Download DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA

DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS
© Copyright Terry MacKinnell 2002
The zodiacal constellations provided early astronomers and timekeepers a visual
technique for determining the time at night and the lunar months and seasons throughout
each year. The zodiacal constellations were not unique is this regard. The ancients also
used asterisms of similar nature to the Indian Nakshatras and the ancient Egyptian
developed the decanates for time keeping purposes at night. These facts are well
documented. It is possible that these same zodiacal constellations are also visually and
relatively accurately recording the passage of an age of almost 2160 years each.
Figure 1 illustrates the eastern horizon at 5:08am, an hour before sunrise, on the vernal
equinox of 2002 at Baghdad Iraq. Every piece of information associated with Figure 1 is
important in the history of the zodiacal constellations. The vernal equinox, Baghdad, and
an hour before sunrise are not selected randomly.
Figure 1 – Vernal Equinox 2002 AD
Note: The constellation of Aquarius is seen rising above the eastern horizon. The
constellation of Pisces is well below the eastern horizon and completely out of view. The
constellations of Capricorn and Sagittarius appear at an angle to the South due to the
latitude of Baghdad. (The scale of these constellations is not obvious from this
illustration).
The vernal equinox is one of two equinoxes that occur each year. Since antiquity, these
two equinoctial points, commonly known as the spring (vernal) and autumn equinoxes,
along with the two associated solstice points, have provided a focus for astronomers. The
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
solstice points are easier to discern than the equinoctial points because they mark the two
extremes of the sun’s annual cycle. Evidence of this can be found in the stone henges
and rock circles in Neolithic Europe. The equinoctial points are found less often than the
solstice points at the stone circles.
Very early in the development of ancient astronomy and astrology, the vernal equinox
began to take precedence over the other three points, and became the fiducial point for
both astronomers and western astrologers. From the western astrological standpoint this
makes sense because the vernal equinox marks the beginning of a new astrological cycle
commencing with zero degrees Aries on the western (tropical) zodiac. It is possible that
the choice of the vernal equinox over the autumn equinox and solstice points was made
on astrological grounds in very ancient times.
Because of the importance given to the vernal equinox, the astronomical events that occur
at the vernal equinox are also given prominence. As already mentioned, the vernal
equinox is the fiducial point for the tropical zodiac and also for astronomers. However
another very important event occurs at the vernal equinox that is usually overlooked.
This is probably because it is an old technique that has lost favour over the last 2,500
years.
The last zodiacal constellation to appear on the eastern horizon before sunrise is called
the heliacal rising constellation. The ancient astronomers of nearly all cultures
throughout the world took great notice of the heliacal rising (and setting) stars or
constellations throughout the year. Neugebauer stated
“…. the majority of problems in which the Babylonian astronomers were
interested are phenomena close to the horizon.”
Geoffrey Cornelius and Paul Devereux agree with:
“The Western and Indian traditions are rooted in the ancient Mesopotamian and
Egyptian observation of the horizon, through the heliacal (with-the-sun) rising
and setting of stars and planets.”
Theony Condos makes the following heliacal reference:
“Hesiod refers to the same constellations as Homer, citing their rising or setting as
the appropriate signal to undertake certain tasks…”
Arkadiusz Soltysiak concurs with:
“More certain is the gradual development of the Mesopotamian conception of the
constellations, which arose from the links between the cycles of visibility of the
most easily recognized constellations,…”
2
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
Each year important stars and constellations such us the Pleiades, Orion, Sirius, Regulus,
Spica and so on were observed to rise up on the eastern horizon just before dawn. How
long before dawn? This depends upon a number of parameters including latitude, month
and magnitude of the star. As a rule of thumb, an allowance of an hour around the time
of the vernal equinox at the latitude of Baghdad is required. After these stars, asterisms
and constellations have heliacally risen, they slowly move westwards across the sky over
the coming months at the average rate of one zodiacal constellation per month. Finally,
these same stars and constellations would eventually only be briefly glimpsed at the
western horizon after dusk before they disappeared for some time (e.g. about 7 weeks for
Sirius). The period just before the star or constellation set at the western horizon is called
its heliacal setting.
