile Lord in the Twelve Places.................419
   Mitigation of Difficult Placements.....................425
   Ruler of the Hour-Marker in the First Place............426
   The Sect of the Ruler..................................430
   The Degree of the Midheaven in Other Places............431

13 Rulers of the Places                                   435
   Interpretive Principles for Studying the Rulers........436
   Preliminary Remarks....................................437
   Sources for the Delineations...........................440
   The Ruler of the Second Place..........................440
   The Ruler of the Third Place...........................443
   The Ruler of the Fourth Place..........................445
   The Ruler of the Fifth Place...........................446
   The Ruler of the Sixth Place...........................448
   The Ruler of the Seventh Place.........................450
   The Ruler of the Eighth Place..........................452
   The Ruler of the Ninth Place...........................454
   The Ruler of the Tenth Place...........................455
   The Ruler of the Eleventh Place........................457
   The Ruler of the Twelfth Place.........................458

14 Conditions of Bonification and Maltreatment            461
   The Purpose of the Conditions..........................462
   The Inequities of Fortune..............................463
   Definition of Maltreatment.............................463
   Overcoming.............................................466
   Opposition and Trine...................................471
   Counteraction..........................................472
   Enclosure..............................................474
   Adherence..............................................477
   Striking With A Ray....................................481
   Engagement.............................................488
   Mitigating Conditions: Reception.......................491

15 Triplicity Rulers of the Sect Light                    495
   Sources for the Technique..............................495
   Identifying the Triplicity Rulers of the Sect Light....465
   The Importance of Angularity...........................498
   The Sequence of the Native\'s Life......................499
   Examples from Valens and Dorotheus.....................500
   Integration with Other Techniques......................503
   Modern Examples........................................503
   Timing the Changeover Between Triplicity Lords.........507

16 Lots                                                   511
   Calculation and Conceptualization......................512
   The Use of Lots in Natal Astrology.....................515
   Steps in Analyzing a Lot...............................517
   The Lot of Fortune.....................................518
   Survey of Other Lots Used..............................524
   
17 Annual Profections                                     535
   Time-Lord Techniques...................................535
   Annual Profections.....................................536
   Activation of the Places...............................537
   Condition of the Lord of the Year......................543
   Activation of the Place Containing the Ruler...........544
   Repetitions and Transits...............................545
   Advanced Method of Profections in Valens...............549

18 Zodiacal Releasing                                     553
   Source of the Technique................................554
   Calculating Zodiacal Releasing Periods.................554
   Interpreting Zodiacal Releasing Periods................559
   Peak Periodis..........................................559
   Interpreting the Quality of a Period...................568
   Angular Tirads Relative to Fortune.....................573
   Loosing of the Bond....................................576
   Spirit and Fortune in the Same Sign....................586
   Ares For Further Research..............................588

   Conclusion               591
   Appendix: Chart Data     595
   Timeline                 603
   Glossary                 607
   Abbreviations            619
   Bibliography             623
   Index                    647