Astrology: When It was a Science

Sleepy History

Explore the ancient origins of Western astrology, tracing its evolution from Babylonian celestial observations to Greek philosophical integr

Key takeaways

• Astrology originated in Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago as a form of religious divination tied to celestial observations.
• The Babylonians developed the first systematic astronomy and astrology, using clay tablets to record omens related to state affairs.

Main topics

• Babylonian astronomy and divination
• Greek development of the zodiac and planetary symbolism

Notable quotes

The Babylonians decided not to include Ophiuchus, standardizing the zodiac into 12 equal divisions.

Conclusion

Despite skepticism and lack of scientific validation, astrology persis

Transcript preview

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It's a story that involves the Babylonians, the ancient Greeks, and a remarkable revival in the 20th century. We'll find out why Western astrology has endured over the centuries, despite opposition and skepticism. So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of astrology. Our story begins with a night sky in the city of Babylon about 4,000 years ago. A man gazes up at the stars, studying them carefully. He doesn't have a telescope, but the skies are clear and the stars shine brightly. Every now and then, he takes notes, using a reed stylus to make indentations on a clay tablet. The man is a priest observing the heavens. Speaker 4 (2:36) His meticulous records on the positions of the stars and other celestial bodies will be used for the purposes of divination, to interpret omens from the gods. The beginnings of astronomy and astrology can both be traced back to Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq. These days, astronomy and astrology are considered two distinct subjects. Speaker 4 (3:07) Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial bodies and phenomena, involving the use of mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Astrology is a system of divination. The positions and movements of celestial bodies are interpreted. It's believed that they can provide insight into various aspects of life on Earth. including people's personalities and relationships and future events. For the people of Babylon, the distinction between astronomy and astrology didn't exist. Early study of the stars was methodical, involving careful observation and record keeping. But at the same time, it was inseparable from religious beliefs. Speaker 4 (4:06) Babylonian priests had an important task, trying to understand how society might be affected by the stars and planets. The early form of astrology wasn't so focused on ordinary individuals' inner lives. It focused on the king and state and practical matters. For instance, there might be a negative omen about military affairs, something that put the state at risk. Speaker 4 (4:47) aware of this omen, the Babylonians could then take action. So, we can see that even at the beginning, astrology wasn't entirely deterministic. The idea was, and that we can use this knowledge to our advantage, even if we believe that the stars and planets influence life on Earth. We still have some control. Speaker 4 (5:21) Most of what we know about Babylonian astronomy comes from the clay tablets they left behind. A collection of tablets known as Enuma, Anu, and Leel contains more than 6,000 omens inscribed in cuneiform script. For instance, the appearance of the moon on the first day of the month is a good omen. The land will be happy. There are interpretations of many other phenomena. from lunar eclipses to earthquakes. Of course, the Babylonians weren't the only ancient civilization to pay attention to the skies. The sun, moon, and stars appear in myths from around the world, from Africa to Australia. It seems to be something almost universal, a human need to search for meaning in the stars. Speaker 4 (6:30) What's special about the Babylonians is that they appear to have been the first civilization to study and analyze celestial phenomena in a systematic way. Other cultures later developed their own systems, including China and India. Astrology emerged out of Vedic traditions and was also influenced by the Babylonian and Hellenistic systems. Speaker 4 (7:04) The origins of Chinese astrology are unclear, but it appears to have developed largely independently, becoming formalized around the 4th century BCE. It was the Babylonians who created the foundations for Western astrology. The form that many of us are familiar with today included the 12 signs of the zodiac. Speaker 4 (7:37) There's a pair of tablets known as Mulapin, which date back to at least the 7th century BCE. The tablets list numerous constellations. These include the Goatfish, better known to us as Capricorn, and the Great Twins, or Gemini. They're all there, albeit with different names. Speaker 4 (8:08) The Babylonians recognized that these constellations lie along the apparent path of the sun through the sky. The sun also passes through a 13th constellation. It's known as Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer. The Babylonians decided not to include it. the zodiac was standardized into 12 equal divisions, likely because this fit their mathematical system and their calendar. When people learn that Ophiuchus exists, it sometimes causes confusion. In recent years, the space agency NASA has had to clarify that they didn't change the zodiac. Astrology has nothing to do with them. Speaker 4 (9:09) We don't want to get too deep into astronomy. While we're on the subject, it's worth noting that the zodiac signs and constellations no longer physically correspond. The night sky has slowly shifted over time and is still changing. The Babylonians invented the 12-sign zodiac, but it was another civilization, the Greeks, who developed the system even further. Speaker 4 (9:48) Ancient Greek studies of astrology and astronomy were based on the Babylonian system. In the 4th century BCE, the Greek astronomer Eudoxus of Nidus compiled star charts, which were inspired by Babylonian knowledge. Speaker 4 (10:12) figure was a Babylonian priest named Berossus. It's believed that he established a school of astronomy on the Greek island of Kos. Over time, Western astrology as we know it began to take shape. The Greeks adapted the Babylonian zodiac, giving us the 12 star signs we know today. Taurus, Gemini, and so on. Speaker 4 (10:45) These signs reflect the Greeks' understanding of the world and their mythology. Sagittarius, for instance, is a centaur, a creature from