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Boekbesprekingen van WIN ROWE
Astrology History
- Al-Biruni, India ed Edward Sachau, (Lahore, West Pakistan, 1962).
This is Al-Biruni's most celebrated work. It is a geographic, historical,
ethnographic, and scientific review of the condition of India in Al-Biruni's
time. There is a great deal of useful astrological information in it,
as well as other important things. Al-Biruni's dates are given on the
Library of Congress card, as 973 A.D.-1048 A.D. This book is still used
as a reference book on Indian civilization.
- Al-Biruni,The Determination of the Co-ordinates of Cities, Al-Biruni's
Tahdid al Amakin, trans. Jamil Ali, (Beirut,Lebanon, The American University
of Beirut, 1967).
I have not seen this publication, but it is the work of Al-Biruni on
which E.S.Kennedy's Commentary is based.
- Augustine of Hippo, St. Confessions trans Pusey (New York, N.Y. Modern
Library Editions, 1949).
This is a standard 19th Century translation, any will do. Book VII,
pp 125-128 gives the biographical details of Augustine's involvement
with astrology, and the depth of his ultimate rejection of it. See also
Augustine, The City of God.
- Augustine of Hippo, St. The City of God edit David Knowles, trans.
Henry Bettenson, (London, 1972).
This is another one of those works opposing astrology that gives us
valuable information about how it was done in the classical world. Augustine
dabbled in the art in his youth, and could set up and read a Horoscope.
This is a good translation of City which I recommend. Astrological references
are mostly in Book V. See also Augustine, Confessions.
- Charlesworth, James H. edThe Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol I
(Garden City, New York, 1983).
See 1 Enoch,(Ethiopic Apocalypse of) Book III, Sections 72-82 (p50):
and 2 Enoch,(Slavonic Apocalypse of) chapters 13-20 (pgs 122-134).)
This is an alternate version to the H.F.D. Sparks, The Apocryphal Old
Testament. In this version both Slavonic MSS are translated, whereas
in the Sparks the shorter version is preferred. For details of the astrological
significance of the text see the note on the Sparks version.
- Chaucer, Geoffrey A Treatise on the Astrolabe in Chaucer: Complete
Works ed. Walter W. Skeat (London, Oxford University Press, 1973).
Beginning on p 396 of the Complete Works we see the famous Treatise
on the Astrolabe for my "litel sone Lewis" by the father of English
verse, even more, the father of the English Language. The work is practical
and shows in intimate detail how some of the work of a practicing renniasance
astrologer was performed.
- Cramer, F.H. Astrology in Roman Law and Politics (Philadelphia,1954).
Tester claims that Cramer was a little indiscriminate in his use of
the sources, but even he admits that most of the source materials, from
monuments, documents and the like, are included.
- Dorotheus of Sidon, Carmen Astrologicum ed David Pingree (Leipzig,
B.G.Teubner, 1967).
This is a publication of an arabic text of the Carmen Astrologicum collated
with the existing greek fragments, and translated by David Pingree.
As part of the Teubner Library it is probably the authoritative text.
Hellenistic astrology is my term for what Tester calls Byzantine astrology.
I like it because it allows us to distinguish between the astrology
of the classical (stoic?) period (ie C. Ptolemy) and the somewhat different
astrologers of Syria, separated not so much in time, as in cultural
characteristics, less "scientific", more inclined to pseudepigrapha,
to "revelations", to post neoplatonic mysticism and magic, and so forth.
It is important to note that Dorotheus of Sidon was an almost exact
contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth in the same part of the world. Beirut
is only about 147 miles from Jerusalem.
- Empiricus, Sextus, Adversus Astrologos in Adversus Mathamaticos 5
ed. and trans. R.G.Bury (Cambridge MA, Loeb Classical Library Vol IV.1949)
This is probably the best work opposing astrology written in Greek.
Sextus Empericus has given his name to empiricism, but it is not entirely
an accurate label. He was a" pyrrhonist" ie an extreme sceptic, and
in the same work he "disproves" mathamatics and geometry. In opposing
astrology he records a good deal of descriptive material which actually
advances our knowledge of ancient astrological techniques a little.
An important source.
See also A.A.Long, Ptolemy on the Criterion for more particulars about
Empiricus philosophy and the response to it of Ptolemy and Galen, the
famous greek physician.
- Fagan, Cyril, Astrological Origins, (St Paul, MINN,1971).
A work similar to Rupert Gleadow's but more excentric and less reliable.
Again a representative of the english siderialist school.
- Fagan, Cyril,Zodiacs--Old and New (Los Angeles, CA, 1950)
More of Fagan's detailed research into the origins of the zodiac, and
the "true ayanamsa" etc. More siderialism.
- Gadbury, John The Nativity of King Charls reprint (No Place Given,
Clara M. Darr, 1974).