This system of heliacal rising and setting of the stars and constellations would be
duplicated each year ad infinitum if it were not for the precession of the equinoxes. Due
to precession, the orientation of the earth slowly changes in relation to the stars, because
the earth wobbles like a spinning top. It takes a little less than 26,000 years for the earth
to experience one rotation of its axis due to its wobble. Therefore, all the stars and
constellations slowly appear to revolve around the earth, taking almost 26,000 years for
one revolution. However this long-term revolution is in the reverse direction of the
annual revolution of the stars as described above and is the source of the retrograde
nature of the precessional ages. For example, the `recent’ ages in chronological order are
the ages of Taurus, Aries, Pisces and finally Aquarius - in reverse of the normal order of
the signs. This is assuming that the generally accepted location of these ages is
approximately correct.
One way to observe the long term retrograde motion of the stars and constellations due to
precession is by taking note of the heliacal rising stars or constellations at the vernal
equinox. Every 72 years, there is a one-degree movement of the stars and constellations.
In 72 years from 2002 (i.e. 2074), the constellation of Aquarius, seen just above the
eastern horizon in Figure 1, will be one degree `lower’. In a little over one and half
thousand years, the constellation of Aquarius will not be seen at all above the eastern
horizon as it is today, (see Figure 2) instead the constellation of Capricorn will take its
place and thus be the heliacal rising zodiacal constellation. This may indicate that the
world will be in the Capricorn age, following the Aquarian age.
3
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
Figure 2 – Vernal Equinox 3590 AD
Note: The constellation of Capricorn is already partly below the horizon by 3590 AD, but
the great majority remains visible. The constellation of Aquarius, unlike today, has
completely dropped below the eastern horizon at the vernal equinox.
If the eastern horizon is observed after 5:08am, it may be possible to fleetingly see more
stars rise above the eastern horizon, because for every 4 minutes of time, approximately
one degree of longitude will rise. For example in 2002 AD, after one hour, at 6:08 am,
15 degrees or half a sign (and on average half a zodiacal constellation) will rise and some
of the constellation of Pisces would be observable - if it was not for the Sun. The Sun is
so bright, that about an hour before sunrise, the eastern horizon begins to turn blue. The
first things that disappear from sight are the fainter stars near the eastern horizon, but
very quickly all the stars disappear from view.
On average, any planet within 15 degrees of the Sun is considered obscured by the Sun’s
light. Some brighter planets are observed closer than 15 degrees to the Sun while the
fainter planets and stars lose their visibility further away than 15 degrees. The stars that
comprise the zodiacal constellations are closer to the fainter planets in visual magnitude,
and so they are not visible when they are closer than 15 degrees to the Sun. Because a
new degree rises up over the eastern horizon about every 4 minutes, 15 degrees
represents one hour. This is why it is necessary to observe the heliacal rising
constellation approximately one hour before sunrise. Any time later than this has a
starless and blue eastern horizon heralding the approaching sun.
4
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
Another example of the heliacal zodiacal constellation rising at the vernal equinox at
Baghdad is in 717 BC. According to the standard view of ages, 717 BC is many
centuries before the end of the Aries age. The bulk of research astrologers believe the
Aries age came to its end around the birth of Christ or about 300 years later. Either way,
this is approximately 700 or 1,000 years after 717 BC. Referring to Figure 3, the first
noticeable item missing is any reference to the constellation of Aries.
Figure 3 – Vernal Equinox 717 BC
Note: The visible portion of the constellation of Pisces includes most of one of its two
arms.
Commencing high in the sky to the South-South-East and angling down to almost East
can be seen the constellations of Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius. One arm of the
constellation of Pisces is clearly in view. The constellation of Aries is not visible and is
well below the Eastern horizon. Because the vernal point remains in the unseen
constellation of Aries, contemporary astrologers conclude that 717 BC remains in the
Aries age. Based on the ancient practice of heliacal risings, my argument is that on
average, the `lord’ of the age should be visible as the heliacal zodiacal constellation at the
vernal equinox.
