Where Did Horoscopes Come From?

Astrology, a practice that began in ancient Mesopotamia in the second millennium B.C., has evolved over time and is influenced by various cultural influences, myths, and symbols. The Latin word horoscopus, which means “nativity, horoscope”, comes from Greek words meaning “observer of the hour (of birth)” and “observer, watcher”. The first horoscopes were created by ancient Babylonian astronomers, who used them to predict the future based on the position of stars and planets.

The concept of astrology first appeared in Hellenistic Egypt around 2000 BCE, with the earliest extant Greek text using the Babylonian division of the zodiac into twelve signs of thirty equal degrees each being the Anaphoricus of. Astronomers observed how celestial bodies’ movements influenced Earth events and began developing astrological knowledge. The practice spread to India, but developed its Western form in Greek civilization during the Hellenistic period. Astrology entered Islamic culture as part of the Greek tradition and was returned to European culture through Arabic learning during the Middle Ages.

Babylonian astrology is the earliest recorded organized system of astrology, arising in the 2nd millennium BC. By the 16th century BC, the extensive employment of astrology had expanded to India. The current iteration of Western Astrology is highly influenced by ancient Greece and ancient Babylon, with the zodiac history primarily derived from the Babylonians’ observations of celestial bodies.

The origins of the zodiac and astrology can be traced back to the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, with the zodiac and astrology playing a significant role in shaping human understanding of the natural world.

Who invented horoscopes?

Astrology has its roots in ancient Mesopotamia, where stars and planets were used to interpret omens from the gods. Only certain individuals were considered qualified to interpret these omens, with Babylonian priests detailing how celestial bodies would impact society. The Babylonians developed 12 astrological signs, some of which were later incorporated into the Western zodiac. The ancient Greeks named these signs after constellations and linked them to specific dates based on their alignment with the sun’s orbit. The term “zodiac” originates from the Greek phrase “zōdiakos kyklos”, meaning “circle of animals”.

What religion is astrology based on?

The Vedanga Jyotisha is the earliest Vedic text on astronomy, which later included astrology. Hindu natal astrology originated with Hellenistic astrology by the 3rd century BCE, incorporating Hindu lunar mansions. The names of signs, planets, and astrological terms in Varaha Mihira’s texts are considered conclusive evidence of a Greek origin for Hindu astrology. Indian techniques may have been augmented with some Babylonian techniques.

Chinese astrology has a close relationship with Chinese philosophy and uses concepts such as yin and yang, the Five phases, the 10 Celestial stems, the 12 Earthly Branches, and shichen (a form of timekeeping used for religious purposes). The early use of Chinese astrology was mainly confined to political astrology, the observation of unusual phenomena, identification of portents, and the selection of auspicious days for events and decisions.

The Chinese zodiac of twelve animal signs represents twelve different types of personality and is based on cycles of years, lunar months, and two-hour periods of the day (the shichen). The zodiac traditionally begins with the Rat sign and proceeds through 11 other animal signs. Complex systems of predicting fate and destiny based on one’s birthday, birth season, and birth hours, such as ziping and Zi Wei Dou Shu, are still used regularly in modern-day Chinese astrology.

Is astrology real in Islam?

The Hadith, a collection of Islamic religious teachings, is a significant part of the Islamic faith. It outlines the instructions and practices of Muhammad, who criticized the legality and illegality of astrology. According to Abu Dawud, seeking knowledge from the stars is considered witchcraft, which is inherently forbidden in Islam. The Hadith also emphasizes that rain is a blessing bestowed only by Allah, and any belief that rain is a result of other beings is considered disbelief.

The Hadith also mentions the stars, stating that those who suggest rain originates from a star are considered disbelievers in Allah. This concept of astrology and the belief in celestial beings’ influence on anything other than what is enshrined in the Quran and Hadith constitutes shirk (blasphemy) and leads one to leave the fold of the religion.

Second-century Islamic scholar Imam Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, views astrology as fundamentally forbidden in the Islamic religion. He warns followers not to learn the science of stars except for guidance on land or sea, as it leads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner. This aligns with the Quran, which points to stars and astrology as only a means of navigation.

However, prominent scholars like Ibn Arabi and Ikhwan argue that planets are not considered God but do suggest each prophet with a specific planet/celestial being. Prophet Idris, also known as Enoch, was gifted with great knowledge of the stars and used his gift to meditate upon God’s grandeur and teach others. He believed that the stars and moon contributed to mankind and founded the study of the stars.

Different sects of Islam offer varying perspectives on the concept of astrology.

Is there any truth behind astrology?

Astrology is a belief system that suggests a connection between astronomical phenomena and human events or personality descriptions. However, it has been criticized by the scientific community for lacking explanatory power and lack of scientific validity. Scientific testing has found no evidence to support the premises or effects outlined in astrological traditions. The most famous test, led by Shawn Carlson, concluded that natal astrology performed no better than chance.

Astrology has not demonstrated its effectiveness in controlled studies and has no scientific validity, making it regarded as pseudoscience. There is no proposed mechanism by which stars and planets affect people and events on Earth in the way astrologers claim, which contradicts well-understood aspects of biology and physics.

Is there any truth in astrology?

