When the Greeks took the zodiac from Ancient Mesopotamia, they came across this system (the end of the fifth to the beginning of the fourth century BC).
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When was astrology initially applied?
The older than any other known case, according to Jones. He continued, “We have a lot of horoscopes that are written down as a kind of document on papyrus or on a wall but none of them as old as this. It’s also older than any written-down horoscopes that we have from the Greco-Roman civilization.”
The discovery was published in the most current issue of the Journal for the History of Astronomy by Jones and StaoForenbaher, a researcher with the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb.
Forenbaher told LiveScience that in 1999, the crew was excavating close to the entrance of the Croatian cave, a location well-known to archaeologists and residents of the surrounding village of Nakovana who simply referred to it as “Spila,” which translates to “the cave.”
However, no one was aware at the time that a portion of the cave had been closed off more than 2,000 years prior. Forenbaher’s then-girlfriend dug through the debris and found a broad, low tube that extended for over 33 feet in the dark (10 meters). “The unique King Tut experience, coming to a spot where nobody has been for a couple of thousand years,” was how Forenbaher put it when describing entering the corridor.
Forenbaher recalled that when he first entered the cavern, “there was a very thin limestone crust on the surface that was splitting under your boots, which meant that nobody walked there in a very, very, long time.”
It had been blocked off in the first century B.C., presumably in reaction to a Roman military campaign against the locals, the researchers would later discover.
When the archaeologists looked further, they discovered a stalagmite with a phallic shape, as well as several drinking containers that had been accumulated over a long period of time. Forenbaher recalled that during the excavation, “these incredibly minute bits and pieces of ivory came up, and we didn’t even know what we had at the time.”
The group got to work. Years of piecing them together, discovering further tidbits, and determining what they were, according to Forenbaher, followed. Finally, they came to a point where they were staring at the charred remains of the oldest known astrological board.
The board’s origin and how it got to the cave are both unknown to archaeologists. The Babylonians created their own kind of horoscopes about 2,400 years ago, which is when astrology first emerged in antiquity.
Then, about 2,100 years ago, astrology began to expand throughout the eastern Mediterranean and gained popularity in Egypt, which was then ruled by a dynasty of Greek monarchs.
The current type of astrology, which is what we typically refer to as the Greek style of astrology, is considerably modified, according to Jones. The Greek tradition served as the basis for astrology throughout the Middle Ages and into contemporary Europe, contemporary India, and other regions.
The ivory used to produce the zodiac images was created around 2,200 years ago, just before the advent of this new system of astrology, according to radiocarbon dating.
Egypt is a possibility, although researchers are unsure about the board’s manufacturing location. They believe that the ivory itself came from an elephant that was slaughtered or passed away in the nearby area. Given its value, the ivory would have been kept in storage for a long timepossibly even a centurybefore being used to create the zodiac. The board, which might have had other components that perished, would have been made by attaching these signs to a flat (perhaps wooden) surface.
It might have at some stage been loaded onto a ship sailing over the Adriatic Sea, a significant trade route that the cave looks out on. Illyrians were the name given to the inhabitants of Croatia at the time. Although they were generally denigrated by ancient writers, archaeological evidence indicates that they interacted with surrounding Greek colonies and played an important role in the Mediterranean region.
It’s probable that a Greek colony astrologer visited the cave to make a forecast. Although it might not have been practical for the astrologer, a session done under the flickering light of the cavern would have been a potent experience.
Jones said that it didn’t seem like a very practical location for performing astrological homework, such as computing planetary placements.
Another hypothesis is that the Illyrians did not completely comprehend the use of the astrology board and traded or stole it from someone. The board and the drinking utensils would have been offered to an unknown deity who was worshipped in the cave at that point.
Forenbaher stated that there is “certainly a probability” that the astrologer’s board appeared as an offering alongside other unique items that were either purchased or looted from a passing ship. He emphasized how meticulously selected drinking containers were discovered in the cave. Only a few specimens of simpler amphora storage vessels were discovered with them, and these were constructed elsewhere.
According to Forenbaher, “it nearly seems like someone was bringing out wine there, pouring it, and then throwing the amphora away because they weren’t good enough for the gods or to be placed in the sanctuary.”
The phallic-shaped stalagmite, which may have formed naturally there, appears to have served as a focal point for both these rites and the offerings made in the cavern. Forenbaher said that while all stalagmites exhibit certain phallic characteristics, it can be challenging to interpret their significance for the inhabitants of the cave. It undoubtedly had significant meaning, he added.
This is a location where valuable items that were once kept locally were given to a supernatural force, transcendental being, or whatever.
Where did the signs of the zodiac begin?
During the early half of the first millennium BC, Babylonian astronomy is where the zodiacal signs were originally divided into sections of the ecliptic. The MUL.APIN catalogue, which was created circa 1000 BC, is one of the early Babylonian star catalogues that the zodiac takes stars from. Other constellations, such as Gemini “The Twins,” from MA.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL “The Great Twins,” and Cancer “The Crab,” from AL.LUL “The Crayfish,” can be traced even further back, to Bronze Age (First Babylonian dynasty) origins.