Baghdad, Iraq is located at the vicinity of ancient Mesopotamia. It is in that general
locality over 4,000 years ago that the astronomers and astrologers of ancient times most
likely defined or developed the 12 zodiacal constellations or their forerunners. Not much
is directly known about the astronomical and astrological achievements of the early
Mesopotamia of Sumer and Akkad in the 3rd millennia BC. Most scholars agree that the
5
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
ancient but later Babylonians of the 2nd millennia BC often referred to their predecessors
indicating that the former Mesopotamians made great advances in astronomy. Based on
references made in ancient Babylonian clay tablets, much detail and information about
early Mesopotamian astronomy and astrology can be inferred or determined. It is
generally believed that in the earliest period, when either the Sumerians or Akkadians
ruled Mesopotamia, that at a minimum at least some of the zodiacal constellations were
originally defined. Some researchers present very good arguments that the stars and
constellations were well defined by 2000 BC.
Despite the uncertainty of the zodiacal constellations, there is one pertinent fact known
about ancient Mesopotamia, and most old cultures - the primary observational techniques
were visual techniques, with a distinct focus upon the heliacal rising and settings of stars
and constellations. For example, modern astronomers and astrologers determine a new
moon to be a mathematical point when the moon exactly conjuncts the sun by
longitudinal degree. This mathematical approach was not developed by the Chaldeans
(Babylonians) and Ancient Greeks until late in the 1st millennia BC, around 1,500 years
after the demise of Sumer and Akkad! Prior to the mathematical and scientific
breakthrough of the ancient Greeks and Chaldeans, the techniques of choice were visual
techniques. The heliacal rising and settings are visual techniques. This is why in very
ancient times, the new moon was considered to start when the thin sliver of the new
moon was first sighted on the western horizon just after sunset, either a day or two after
the `mathematical’ or `modern’ new moon. Some cultures, ethnic groups and religion
retain this visual technique today.
Most astrologers and astronomers of today do not apply the visual heliacal technique to
either astrology or astronomy. This is very evident in the approach to the precessional
ages. Contemporary astrologers (and astronomers) will state that the world is currently in
the age of Pisces because the astronomical vernal point, represented by the Sun’s
longitude at the vernal equinox, remains in the constellation of Pisces. The astronomical
vernal point is a mathematically determined point and was first introduced or widely
promoted by the Alexandrian Greek astronomer and astrologer Hipparchus in the 2nd
century BC. It is very similar to the modern approach to the new moon. At the vernal
equinox in present times, the astronomical vernal point does sit in the constellation of
Pisces, but the constellation of Pisces cannot be seen because wherever the sun is located,
no stars are visible because it is daytime.
Even if we are uncertain about when the zodiacal constellations were defined or
stabilised we know this occurred prior to the advent of mathematical astronomy of the
ancient Greeks and Chaldeans. One reason we know this is because with the
development of the mathematical approach to astronomy in the second half of the 1st
millennia BC, the zodiacal constellations were found inadequate. Their erratic size and
position made accurate and standardized coordinate references impossible. Therefore the
astronomers and astrologers of the time devised a sidereal zodiac of 12 equal 30 degree
signs superimposed on the wayward constellations. This great advance in astronomy and
astrology was probably the first step that disguised the ancient functionality of the
zodiacal constellations.
6
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
Once a sidereal zodiac was in place, it became the new coordinate standard for
determining the positions of the sun, moon and planets regardless of their visibility. The
position of any stellar object could now be 15 degrees Taurus or 10 degrees Libra instead
of three fingers from a specified star in a constellation. The heliacal rising of a planet,
star or constellation lost its previous reference and fell out of favour. Once Hipparchus
discovered or rediscovered precession, he compounded the situation by superimposing
yet another zodiac upon the sky. This time a tropical zodiac with zero degrees Aries
defined as the sun’s longitudinal position at the vernal equinox.
This development by Hipparchus meant that ultimately, it was the sun’s actual
longitudinal position that by default became the reference point to the zodiacal
constellations. Therefore in the time of Hipparchus, if the sun’s longitude at the vernal
equinox placed it at or near the end of the constellation of Aries, this was considered to
be near the end of the Aries age. Therefore in just a few centuries, the longitudinal
position of the sun in the zodiacal constellations replaced the helical position of the
zodiacal constellations. Both these systems are based on the relationship between the
vernal point, the sun and the zodiacal constellations. The difference between the two is
that the new system developed by Hipparchus brought the ages forward in time by about
half a sign – the difference between the heliacal position of the zodiacal constellations in
relation to the rising sun, compared to the longitudinal position of the sun directly
superimposed upon the constellations.
