Astrology in the Ancient World

Description

Even today, despite the dominance of astronomy in shaping our understanding of the universe, stars, planets, and weather patterns, astrology retains its allure, captivating people with its enchanting charm and its capacity to innovate and perpetuate itself. It has even managed to leverage the achievements of astronomy, adapting them to its own wondrous and astonishing path. We have found that the history of ancient astrology holds many keys that can unlock numerous complex cultural, religious, and mythological mysteries. The hidden, magical core of astrology represents a constant source of fascination throughout the ages, imbuing it with a sense of mystery and wonder, allowing it to explore the realms of the unknown and giving it its unique allure. A great scholar like Carl Gustav Jung did not hesitate to employ it in his entire intellectual system, and many others followed suit. This book attempts to investigate the history of astrology in the ancient world, which extends from prehistoric times until the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, and stops at the beginning of medieval history. It deals with astrology in prehistoric times, then Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Indian, and Chinese astrology. It also deals with Mandaean, Jewish, Greek, Roman, and Mayan astrology, and it deals with history as an astrological treatise in the work of the great astrologers. It is truly remarkable to say that all those who worked in astronomy, from ancient times until the seventeenth century, were interested in astrology and wrote about it. Astrology is the popular and magical face of astronomy, which spreads among people in various forms. Johannes Kepler, the most famous astrologer of his time and the last of the astronomers who worked in astrology, said about it his famous saying: Astrology is undoubtedly a stupid daughter, but – oh my God – what could its mother, astronomy, the great science of astronomy that regulates the mind, have done without it? The world is so foolish and ignorant, so deeply entrenched in its folly and ignorance, that people would disbelieve this wise and conservative mother and misunderstand her, were it not for her daughter’s tricks and absurdities. Hunger would gnaw at her, were it not for that foolish daughter of hers.