Babylonian Astrology, origin, history

Babylonian Astrology, origin, history. The archaeological remains of Babylonia’s ancient towns have the most comprehensive records of the beginnings of Western astrology, which may be traced back to the ancient people of Mesopotamia. Babylonian (Chaldean) astrologers established the framework for the development of Hellenistic and Greek astrology in the following centuries. In Western astrology, many of the Babylonian astrological roots may still be seen in use today.

Babylonian Astrology, origin, history
Babylonian Astrology, origin, history

Since ancient times, conventional astrological systems have drawn on principles from a broad variety of disciplines, including astronomy and other sciences, to create their predictions. Neither Sumerian nor Canaanite astrological activities have been discovered in any significant quantity (pre-Babylonian).

Similarly to the lack of separation between astronomy and astrology throughout the Renaissance period, there was no division between the two sciences during the period. Modifications made to the approach by the Hellenistic and subsequent Greek civilizations had a great influence on the development of today’s American horoscope tradition, as well as on the ability to accurately forecast a person’s future both in the United States and throughout the globe.

People all around the world, including the United States, were influenced by Babylonian astrological practices and beliefs, which were passed down through generations. The majority of the astrological evidence has been found in and around Babylonia, which was at the time of discovery the centre of ancient civilisation in the ancient world. The omens of lunar and solar eclipses have been discovered on ancient Babylonian tablets discovered in the ancient Hittite city of Hattusa, which dates back to the time of the Hittites.

Extracted and fragmented texts from this ancient Babylonian tablet have been discovered in several locations across Mesopotamia and the surrounding region.

History

During the third millennium BC, the early Mesopotamian civilizations began to identify and name important constellations (patterns made by stars in the galaxy). Ancient Mesopotamian sky watchers regarded the five wandering stars as the first seven planets, together with the sun and moon, as the first seven planets of the solar system (Greek for “wanderers”).

The Babylonians, who flourished in Mesopotamia around the 18th century BC, were the region’s earliest astronomers. The current system of astronomical measurement is based on numerical values. Aside from this, the Babylonians were responsible for the development of the zodiac, which is an extremely useful concept today.

As a result of employing the zodiac (the group of constellations along which it seems that the sun and planets are moving as they transit across the sky) as a measure of celestial time, the Babylonians were able to accurately estimate the passage of time in the skies.

For the purpose of representing these divisions, a number of constellations named after other constellations as well as constellations named after animals were chosen, and a total of twelve constellations were used to symbolize them. Eventually, the Greeks used the word “animal circle” to refer to the twelve signs of the zodiac calendar, which has stuck ever since.

In addition to the ties between the zodiac and constellations, there are other relationships between constellations and the gods as well. Scientists’ observations of the placements of the stars, along with the belief that God is somehow involved in the process, result in the creation of a new religion. The notion of the zodiac is well-known to both astronomers and astrologers. But what is the zodiac?

Origin

It was known as the Royal Science in Ancient Sumer around the second millennium BC, when astronomy first appeared on the scene.

The first known system of Astronomy, which subsequently evolved into the divination technique known as Astrology, was discovered in China.

The Assyrian Mulapin Panel, one of the first known records of Mesopotamian astronomy, is composed of two tablets that list the constellations and stars of Mesopotamia, as well as the time of day and night for each constellation and star, in both Arabic and Hebrew.

In a similar vein, the Enuma Anu-Enlil is another major Astronomical Tablet that heralds the transition from traditional astrology to omen-based astrology. Cuneiform tablets and 7,000 Celestial Omens are among the treasures in the collection. It wasn’t until Babylon that Mesopotamian Star Charts were able to anticipate the motions of the planets with any degree of accuracy.

In order to do so, the Babylonians relied on mathematical models to better anticipate the movements of the planets, which they developed themselves. By modern standards, their observations of the Sun, Moon, and arrangement of Planets and Constellations are correct, even when compared to our own.

Astronomical observations of the locations of stars in ancient star charts were recorded in Babylonian Astrology’s 12 Constellation Zodiac, which was capable of integrating scientific observations of the positions of stars with astrological interpretations.

Conclusion

To recapitulate, it is clear that Babylonian astrology had an impact on the development of astrological methods in Greece, where horoscope astrology, which is based on one’s birth date, was finally developed and popularized.

A divinatory tool, astronomy has been used since Babylonian times, when planets traveling across the night sky served as a metaphor for future events, and the practice has been around for thousands of years.

Through the use of forecasts and prognostic methods, the king and his successors were able to make ceremonial and offering preparations for what was to come. The upshot is that astrophysicists are always on the lookout for upcoming transits and planetary weather in order to make recommendations depending on the quality of such transits.

Planets have been influenced by a number of mythologies and god associations throughout history. In addition to the mournful tone that solar and lunar eclipses have taken on in recent years, Babylonian astrology has left a legacy of its own.

Every one of these aspects of astrological observation, as well as the name of the planets and their astrological correspondences with deities, may still be found in contemporary astrology.

Read also: Planets in Babylonian astrology; Sumerian Astrology Signs; Astrology in ancient Mesopotamia ; Sumerian Contributions