Which zodiac sign was the first to be created?
The first zodiac sign, Aries, which is represented by the Latin word for “ram” in Greek, is located in the first 30 celestial longitude degrees (0).
Who created the constellations?
Historical research suggests that it is possible that other ancient civilizations directly influenced the development of the Greek constellations. specifically, the Sumerians and Babylonians of antiquity. Given that both of these civilizations and the Greeks inhabited similar latitudes, this makes logical. They could see the same night sky from their location on Earth, so to speak.
Every civilization has created its own theory regarding the constellations. For instance, Orion, the son of the sea deity Poseidon, was revered as a great hunter by the ancient Greeks. But for the ancient Egyptians, the same constellation represented Osiris, the god of life and death.
Because of the constellation-free area discovered in Greek celestial charts, historians have come to the conclusion that the Greek constellations originated in the Mesopotamian civilizations of the ancient Babylonians and Sumerians. It is obvious that the constellations were first noticed close to a latitude of 36 north based on the size and location of this unexplored region of the sky. This indicates that it was north of Egypt and south of Greece. What does this clue suggest to us? By examining the Mesopotamian civilizations, which were situated in the fertile areas of modern-day Iraq and Syria, the mystery of the origin of the Greek constellations is solved.
The zodiac’s constellations were selected for what reason?
The 12 zodiacal signs that make up a horoscope are closely related to how the Earth travels through space. The constellations that outline the course the sun appears to take throughout the year are where we get these signs from. You might believe that the dates in a horoscope match up with the times the sun transits each constellation. However, because astrology and astronomy employ different systems, they frequently do not. The zodiac is also more complex than you might think when you look closely at how the Earth, the sun, and the stars move!
The sun’s motion through the constellations
The sun appears to pass in front of many constellations as Earth revolves the sun. The position of the sun with relation to the far-off background stars drifts in an easterly direction from day to day, much how the moon appears in a slightly different spot in the sky each night. The sun isn’t actually moving, though. Its apparent movement is purely an illusion brought on by Earth’s rotation around our star.
The sun appears to pass in front of or “in” various constellations throughout the course of a year. The sun is in Gemini one month and Cancer the following. The sun enters a specific astrological sign on the dates specified in the newspaper’s horoscope. For instance, the Aries sign is designated for the period from March 21 to April 19. The constellation the sun was in on the day you were born is not always revealed by your astrological sign.
Why the zodiac constellations don’t always align with astrological signs
We need to know a little bit more about how the Earth moves in order to comprehend why constellations no longer line up with the respective signs. We must also discuss how we measure time.
Especially if we insist on utilizing the sun and stars as a reference, time is a fiendishly challenging concept to define. For better or worse, the seasons influence our calendar. The day the sun appears at its most northern position in the sky is June 21, which is roughly the date of the summer solstice north of the equator and the winter solstice to the south. The North Pole is most inclined toward the sun on the June solstice.
This is exacerbated by the fact that, in relation to the background stars, the North Pole is not constantly pointed in the same direction. The earth rotates like a top. The Earth sways just like a top! The North Pole draws a circle on the celestial sphere as a result of the Earth’s rotation. It takes 26,000 years for the wobble to complete one full rotation. However, the effect builds up with time.
The orientation of the Earth’s axis drifts just slightly during one orbit around the sun. This indicates that a very little amount of change also occurs in the location along our orbit when the solstice occurs. Actually, the solstice happens around 20 minutes sooner than one full trip in front of the stars in the background!
Our drifting calendars
The fact that we base our calendar on the solstices and equinoxesas do astrologersmeans that the Earth doesn’t truly complete one orbit in a year. Actually, the seasonal or tropical year lasts just a little bit less than one complete orbit (sidereal year). Thus, every year, the sun’s position in relation to the stars on any particular day changes. For instance, June 21 wanders a minuscule amount.
The sun will be located in a completely different constellation if you wait roughly 2,000 years!
Two thousand years ago, the sun was almost exactly halfway between Gemini and Cancer on the June solstice. On the June solstice fourteen years ago, the sun was positioned halfway between Gemini and Taurus. The June solstice point will move from the constellation Taurus into the constellation Aries in the year 4609.
When the modern Western zodiac was established some 2,000 years ago, the signs were roughly in alignment with the respective constellations. The solstice and equinox positions have moved about 30 degrees westward in relation to the constellations over the millennia due to the Earth’s steady axis wobble. Signs and constellations are currently around one month away. They’ll be roughly two months away in another two thousand years.
Modern constellations and the zodiac
The fact that the constellations are not all the same size and shape, unlike the astrological signs, further complicates matters. Most of the time, there is no physical connection between the stars that make up a constellation. They are simply based on the patterns that our ancestors observed while looking up at the sky and attempting to make sense of it all.
