Where Did The Term “Horoscope” Come From?

Astrology, a branch of astronomy, has its roots in ancient Mesopotamia and has been used to predict future events. The practice of astrology originated in the city of Babylon, where stars and planets were used to interpret the sky. The Greeks borrowed some myths from the Babylonians and developed their own, which is why the word astrology and the science of astronomy are derived from the Greek words for “ascendant” and “horoscope”.

The Chinese zodiac, a belt around the sky extending 9° on either side of the ecliptic, contains 12 zodiac signs. The word horoscope comes from the Greek words ōra, meaning “time or hour”, and skopos, meaning “observer or watching”. It originated in Mesopotamia (c. 3rd millennium BC) and spread to India. It developed its Western form in Greek civilization during the Hellenistic period. Astrology entered Islamic culture as part of the Greek tradition.

The word horoscope has multiple origins, partly a borrowing from Latin and partly a borrowing from French. The meaning of a horoscope is a diagram of the relative positions of planets and signs of the zodiac at a specific time (as at one’s birth). The earliest evidence for astrology dates back to the 3rd millennium BC, with roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal changes.

In conclusion, astrology has evolved over time, with the concept of observing the hour of one’s birth being a central aspect of this practice. The origins of the term “horoscope” can be traced back to the Greek words ōra and scopos, which mean “time” and “observer”.