An excellent example of a seventeenth century astrological publicist
at work. Note the use of Regiomontanus Houses. Gadbury was one of the
Royalist astrologers, in distinction to Lilly who steered a more careful
course between Charles I and his parliamentary opponents.
- Gleadow, Rupert, The Origin of the Zodiac (London,1968).
This a source book used by Tester for some of his researches on the
relation between calendrical and astrological problems, and theses.
Gleadow is an english Siderialist, but also a quite good classical scholar.
More reliable than Cyril Fagan.
- Goldstein,Bernard R. The Arabic Version of Ptolemy's Planetary Hypothesis
(Philadelphia, 1967).
This publication pretty well demonstrates that Ptolemy did adhere to
the ancient doctrine that the soul deescends into the body through the
spheres, taking on the attributes of each planet as it passes through
its sphere. This doctrine has its origin in Plato's Myth of Er, but
was not associated with the planets by him.
- Hippolytus, The Refutation of All Heresies in Roberts, Alexander
and Donaldson,James eds The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Grand Rapids, Erdmans,1978)
See Book IV, Chapters I- XXVII (pgs 24-34) or the same passages from
any good translation of Hippolytus work. Hippolytus was one of the early
Church Fathers, who wrote against the heresies of the day. His attack
on Astrology is similar to that of Sextus Empericus, but like Sextus
he does describe much about the system he is attacking. His critique
of astrology is extended in an attack on the "Pythagoreans" which will
give us much numerological theory of the day. Hippolytus ranks with
St. Augustine, and Sextus Empericus as ancient opponents of astrology
who give valuable information about the system which they opposed.
- Howe, Ellic Astrology: A Recent History Including the Untold Story
of its Role in World War II. (New York, N.Y. 1967).
This is the best history of Astrology since about the time Tester's
story breaks off. It details the "Astrological Revival" in several countries,
right up to the 1950's. Howe is witty and urbane though an underlying
ambivilance about astrologers sometimes does break through. For modern
astrological history this book is essential. Howe does sometimes romanticize
a little about WW II according to critics of his work.
- James, Colin III, The Relative Strengths of Signs and Planets (Denver,
Colorado,1978.
This is a modern American contribution to the much neglected subject
of calculating the strengths of the planets in particular horoscopes.
The classical scholarship is a bit pretentious and often of dubious
quality, but the essay is a serious one and should be studied.
- Kennedy, E. S. A Commentary upon Biruni's Kitab Tahdid Al-Amakin
(Beirut, Lebanon, American University of Beirut, 1973).
A valuable commentary on a major geographic, mathematical, and spherical
trigonometric work by Al-Biruni. No direct, or very little, direct relevance
to astrology, but it explores several collatereal areas of great importance.
For pertinent insight into how the arabic scientific mind worked, it
is very important. For text see Al-Biruni .
- Lilly, William The Last of The Astrologers edit Katherine M. Briggs
reprint (London, Folklore Society, 1974).
This is a reprint of William Lilly's autobiography, which is valuable
in assessing the sincerity of a typical astrological publicist, popularizer,
and practicioner in the last centruy of its involvement in ordinary
public life in England.
- Lindsay, Jack, Origins of Astrology (London, Frederick Muller, 1971)
This is a good study by a serious classicist (He translated Apuleius,
The Golden Ass, for example). He knows a good deal less about astrology
than Tester, but piles up a lot of classical quotations and references
that are of value. Most complete when dealing with the Romans.
- Long, A.A. Ptolemy on the Criterion : An Epistemology for the Practicing
Scientist which is chapter 10 of Huby and Neal eds, The Criterion of
Truth (Liverpool, England,1989).
This is an excellent essay on Ptolemy's epistemological views, particularly
as related to those of Galen and Sextus Empiricus. As this affects the
kind of "science" which Ptolemy was seeking to achieve in his Tetrabiblos
it is of prime importance. See also Ptolemy's own work which is Chapter
11 in this same book.
- Manilius, Astronomica trans. G.P.Goold (Cambridge MA, 1977)
This is the preferred english translation, and the preferred commentary
on the Latin poetic work on astrology which preceeded C. Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos.
It is a very important text. The principle critical edition (without
translation) is by A.E.Houseman (yes! The famous poet,"Malt does more
than Milton can...") Houseman's notes and commentary are invaluable,
as much as an example of stimulating english academic prose, as an introduction
to the work. Everyone interested in Manilius should read it.
See also the English translation by Thomas Creech.
- Manilius, M. The Five Books: Containing a System of the Ancient Astronomy
and Astrology, togeather with the Philosophy of the Stoicks, done into
English verse with notes. trans. Thomas Creech (London,1697-Reprinted
Washington D.C. 1953)
This is a 17th Century translation in reprint. The translation is workmanlike,
and the notes a serious atrtempt to understand the original. He forces
Manilius too often into the strait jacket of Ptolemaic opinions, but
worth reading.