The International Astronomical Union officially recognized the constellations as parts of the sky, rather than just as collections of stars, in 1930. They established the borders we use today with this. These contemporary constellations have their origins in those made popular by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century CE. He then took them from antiquated Babylonian writings. Numerous tribes have reported seeing distinctive sky patterns. Although most cultures don’t, several do (Orion is one notable exception).
There are actually 13 constellations along the sun’s course with the present borders. Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, which is located between Sagittarius and Scorpius, is the additional sign that isn’t mentioned in any horoscope. The solstices and equinoxes move westward in relation to the constellations or background stars, but the signs remain stable in relation to them.
The zodiac is a great tool for better understanding the motions of the sun, the Earth, and even the cultures that have come and gone on our tiny planet, even though it may not be a great predictor of love, fortune, or health. The constellations along the route of the sun in the sky gave rise to the zodiac signs, which track the orbit and wobble of Earth and serve as a reminder of the humble beginnings of astronomy.
The word “zodiac” is often associated with astrology, although it also has a respected role in astronomy. The 12 constellations that line the sun’s yearly course across the sky make up the zodiac.
Who is the astrology’s founder?
William Frederick Allan, aka Alan Leo, was a well-known British astrologer, author, publisher, collector of astrological data, and theosophist. He was born in Westminster on August 7, 1860, and passed away in Bude on August 30, 1917. The “father of modern astrology” is how people frequently refer to him.
After falling out of favor in the West towards the end of the 17th century, his work sparked its resurgence. Leo was an ardent theosophist who incorporated many of its spiritual ideas, including karma and rebirth, into his astrology. He published, translated, and distributed his material throughout Europe and America using the Theosophical Society’s extensive global connections.
Who was the first astrologer in history?
The cultures and cosmologies of Syria, Babylon, Persia, and central Asia were introduced to the Greeks through Alexander the Great’s conquest of Asia. Astrology was transmitted from cuneiform to Greek as part of the process through which Greek replaced cuneiform script as the primary language of intellectual communication worldwide. Berossus was a priest of Bel from Babylon who relocated to the Greek island of Kos somewhere around 280 BC to instruct the Greeks in astrology and Babylonian culture. With this, the “creative force” of astrology, as described by historian Nicholas Campion, migrated to the Hellenistic realm of Greece and Egypt. According to Campion, the complexity of the astrology that emerged from the Eastern World was distinctive, and it took on various shapes. Two types of astrology existed in the first century BC: theurgic (literally, “god work”), which focused on the soul’s journey to the stars, and one that required the reading of horoscopes in order to determine specific facts about the past, present, and future. Although they were not exclusive, the former sought knowledge about life, while the latter was interested in personal development, where astrology served as a means of communication with God.
Like so many other things, Greek culture had a significant impact on how astrological thinking got to Rome. Our earliest examples of its presence in Rome, however, show its initial impact on the lower classes of society and show worry over the unquestioning application of Babylonian “star-gazers” views. Babylonia, also known as Chaldea, was so closely associated with astrology among the Greeks and Romans that the term “Chaldean knowledge” became a slang term for celestial divination.
The orator Cato wrote a treatise in 160 BC cautioning farm managers against consulting with Chaldeans, which contains the earliest known mention to astrology. Juvenal, a Roman poet who wrote satires on Roman women’s customs in the second century, laments the Chaldeans’ pervasive influence, despite the Chaldeans’ low social standing, saying “Still more trusted are the Chaldaeans; every word uttered by the astrologer they will believe has come from Hammon’s fountain,… nowadays no astrologer has credit unless he has been imprisoned in some distant
Thrasyllus, who served as the emperor Tiberius’ astrologer in the first century CE, was one of the first astrologers to introduce Hermetic astrology to Rome. Although his predecessor Augustus had previously employed astrology to assist legitimize his Imperial privileges, Tiberius was the first emperor to be said to have had a court astrologer. The earliest attempt to create an exact world map (previous maps were more relativistic or allegorical) was made by the astrologer Claudius Ptolemy in the second century CE in order to record the relationship between the person’s birthplace and the heavenly bodies. He also created the term “geography” in the process.
Even while there is evidence that the emperors used astrology to some level, there was also some degree of astrology restriction. Publius Rufus Anteius was charged with sponsoring the exiled astrologer Pammenes and paying for both his own and the horoscope of the reigning emperor Nero in the first century CE. Nero made Anteius commit suicide as retribution for this crime. Astrology was likely to be accused of witchcraft and treason during this period.
A useful historical source for the concept of science in Roman classical Antiquity is Cicero’s De divinatione (44 BCE), which scorns astrology and other purportedly divinatory methods. In his book Against the Astrologers, the Pyrrhonist philosopher Sextus Empiricus collated the anti-astrology justifications from antiquity.