Which method should be applied to the precessional ages? Should the `modern’
approach developed in the second half of the 1st millennia BC be used, or the older
heliacal approach? When the zodiacal constellations were most likely defined, only
visual astronomical practices were in use. The key visual practice was the heliacal rising
and settings of planets, stars and constellations. It should be a logical step to deduce that
the very ancient zodiacal constellations require the corresponding very ancient visual
heliacal approach, not the `modern’ mathematical approach developed by Hipparchus.
Due to the developments instigated by Hipparchus, a new viewpoint was introduced onto
the vernal point. However it is important to differentiate between the mathematical
vernal point and calendrical vernal point. The mathematical vernal point is the `modern’
technique which defines the exact longitudinal position of the sun at the vernal equinox
as it crosses the equator at zero degrees (tropical) Aries. Whatever stars, constellations or
planets are at or in the vicinity of zero degrees Aries cannot be seen because of the
presence of the sun. However using `modern' mathematical methods, the positions of the
stars, constellations and planets are accurately calculated and we therefore know what is
situated in the vicinity of the sun.
The calendrical vernal point is the day of the vernal equinox. This is the oldest vernal
point method and existed well before the development of mathematical astronomy in the
late 1st millennia BC. However despite the lack of mathematical techniques, observations
made on this day were very important, and the key observation lay with the helical rising
7
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
constellation and stars on the morning of the vernal equinox. This is the pre-Hipparchus
vernal point.
What is the key ramification of reverting to the application of the ancient heliacal preHipparchus vernal point approach to the ancient zodiacal constellations? Basically it
means that the contemporary practice of rectifying the precessional ages based on the
mathematical vernal point is close to half a sign late. The mathematical vernal point may
currently remain at the end of the constellation of Pisces, but the heliacal rising
constellation at the vernal equinox is part the way through the constellation of Aquarius.
The mathematical vernal point does not take into account the one hour of time required
before sunrise to visibly observe the heliacal rising constellation. This one hour is
approximately equal to 15 degrees of longitude or half a sign.
Therefore, each zodiacal constellation will `disappear’ from view at the vernal equinox
about half a sign or 1080 years earlier than the vernal point will leave the zodiacal
constellation based upon the modern mathematical technique. That is why in Figure 1 no
evidence of the constellation of Pisces can be found. If this is the case, a very strong
argument can be made that not only is the world in the age of Aquarius, but that it has
been in the age of Aquarius for many centuries.
However the heliacal rising of the constellation of Aquarius, for example, can only be
indicative of the Aquarian age if the zodiacal constellations were purposely defined to
represent the periods of time of each age. Firstly, did the ancient astrologers have the
skill to comprehend the precessional ages? Secondly, did they design a constellational
system as visual representations of the ages? This is a highly debatable and contentious
subject. Researchers such as Giorgio de Santillana and Herta Von Dechend were
thoroughly convinced of this potential of the ancient astronomer-astrologers. However
their views do not seem to be widely accepted. If the ancients did perceive the effects of
precession and did define the zodiacal constellations accordingly, it is probable that they
used the heliacal system as their method of choice.
If the ancient astrologers had the skill to perceive the effects of precession and develop
the theory of precessional ages associated with each of the zodiacal signs, then it is
unlikely that the only manifestation of their knowledge was the definition of the zodiacal
constellations. The theory of the precessional ages is no mean feat. Having attained such
an understanding, the definition of the zodiacal constellations as symbolic of the ages
would be only a small part of their knowledge base. They probably did not take too
much attention of the zodiacal constellations other than approximate visual markers of
each age. The zodiacal constellations would not be representative of their pinnacle of
understanding of the precessional ages, just a by-product.
