Download Astrology in Rome and the Ancient World

Astrology in Rome and
the Ancient World
By Brandon Sieteski
What is Astrology?
 Earliest evidence of Astrology dates back to 2nd
millennium BCE used by the Ancient Mesopotamia
 Astrology follows the belief that there is a connection
between astronomical phenomena and the human
world
 Ancients also believed that it was a way to
communicate with the Gods
How Did Astrology Work in
the Ancient World?
 Uses the positions of the Moon, Planets, and Stars
 Looks at where they are in proportion to Earth at any
given time
 Earth is in the middle of this concept since it is where
the calculation is being made from
 Would look at the sky when something important
happened, noticing how things are aligned, figured
when this alignment happened again, the event would
happen again
Uses of Astrology in the
Ancient World
 Predict tides
 Understand different phases of the moon, what that
would mean for rivers, lakes, oceans
 Changing of Weather and Seasons for farming
purposes
 Communicate with the Gods
 Predict the future (used for wars and political reasons)
Astrology in Rome
 First reference of Astrology in Rome came from the Orator
Cato in 160 BCE, not used in Rome initially
 Astrology was not considered to be a reliable practice at the
start, was often talked down at its introduction
 Cato warned farmers against consulting about farm ideas
with Chaldeans, referred to as “Babylonian Star Gazers”
 Cato did not trust the intentions of the Chaldeans
 Greek influence would play a huge role in bringing Astrology
to the Romans
Astrology in Rome cont.
 Emperor Tiberius (Reign 14 AD-37AD) was the first emperor
to have a court Astrologer named Thrasyllus
 Thrasyllus brought a new form of Astrology to Rome called
Hermetic Astrology
 Hermetic Astrology use religion and Philosophy and focuses
on three major components: The largest is Astrology, along
with Alchemy, and Theurgy
 Astrology became a larger factor when Augustus came to
power and claimed that he had Imperial rights that came
from Astrology
Astrology in Rome cont.
 Leaders would use Astrology as a way to justify what
they wanted to do
 Shrines and large temples were constructed to honor
the solar system and stars
 Septimus Severus, ruled between 193-211 AD
constructed a shrine of the seven known planets and
placed himself in the center
 “The sun is not the only center of the Universe but the
Roman Government is as well”
Military Building in Ancient
Rome that contained
Astrological Charts
Famous Peoples who
Practiced Astrology
 Nigidius Figulus (98-45 BC)
 Lucias Tarutius Firmanus (Unkown-86 BC)
 Julius Firmicus Maternus (Unkown)
 Marcus Manilius (1st Century AD)
 Paulus Alexandrinus (4th Century AD)