- Mead,G.R.S. Pistis Sophia; A Gnostic Miscellany (London, John M.
Watkins, 1963).
See especially pgs 1 to 33, being chapters 1 to 29. This is a doubtful
translation of a long known gnostic work. The listed section contains
much of interest from an astronomical and astrological point of view.
Some of the gnostics believed that the unenlightened were subject to
astrological influences, and this section describes this. See especially
chapter 21 (p 23-4) where all of this is particularly explicit. The
scene is similar to that in the two passages from Enoch, see H.F.D.
Sparks or James H. Charlesworth, Enoch I and II. Many other gnostic
writings have an interest as astrological source material, this citation
is only an initial step toward a more general review.
- Nasr, Seyyed Hossein,An Introduction to Islamic Cosmological Doctrines
(Boulder, Colorado, Shambala, 1978).
This is a study of various arabic sources, from the peak period of arabic
scientific and mathamatical writing, which explores not only the cosmological
doctrines which were held, but the philisophical and religious implications
of those doctrines. A valuable background study. Heavy focus on Al-Biruni,
and decent chapter on Astrology. Other arabic savants discussed include,
Ikhwan Al-Safa, and Ibn Sina.
- Neugebauer, O. and van Hoesen, H.B. Greek Horoscopes (Philadelphia,1959)
This is the essential source in english of horoscopes cast in the classical
period. Neugebauer and van Hoesen demonstrate beyond question that the
vast majority of these were in fact true attempts to display heavenly
phenomena, and while not all equally accurate, were not mere "Literary
Horoscopes" as is sometimes charged. Most of Vettius Valens actual horoscopes
are included.
- Pingree, David "Astrology" an article in Philip P. Weiner, Dictionary
of the History of Ideas (New, York, N.Y. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1968).
This is a short (8 pgs) article which expresses the views of D. Pingree,
a distinguished historian of science, who has specialized in editing
and translating astrological texts of great importance. His views are
probably from outside of the astrological community, but place astrological
ideas in the context of their contribution to the general history of
western intellectual development. It is as important as Tester for understanding
the contribution of the classical world to present day astrological
methods, and more important for understanding the bridge to Arabic and
Indian Astrology.
- Pingree, David The Thousands of Abu Mashar (London, The Warburg Institute,1968).
This is not a text of the Abu Mashar work, but rather a commentary on
its sources, and dating, by a most distinguished historian of science.
In the absence of an English translation this will have to do. The work
duplicates much of the subject matter of the Astrological History of
Masha'allah, with same characteristics of transmitting late hellenistic
ideas, pseudepigraphic habits, and romanticizing rewrites of history
to fit into vast schemes of periodization, all of which leads to India
and the Yogas and other Indian mythological perodizations. Given the
Hellenistic background, some questions about relations to the gnostics
with their Aeons and so forth should also be raised.
- Plotinus, The Enneads trans. MacKenna, ed by Page (Oxford,England,1969).
This is an excellent, complete and elegant translation. There is also
a Loeb Classical Library version wending its way through translation,
printing, etc and last I heard was not yet complete. I like this one
though some people criticise it as more coherent than Plotinus was,
but I ignore that. Plotinus rejected Astrology, though not completly,
as well as Gnosticism. The second Ennead contains most of the relevant
matter. Notice that the Enneads are edited by Porphory, a student of
Plotinus, and may not be presented in the order in which they were written.
Porphory's introduction gives a probable order of composition for those
who are interested. Plotinus has the reputation of being the last great
classical philosopher, and probably deserves it.
- Proclus, Paraphrase of Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos Trans J.M.Ashmand (Mokelumne
Hills, CA, 1969).
On the one hand this is a pretty dubious enterprise, a 17th century
translation of a poorly edited greek paraphrase of Ptolemy. However
the Proclus work does constitute the first COMMENTARY on Ptolemy's rather
difficult prose, and as such has value. This publication also contains
an english translation of the Centriloqium often attributed to Ptolemy.
It is almost certainly not by him, but was almost uninversally regarded
as his work in the late middle ages, and reniassance, hence it had an
enormus influence on the interpretation of his other works. There is
also an Aries Press reprint of this work in hard covers, which is more
valuable than the one listed above.
- Ptolemy, Claudius (Claudius Ptolemaeus)On the Kriterion and Hegemonikon
in Huby and Neal eds, The Criterion of Truth, (Liverpool, England,1989).
The actual text of Ptolemy's Kriterion is Chapter 11 of the Huby and
Neal book. It provides an excellent insight into his response to the
extreme scepticism of Sextus Empiricus, and may help to tell us why
he framed certain questions in the way that he did in the Tertrabiblos.
