Why Did People In Antiquity Study Astrology?

Astrology, a branch of divination that focuses on the influence of stars and planets on earthly affairs and human destinies, has evolved from simple celestial observation to a theological base of interpretation. The movements of celestial objects were used as portents of the future, predicting the rise of kings, the fate of empires, and other issues critical to the continuation of power by the ruling priestly class. The earliest evidence for astrology dates back to the 3rd millennium BC, with roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal shifts and interpret celestial cycles as signs of divine communications.

In ancient times, astrology was inseparable from astronomy and originated in Mesopotamia (c. 3rd century BC). It has shaped civilizations for centuries, from Babylonian priests to Roman emperors, and continues to provide guidance for younger generations seeking guidance in governance, religion, and medicine. The word for “ascendant” in ancient Greek is horoskopos, which is where the English word “horoscope” comes from. Early horoscopic astrology was used to plot astrological charts that visualized the position of the signs of the zodiac in the night sky and the movement of the planets.

The early history of astrology is closely interrelated with the history of astronomy, as both may be studied separately but the result is the same: a knowledge of astrology’s claims, practices, and world view is essential for a full understanding. Astrology was a central feature of Greek and Roman culture, and its predictions, practices, and world view are essential for a full understanding.

Astrology had a radical view of time, where the future already existed, at least in potential, and astrologers’ task was to intervene in time, altering the future.

Why were ancient civilizations obsessed with astrology?

Astrology, despite being rejected as a science, played a significant role in the development of science along the Silk Roads. Scholars believed in the influence of celestial bodies, leading to meticulous observations of the night sky, stars, and planets. These observations, often with great accuracy, made forecasts more reliable. Despite unintended consequences, these observations had useful consequences in astronomy. Astrological calculations by ancient Babylonians led to new discoveries in geometry, and accurate instruments like the astrolabe were developed.

Despite differing beliefs about its scientific merits, astrology and astronomy were closely linked in Ancient and Medieval times due to a synthesis of cross-cultural knowledge from different regions connected by the Silk Roads.

Why did the Egyptians study astronomy?

Egyptians were interested in astronomy due to the Nile River’s vital role in their agriculture and the occurrence of the first visible stars at dawn. This led to the development of a 365-day calendar, a significant breakthrough in ancient times. Egyptians also worshipped the Sun, as it played a crucial role in their culture and religion. The major Egyptian deity was Ra, the god of the Sun, who ruled over the sky, Earth, and underworld.

Early Egyptians were deeply interested in the night sky, focusing on two bright stars circling the North Pole: Kochab and Mizar, belonging to the Ursa Minor and Ursa Major constellations. These stars, known as “the indestructibles”, were used to accurately align pyramids or temples with the earth’s four cardinal points. The Nile River’s lifeblood and the occurrence of the first visible stars at dawn fueled their interest in astronomy.

Why did the ancients believe in astrology?

Astrology is a complex practice that posits that celestial phenomena hold significance for Earth’s events. It originated in Mesopotamia and was imported into the Hellenistic world from the early 4th century BCE. It was associated with three philosophical schools: Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics, who believed in the cosmos as a single, living, integrated whole. Hellenistic astrology also drew on Egyptian temple culture, particularly the belief that the soul could ascend to the stars. By the 1st century CE, the belief in the close link between humanity and the stars had become democratized and diversified across Greek and Roman culture.

Astrology was practiced at the imperial court and in the street, and it could be used to predict individual destiny, avert undesirable events, and arrange auspicious moments for new ventures. It was conceived of as natural science and justified by physical influences or considered divination, concerned with communication with gods and goddesses. In some versions, planets were seen as timing devices, indicating the ebb and flow of human affairs. Astrology had a radical view of time, where the future already existed, and astrologers’ task was to intervene in time to alter the future to human advantage.

There was no single version of astrology, and disputes about its nature and capabilities arose. From the early 4th century, it faced challenges from Christianity and the fragmentation of classical culture, especially in Western Europe. However, it survived in Persia, exerted a powerful influence on Indian astrology, and was transmitted to the Islamic world. Understanding astrology’s place in Greek and Roman culture is crucial for understanding religion, politics, and science in these societies and the history of Western science.

Why astrology is unscientific?

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.

What was the original purpose of astrology?

Astrology was initially designed to inform individuals about their life course based on the positions of planets and zodiacal signs at birth or conception. Genethlialogy, or casting nativities, developed the fundamental techniques of astrology. Subsequences of astrology include general, catarchic, and interrogatory. General astrology studies the relationship between significant celestial moments and social groups, nations, or humanity.

Catarchic astrology determines if a chosen moment is conducive to success of a course of action. This approach conflicts with genethlialogy interpretation, but allows individuals or corporations to act at astrologically favorable times to avoid failures predicted from their nativity.

Did Sumerians study astrology?

Babylonian astrology is the earliest organized system of astrology, originating in the 2nd millennium BC. It is believed to have originated in the Sumerian period in the 3rd millennium BC, but the evidence of ancient celestial omens is insufficient to establish an integrated theory. The history of scholarly celestial divination is generally reported to begin with late Old Babylonian texts (c. 1800 BC) and continue through the Middle Babylonian and Middle Assyrian periods (c. 1200 BC).

By the 16th century BC, Babylonian astrology was primarily focused on weather and political matters, with astronomical symbols likely representing seasonal tasks. Astrological symbols were used as a yearly almanac of listed activities to remind communities to perform tasks appropriate to the season or weather. By the 4th century, mathematical methods had progressed enough to calculate future planetary positions with reasonable accuracy, leading to the emergence of extensive ephemerides.

Babylonian astrology developed within the context of divination, with the oldest known detailed texts of Babylonian divination dating back to around 1875 BC. These texts demonstrate the same interpretational format as celestial omen analysis, with blemishes and marks found on the liver of sacrificial animals being interpreted as symbolic signs presenting messages from the gods to the king.

What does the Bible say about astrology?

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 was the ancient goal of astrology?

The practice of astrology, an ancient science, sought to predict future human events by analyzing the alignment of stars in the night sky.

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.

Why did Egyptians use astrology?

Ancient Egyptians developed a system of astrology and astronomy, known as Egyptian astrology, which posited that solar movements could predict natural environmental events such as famine and floods. This system sought to connect human experiences with the cosmos and to predict natural phenomena.