The Role of Ancient Peoples in Astrology: What Was Achieved?

Astrology can be trailed to the ancient Babylonians. They were the first to relate myths to constellations and define the signs of the zodiac. The Egyptians and also the Greeks perfected this system. Astrology has also been a part of other ancient societies. In various parts of the world, the knowledge of astronomy and astrology has grown together.

1) Mesopotamian and Babylonians Astrology

 Babylonians Astrology dates back to the 2nd century. The people of Mesopotamia recognized five stars as well as the Sun and the Moon. They rehearsed a form of forecast called the Enuma Anu Enlil. The initial forms of astrology were widely omen-based. 

The time measurements by which we measure the zodiac arose from the Babylonian number system. It was the ancient Babylonians who divided heaven into the twelve signs or constellations. The Greeks were who, after that, named these twelve divisions as the zodiac. The Babylonians used astrology to forecast the entire nation, which we now commonly call astrology.

2) Greek Astrology

Greeks added a lot of useful details to the fields of astronomy and astrology. It’s believed that when Alexander the Great’s overpowering spread to Asia, the Greeks were exposed to the knowledge of astrology that was present in the areas that they conquered, comparable as Babylon, Syria, and Persia. 

Ptolemy defined the earth, houses, signs, aspects in detail, and their function. His teachings are still useful to the modernistic practice of Western astrology. Ptolemy also explained the system by which the cycle related to and aligned with the solstices and equinoxes. He also explained how and why the earth appeared to slow, speed, and retrogrades from the perspective of the earth.

3) The Roman Empire

 Romans didn’t add anything new to the practice of astrology. But, their records and evidence of the same have survived better. They have the Astronomica, which is poetry by Marcus Manilius that covers multi-fold aspects of astrology. The poetry on astrology by Dorotheus of Sidon describes the generality of Triplicities.

4) Geomancy

Greek-influenced Egypt saw great developments in astrology. We see that there are pictures of the twelve signs of the zodiac in ancient Egyptian bas reliefs. The Egyptians gave value to the heavenly bodies and their influence upon people. They used calendars those showed good and unfavorable days that showed horoscopes. The pyramids weren’t only the resting places of the pharaohs but also had astronomical significance.

5) Mayan Astronomy and Astrology

The olden people of Mayans from Mexico also followed a system of astrology. The Caracol outlook has an old staircase that takes us to the windows. All of these windows correspond to the positions of the planets and stars at different times of the year.

6) Arabian Astrology

The Islamic world incorporated numerous Greek institutions of astrology into their day-to-day life. Much knowledge was also shared between India and Arabs. From the 8th and 10th centuries, there was much study in these fields in Baghdad. Their scholars rewrote many studies from Greek, Sanskrit, and also Pahlavi to Arabic. They then upgraded all this knowledge, particularly to suit the norms of their religion Islam that specified that they would have to determine the time and direction of Mecca for prayer. So, they developed instruments and ways for timetables in response to this.

7) Indian Astrology

 Indian astrology goes back to the Vedanga scripts as part of Vedas to understand the time of conducting Vedic rituals. The Vedanga astrology tracks the Sun and the Moon. The oldest surviving work on Indian astrology is the Brihat Samhita that dates to the early years. The classical era of astrology in India is dated from the fifth century AD. 

8) Chinese Astrology

Chinese astronomy and timetables developed and grew in significance in the Han Dynasty of 2nd century BC to 2nd Century Release. The system of astrology in Chinese is linked closely with their principles. The 60-year cycle that combines the twelve animal signs of the zodiac with the five aspects has been mentioned since Yin or Shing dynasty from 1766 BC to 1050 BC. Oracle bones that have the 60-year cycle and other details inscribed on them have also been discovered.