Thanks Levente. However, my personal astrological opinion is that there is no contradiction in using the Lots as places, but calculating them by degrees, as I personally have been using them in that way for about half a year (ever since I first read the passages myself).

The difference between the Hour-Marker and the lot degree, and why I think Ptolemy is not correct, is that the Hour-Marker shows a point on the horizon, the culminating point being symbolic as well etc., while the Lot degree does not point anything, but the sign, to which the meaning of the Lot is ''bound''.

Philosophically, I do not think the Hour-Marker and the nonagesimal MC are points and capable of receiving aspects in a manner of Paulus using them, but just spatial symbolism. The only function of the Hour-Marker is to mark the sign, just as the only function of the Lot calculation is to mark the sign. Also if Lots were calculated by signs, then you would have an astrology that changes roughly every two hours and that would make it difficult to explain multiple births, if you use whole sign houses.

Yes, sign entry without degrees tables is my guess for the prevalence of calculation by sign amongst the astrologers. However, I still do not think that Valens is necessary contradicting himself, as that would mean I contradict myself in astrological practice.

I have seen direct oppositions of a lot degree to a malefic, and it just seems to me like a normal sign based opposition, which is different from my experience of a malefic or benefic at the horizon or culminating (I personally use nonagesimal MC to avoid contradictions around angularity, as I strictly follow Nechepso and Petosiris in angularity and theory of the Lot of Fortune).

I do not use bounds and degrees aspects with the Lots. I use Whole Sign Lot Houses/Signs = Houses = Lots. Only space makes those things separable.

The later astrologers started using equal and quadrant house systems, so they would not perceive astrology in the same way as the ancients around Nechepso and Petosiris. The usage of Lots as places in the so called whole sign houses is more intuitive than using the Lots as degrees, like the later and medieval astrologers did.