Astrology is a belief system that suggests a connection between astronomical phenomena and human events or personality descriptions. However, it has been criticized by the scientific community for lacking explanatory power and scientific testing has found no evidence to support its premises or effects. The most famous test, led by Shawn Carlson, concluded that natal astrology performed no better than chance. Astrology has not demonstrated its effectiveness in controlled studies and has no scientific validity, making it regarded as pseudoscience.

There is no proposed mechanism by which stars and planets’ positions and motions could affect people and events on Earth in the way astrologers claim, which contradicts well-understood aspects of biology and physics. Modern scientific inquiry into astrology focuses on the correlation between astrological traditions and the influence of seasonal birth in humans.

Where do the zodiac signs originate from?

The zodiac, a system of stars, originated in Babylonian astronomy during the first half of the 1st millennium BC. It was based on stars from earlier Babylonian star catalogues, such as the MUL. APIN catalogue, which was compiled around 1000 BC. Some constellations can be traced back to Bronze Age sources, such as Gemini “The Twins” and Cancer “The Crab”. Around the end of the fifth century BC, Babylonian astronomers divided the ecliptic into 12 equal “signs”, each containing 30° of celestial longitude, creating the first known celestial coordinate system.

The zodiac was introduced between 409 and 398 BC, during Persian rule, and probably within a few years of 401 BC. Babylonian astronomers fixed the zodiac in relation to stars, placing the beginning of Cancer at the “Rear Twin Star” (β Geminorum) and the beginning of Aquarius at the “Rear Star of the Goat-Fish” (δ Capricorni). The time of year the Sun is in a given constellation has changed since Babylonian times due to the precession of the equinoxes.

Where did astrology start from?

The Babylonians are credited with originating astrology, utilizing their astrological charts to predict seasonal recurrence and celestial events. This established a long-standing relationship between astrology and astronomy.

Are zodiac signs real in the Bible?

In Matthew 28:18, Jesus asserts that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. This contradicts biblical wisdom, as chasing after false gods is a sin. There is no biblical evidence that God has given authority to stars or astrologists. Pursuing predictions about our destiny or personality is biblically sinful, as it takes power from God and gives it to something other than God. A horoscope cannot change what God has already ordained before we were even created.

What does Islam say about astrology?

The earliest Islamic stance against astrology can be traced back to individuals such as Abd al-Jabbar and Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi, who sought to justify the causal influence of celestial beings on terrestrial life forms. Historical texts like Kitab al-Daraj provide evidence of the presence of astrology in early Islam. However, even before these individuals, historians and theologians like Al Hashimi sought to justify the role of astrology in influencing Islamic adherents’ religion.

Al Hashimi, through philosophers like Masha Allah, explored the possibility of the influence of stars on one’s morality and religion in general. He cited Masha Allah’s idea that the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s birth was a result of a coming together of celestial objects, essentially pointing to the inherent birth of Muhammad as a result of astrological events. Both Masha Allah and Al Hashimi draw upon similarities but draw upon their inherent stance in pointing to the planets, stars, and other celestial beings as the primary means by which divine rule is exercised, i. e., how God emanates control over all life forms.

Early Muslims relied on the sun and moon to determine important things such as the direction of Mecca, fasting times for Ramadan, and the beginning and end of each month. They used astrology and the position of the planets to predict the health and well-being of individuals, with eclipses in Libra, Aquarius, or Gemini being predictions of worldwide plagues, and comets or shooting stars being predictions of famine and sickness.

Many interpretations of the Quran point to astrology as that which goes against the fundamental principles preached by the Islamic religious tradition. Astrology ultimately points to the role of celestial beings in influencing terrestrial life and the everyday lives of individuals, ultimately hindering their destiny. Various excerpts from the Quran are interpreted to disprove this theory, with the Quran in Surah Al-Jinn suggesting that any such presence of extraterrestrial influence on mankind is not plausible and is therefore haram (forbidden) in Islam.

The Hadith, a reference to the instructions and practices of Muhammad, encourages adherents of the Islamic faith to embody the concept of astrology. Muhammad made various claims regarding the legality/illegality of astrology with regards to the Islamic religious tradition, such as the belief that rain is a bounty bestowed only by Allah (God). The Hadith makes specific mention to the stars, suggesting that those who suggest rain originates as a result of a star are a disbeliever in Me (Allah).

This works to fundamentally embody the concept of astrology and the consequent belief in the idea that celestial beings have an influence on anything other than what enshrined in the Quran and Hadith as shirk (blasphemy), leading one to leave the fold of the religion.

Is astrology from Islam?

Astrology has played a significant role in the Islamic tradition since the Islamic Golden Age (800-1258 CE). Early Muslims relied on celestial bodies like the Sun and Moon to calculate the time and direction of Mecca, determine sunrise and sunset for fasting in Ramadan, and observe the phases of the moon to mark the beginning of a new month. Astrological doctrines, such as horoscopes, zodiacal elements, and planetary influences, derived from ancient Greek, Indian, and Persian traditions.

Islamic astronomers followed this tradition, using the same symbols, signs, and order of zodiac signs. They referred to the zodiac cycles as falak al-buruj or dairat al-buruj, both meaning ‘zodiacal sphere’. Islamic astrology was less concerned with the signs themselves and more with the planets that ruled them, with each sign representing a different element and energy.