Essential to understanding the relation of Tetrabiblos to the other
elements of the tradition (which Ptolemy may have felt were less "defensible"
against sceptical attack).
- Ptolemy, Claudius Tetrabiblos trans. F.E.Robbins (Cambridge MA, 1964)
This is the preferred English Translation of the ancient classic. It
is the basis for any furthur work on the astrology of the ancient world,
and the most important single source for Medieval, and Modern western
astrololgy, and has had in addition a tremendous influence on Arabic,
Persian, and Indian Astrology.
- Ptolemy, Claudius The Centriloquium SEE Proclus, Paraphrase.
Simple reference.
- Ptolemy, Claudius, The Almagest, Trans. R. Catesby Taliferro, (Great
Books, Vol 16, 1952).
This is the "other half" of Ptolemy's work on the heavens. It deals
with the mathamatics of spherical astronomy, and the mechanics of Ptolemy's
system of cycles and epicycles by which he was able to refine and preserve
(roughly) the observed celestial positions with theoretically circular
orbits. This translation may appear in other printings. The notes attached
are far too sceptical, and reject Ptolemaic authorship of Tetrabiblos
and the Platenary Hypothesis simply because they are astrological in
nature. In fact both works are very likely by Ptolemy, and the evidence
that he was an astrologer, at least in theory, is very strong. Much
of the evidence that exists of Ptolemy's views on subjects like house
division, and primary directions are taken from statements found in
the Almagest rather than the Tetrabiblos. A very important source, but
also a very difficult one to understand.
- Ptolemy, Claudius, The Planetary Hypothesis SEE Goldstein, Bernard
R.
Simple reference.
- Sparks, H.F.D. edit The Apocraphal Old Testament (Oxford, Clarendon
Press, 1985).
See especially I Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch) Bk III beginning at Chapter
LXXVII, p 257: and II Enoch (Slavonic Enoch) Chapt VI, vs 14-30 starting
on pg 332.
These quotations from the Enoch literature are during an ascent of the
narrator to God, and the astronomical details of the spheres are described
as the narrator and his angelic guide pass through. With the Enoch literature
there are editorial differences in presentation, based on the preferences
for basic texts. The oldest accurate translation is R.H.Charles, any
of several editions. See also James H Charlesworth for another up to
date contemporaray translation. These Apocalypses whether we call them
intertestamental, Apochryphal, or Pseudoepigrapha are full of interesting
material. These two are quoted simply as a place to get started, and
many others in and out of the various canons of Scripture will have
great astrological significance. See also G.R.S.Mead, Pistis Sophia
for a gnostic development on this theme.
- Sphujidhavaja The Yavanajataka ,ed David Pingree 2 Vols, (Cambridge,
MA,Harvard University Press,1987).
The title means "The Horoscopy of the Greeks". This book contains the
text, a most excellent translation, and a superb commentary on this
seminal and transitional work of Hindu Astrology. It demonstrates absolutly
the origins of this art in the teaching of the hellenistic astrologers
of the late classical period in the mediterranian basin. If we take
the Carmen Astrologicum of Dorotheus of Sidon as a good example of where
hellenistic astrology was at the beginning of this cultural transmision,
and perhaps Al-Biruni's Book of Instruction as a central position on
its trajectory, the landing place has to be this work of Sphujidhavaja's.
Hence it is listed as contributing to our understanding of arabic astrology
as well as indian, simply because arabic astrology occupies the middle
of the arc of transmission.
The emblem Pingree has chosen for vol I nails down the intellectual
dependence. It is by Varahamihira, the father of Indian Astrology, "For
although the Greeks are barbarians, they have brought this science to
perfection, and so are honored as sages; how much more honorable, then,
is an astrologer who is a Brahmana!" Brhatsamhita 2, 14
- Tester, Jim A History of Western Astrology (New York, N.Y. Ballantine
Books, 1987).
This is without a doubt the best book in its field. Its excellencies
are most apparent in developing a view of the relationship between calendrical
and agricultural concerns, and the astrological factors stressed in
the work of Claudius Ptolemey. Together with the work of David Pingree
it is the key to an understanding of classical astrology. It seems to
be less detached from traditional astrological points of view than Pingree,
and utilizes the researches of someone like Rupert Gleadow. It is the
work of a classical scholar.
- Vermes, Geza The Dead Sea Scrolls in English 3rd Edition (London,
England, 1988).
Be sure you procure the 3rd edition, as this is new material.See Section
42 "Horoscopes" for examples of written out readings, without any charts
or celestial positions, found in the caves at Qumran. One of these is
entitled "The Messiah", or the birth of Noah. There may well be more
interesting materials among the scrolls found near the Dead Sea. The
whole area, like that of Gnostic and Intertestamental writings needs
a lot more work. It is mentioned here merely.
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