March 20 : Intl. Astrology Day & Mythology

Astrology has been around for thousands of years, and the Greeks were one of the first civilizations to develop a system of astrology that is still used today. Greek astrology was closely associated with philosophy, which helped shape the philosophical basis for astrology. It was believed that celestial events had an effect on earthly events, and that by understanding the movements of the planets, one could gain insight into their own lives.

Greek Astrology

The people of ancient Greece were always fascinated by the stars and the other celestial bodies in the night sky. Although astrology is primarily about determining a person’s personality or fortune, it requires a knowledge of the position of the stars and planets; astronomy is an important aspect of astrology. To make a prediction using outer space, you must first know about the universe itself and all it includes, at least that which you can see from the surface of Earth. Historical philosophers from ancient Greece played a big part in what we know today about the moon, the shape of the Earth, the Earth’s position in the galaxy, and the position of constellations and how they move throughout the year. Greek philosophers like Empedocles and Anaxagoras theorized on the shape of the Earth, and Aristarchus figured the size, both constructing their ideas from calculations made during a lunar eclipse. But other Greek philosophers and astronomers determined the orbital paths of the planets and their correlation with the stars around them, which was the most important discovery since astrologers could use this information to make more accurate predictions.

Origins of Astrology

The origins of much of the astrology that would later develop in Asia, Europe and the Middle East are found among the ancient Babylonians and their system of celestial omens that began to be compiled around the middle of the 2nd millennium BCE. This system later spread either directly or indirectly through the Babylonians to other areas such as China and Greece where it merged with preexisting indigenous forms of astrology. It came to Greece initially as early as the middle of the 4th century BC, and then around the late 2nd or early 1st century BC after the Alexandrian conquests this Babylonian astrology was mixed with the Egyptian tradition of Decanic astrology to create horoscopic astrology. This system is labeled as “horoscopic astrology” because, unlike the previous traditions, it employed the use of the ascendant, otherwise known as the horoskopos (“hour marker”) in Greek, and the twelve celestial houses which are derived from it. The focus on the natal chart of the individual, as derived from the position of the planets and stars at the time of birth, represents the most significant contribution and shift of emphasis that was made during the Hellenistic tradition of astrology. This new form of astrology quickly spread across the ancient world into Europe, and the Middle East.

In ancient Greece, astrologers made horoscopes for the wealthy and for kings, which were the only people who could afford the luxury of hiring an astrologer. Horoscopes in those days were very similar to how they are now, in that they present a prediction for the day, week, month, or year based on the position of the client’s zodiac constellation in the night sky the day they were born. Nowadays, many horoscopes may not be completely accurate because of fake predictions made by people who are in it for the money, or who don’t have a great deal of experience in astrology; but back in ancient Greece, astrology was a learned profession that philosophers took years to learn and perfect, it was taken very seriously. The biggest difference between horoscopes then and now is that the predictions were on papyrus, which is an ancient type of paper used by the Greeks as well as other cultures in that time.

Impact of Greek Astrology

Greek astrology has had a significant impact on western society and culture. Astrology and horoscope readings are a huge part of this influence, and to this day, astrology continues to be an explored subject in America and other countries around the world. Astrology is an idea that will always be around because of its mysteriousness and mysteriously accurate predictions. The connection between the zodiac signs and Greek mythology can give us insight into the personalities of people born under each sign. For example, people born under the sign of Leo are often said to be strong and brave, like the Nemean Lion. The heavens are divided according to the 12 constellations of the zodiac, and the bright stars that rise at intervals cast a spiritual influence over human affairs. Astrology entered Islamic culture as part of the Greek tradition and was returned to European culture through Arabic learning during the Middle Ages.

In conclusion, Greek astrology has had a significant impact on the world, and its influence can still be felt today. The Greeks were pioneers in the field of astrology, and their contributions have helped shape the way we view the stars and the universe.

Below we have picked 3 products we recommend if you want to learn more. The Universe Season 2 by History Channel features 1 episode (episode 10) that is dedicated only to the Constellations and Greek mythology (we have a trailer for the episode above). The other two books go into depth in the history and Hellenistic (Greek) roots of Astrology. Further below we have some videos on the topic you will find interesting.

You might also enjoy our article about how the weekdays are named after Greek gods.