There is a further issue associated with the zodiacal constellations that most research
astrologers overlook. If the ancient astrologers did purposely define the zodiacal
constellations as representative of the precessional ages, the zodiacal constellations
cannot automatically be assumed to be `correctly’ defined by the ancient astrologers
without substantial proof that associated with each zodiacal constellation or respective
8
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
sidereal sign are accurate astrological correlations to worldly events in the first place.
Western astrologers only continued to use the tropical zodiac after its promotion by
Hipparchus and Ptolemy and development by Arabic astrologers because it `worked’.
The same must apply to the precessional ages.
Though the ancients appeared fixated with heliacal rising stars and constellations, they
did not exclude other methods. The asterisms of ancient Mesopotamia, like the Indian
Nakshatras, were used to calibrate the daily movement of the moon through its lunar
monthly cycle. This is obviously not a heliacal method as the visible location of the
moon in an asterism regardless of its position in the night sky defined its position. It can
easily be construed that the ancients were not inclined to adopt a uniform coordinate
system based on a mathematical perspective, but rather they took the most obvious visual
method. In some cases they used a direct approach (i.e. a position in an asterism,
zodiacal constellation and distance from a specific star), at other times they used the
`indirect’ heliacal system. To the ancients there was no lack of consistency as either way
was a visual system.
To compound the possible confusion it is difficult to say which specific stars the ancients
included in each zodiacal constellation. It seems logical that 12 zodiacal constellations
should average or represent 30 degrees each. However despite the fact that each zodiacal
constellation is not 30 degrees each, they are placed relatively evenly around the 360
degrees sky. Therefore it is dangerous to view the extremities of the zodiacal
constellations as being `correct’. It may be safer to view each zodiacal constellation as a
visible emblem representing symbolically a sidereal zodiac associated with the
precessional ages. The ancients did not seem to approach this situation with
mathematical exactness and so it is inconsistent for us to apply a mathematical approach
to these constellations.
Except at extreme latitudes, about an hour before sunrise, on the vernal equinox around
21st March, facing the eastern horizon, possibly the most ancient clock known is telling
us the time. Does this clock indicate that we are well and truly in the age of Aquarius?
With reference to the precessional ages, should we be observing the constellation of
Aquarius hovering above the eastern horizon, as the heliacal rising constellation at the
vernal equinox in place of the mathematically derived vernal point situated in the
constellation of Pisces? Has astrologers’ quest for precision since the mid 1st millennia
BC blinded us to the pre-mathematical techniques of ancient astronomers and
astrologers? Are the ancient astronomer-astrologers still sending us messages written into
the stars? If so, are we correctly deciphering these messages as they were intended?
Bibliography
Allen, Richard Hinckley. Star Names Their Lore and Meaning, Dover Publications New York, 1963
Britton, J & Walker, C Astronomy and Astrology in Mesopotamia, Astronomy before the Telescope, British
Museum Press, 1996
9
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc
Condos, Theony. Star Myths, Phanes Press, Grand Rapids Missouri, 1997
Cornelius, G & Devereux, P. The Secret Language of the Stars and Planets, Universal International,
Gordon, Australia, 1996
Hand, Robert Hand Chronology of the Astrology of the Middle East and the West by Period, ARHAT, 1998
Hand, Robert On The Invariance of the Tropical Zodiac, Robert Hand,
http://cura.free.fr/quinq/01hand.html
Kolev , Rumen Some Reflections about Babylonian Astrology, http://cura.free.fr/decem/09kolev.html
Kollerstrom, N. The Star Zodiac of Antiquity, Culture And Cosmos, Vol. 1 No. 2, 1997
Mackenzie, Donald A. Mythology of the Babylonian People, Bracken Books London, 1996
Neugebauer, O. The Exact Sciences in Antiquity, Dover Publications, New York, 1969
Santillana, Giorgio de and Von Dechend, Herta, Hamlet’s Mill, Harvard Common, 1969
Soltysiak, Arkadiusz. The Bull of Heaven in Mesopotamian Sources”, Culture And Cosmos Vol. 5 No.2
2001
Tester, Jim A History of Western Astrology, The Boydell Press, UK 1999
Plunket, Emmerline Calendars and Constellations of the Ancient World, Random House UK, 1997
10
09 September 1998
DECODING THE ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS-AA.doc