Western astrology can be traced back to the Middle East: 4000 B.C.E - 125 B.C.E. A region known as Mesopotamia, consisted of Babylonia and Assyria. The Sumerian ancient settlers studied the sky. In doing so, the Sumerians noticed a connection between the heavenly cycles, plant and food growth. The Sumerians placed importance on three deities: Sin the moon god, Shamash the sun goddess, and Ishtar the goddess of Fertility.
In Babylonian Astrology, the constellation Cassiopia was called "woman with child" because every 300 years it produced an unusually bright star. This star ruled over the lands of Palestine and Syria.
The modern Zodiac was created by the Babylonians. The astrologer-priests first set out the basic principles of astrology that remain unchanged to this day. The sky was divided into twelve equal parts through which the sun and moon traveled. These twelve divisions may also represent each month of a lunar cycle and the twelve months of the Babylonian year.
The circle of the sky was 360 degrees and each division was 30 degrees. The twelve divisions or signs were given the names: Aries, Pleiades, Gemini, Praesepe, Leo, Spica, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. The Greeks later changed Pleiades to Taurus, Praessepe to Cancer, and Spica to Virgo. Each sign has an influence over particular events on earth. Each rules an animal, plant, a precious stone, and a color.
Early astrologers were religious priests governmental leaders. In order to study the movements of the stars and planets, the Sumerians built large observatories, known as Ziggurats. The famous Tower of Babel is sometimes described as a Ziggerat.
The study of the Sun, Moon, and Star(s) have been around before mankind's earliest written records. Calendars were also developed for marking the measuring and passage of time.
In some ancient societies, astrology was mixed with religion and these astrologers were actually considered priests. - Dimension, History of Astrology
Furthermore, early Jews also practiced astrology. The word "Mazel Tov" has it's roots in astrology. Derived from the biblical Hebrew word Mazelot" which means "sign of the zodiac" or "constellation."
In Babylonian Astrology, the constellation Cassiopia was called "woman with child" because every 300 years it produced an unusually bright star. This star ruled over the lands of Palestine and Syria. The modern Zodiac was created by the Babylonians. The astrologer-priests first set out the basic principles of astrology that remain unchanged to this day. The sky was divided into twelve equal parts through which the sun and moon traveled. These twelve divisions may also represent each month of a lunar cycle and the twelve months of the Babylonian year.
The circle of the sky was 360 degrees and each division was 30 degrees. The twelve divisions or signs were given the names: Aries, Pleiades, Gemini, Praesepe, Leo, Spica, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. The Greeks later changed Pleiades to Taurus, Praessepe to Cancer, and Spica to Virgo. Each sign has an influence over particular events on earth. Each rules an animal, plant, a precious stone, and a color.
For more information about the history of astrology, visit Dimension and History World.
Nanna was the Sumerian moon god. Utu was the Sun god and Inanna was the goddess of heaven. the names you are using here are not Sumerian but Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian. They came afterwards.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I shall do more research into this. Thanks for sharing.
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