Hello guys!

After stopping my Divination studies for half a year, a flame was reignited, which moved me to continue my studies on Hellenistic Astrology. Since I have Book I to Book VI of Vettius Valens's work (translated by Schmidt), I shall start with that.

In this thread, I'll create and organize my notes on Valens's work. I shall start with Book I, as that seems to be the most logical way. While reading Chapter 1 today, several significations seemed really hard to understand, especially Kronos's significations. I will list my questions as they come.

Stay tuned.



~Larxene~

MY METHOD

1. I shall define the words I do not comprehend, or those that may have special meanings, or those which would be not operational without one.

Invariably some words may be interpreted in different ways. I shall present several definitions where necessary and subsequently state which definition I prefer.

2. I shall categorize the significations based on a shared characteristic, where possible. (The benefits are twofold. First, they will be more easily understood and recalled. Secondly, the common principle underlying several significations can then be extrapolated to interpret modern circumstances.)



~Larxene~


NB: The notes are not complete. I will update them as my understanding improves.

Larxene wrote: In this thread, I'll create and organize my notes on Valens' work. I shall start with Book I, as that seems to be the most logical way to do this. While reading Chapter 1 today, several significations seem really hard to understand, especially Kronos' significations. I will list these questions as they come.

Hello Larxene,

is your new text your escape from Velens?
I had expected your quotations of:
"several significations [...] really hard to understand, especially Kronos' significations."

In any case my question is, whether you want to discuss your thoughts or questions, or do you want to post them only, what I feel your wording seems to suggest.

Johannes

Both. The above is not complete. I was too tired when I wrote the post, so I only wrote my notes and my thoughts on it. Those things in brackets are my thoughts.

Book 1, Chapter 1 - Nature of the Stars: Sun
(Version 2.3)


Sect: Diurnal


Signifies:

1. Loftiness, To be at The Top: height of fortune (e), Persons of high repute (f)
a) Authority
a1) Authority figures: father, arch-priests of the fatherland, mastership (a), popular leadership (b)
a2) Positions of authority: kingly office (c)
a3) Political power over others: hegemony (d)

2. Intellect: mind (g), judgement (h), practical wisdom (i)

3. Activity: action, motion

4. Friendship

5. Outward form (j)


Has authority over:

1) Anatomy: head, right eye, ribs, heart
2) Elements/Compounds: gold
3) Fruits: wheat, barley



--------------------

Footnotes and Definitions:

(a) Mastership can refer to two things. First, the position of a master. Secondly, having the skill of a master. Riley translated it as ?the master?, and I also agree that this was the meaning implied. Hence, the first meaning will be used.

(b) I understand this as ?a popular leader.? Riley translates this as ?authority over the masses?, which also implies that the person is supported by his people.

(c) Literally, kingly office means ?a king-like position.? According to the Online Merriam-Webster Dictionary, one of the meanings of ?office? is ?a position of responsibility or some degree of executive authority.? Riley translates it as ?kingship?, so my definition should be correct.

(d) From the perspective of Ancient Greece, both Wikipedia and Etymoline give similar meanings. I would like to say that hegemony denotes ?the politico-military dominance of a city-state over other city-states?.

However, firstly, in this era there are other ways of dominating other political entities (economically, culturally, nuclear power, etc). Secondly, presently there are only five extant city-states.

So I defined it in this manner instead: ?the predominance of one country or state over other countries or states.?

(e) ?Fortune? could mean luck (external factors we have no control over), or wealth (financial and physical possessions). The Online Etymology Dictionary (etymoline.com) implied that the second meaning came into existence much later, so I suspect that Valens understood ?fortune? as ?luck?.

Still, I think that we can use wealth as a secondary meaning, where the situation applies. The first meaning will be my primary meaning.

(f) According to the online Cambridge dictionary, a person of high repute is someone who is highly respected. Another, likely less reputable source says that someone that is of high repute means that people have a high opinion of him/her. Either way, it looks like the meaning is clear.

(g) ?Mind? is a tricky term. Riley's translation is ?intellect?, which looks accurate. I did a little research on the properties of the soul according to Plato, Aristotle, the Epicureans and the Stoics. The reason is, the Greeks' notions of the mind are intimately related to the their notions of the soul.

To the Greeks, it seems that the mind is responsible for cognition, desires and emotions. Cognitive functions include (but may not be limited to) sense-perception and intellect. Intellect refers to one's reasoning, practical thinking and planning abilities.

The problem is, it is odd for the Sun to signify desires and emotions. To gain a better understanding of what ?mind? means, let's look at the notions of the soul.

For both Plato and Aristotle, the soul consists of three parts. Both of them agree that the first part is the rational part, the part that reasons and obtains knowledge for its own sake. Plato calls this the logistikon, or the logical part.

The second part is the appetitive part. For Plato, it is the part that desires for sex, hunger, thirst and money. Aristotle probably has a similar notion in mind. Finally, the third part is what Plato calls the spiritual part, and I have difficulty understanding this part. It looks redundant to me. Aristotle's third part resolves what Plato's theory failed to, calling it the vegetative part, which governs breathing, growing, digesting, etc, which cannot be controlled by reason.

To the Epicureans, the soul is responsible for mental and psychological functions only, in other words, it is merely responsible for cognition, emotions and desires. They divided the soul into two parts, the rational part which does all the thinking, processing and conceptualising, and the non-rational part which is wholly responsible for sense-perception.

The Stoics had a similar picture in mind, holding the third pneuma as being the soul, which is only responsible for cognition and desire. The Stoics considered the mind as the faculty that controls the eight parts of the soul.

Despite the differences, all four philosophies assert that one should live one's life guided by reason. In other words, reason should ?rule over? our lives. Plato believed that reason is what allows us to determine how to live morally upright lives. Aristotle believes in acting virtuously in accordance with reason in order to live well (eudaimonia). For Epicureans, it is necessary for the rational part of the soul to conceptualise sense-perceptions into pre-conceptions in order to obtain knowledge about the world. The Stoics were convinced that adulthood necessitates the development of reason or assent, so that all human adults are always responsible for their voluntary behaviour.


With this, we know that ?mind? likely refers to ?intellect?, which is our faculty of reason that allows us to determine what's true and/or real. However, the Sun and reason having authority over people's lives is not enough to connect them.

Plato's metaphor of the sun should be sufficient in ascertaining the relationship.

The metaphor is basically this: just as the eye requires light in order to perceive sensory objects, the mind requires Forms (refer: Plato's theory of Forms) in order to perceive truth and/or reality. The Sun is the eye's ultimate source of light, while the Form of the Good is the ultimate and origin of all Forms.

The Sun therefore signifies the Form of the Good, which is the ultimate truth and/or reality. As Forms can only be perceived by the mind (i.e. intellect), it also makes sense that our Sun's brightness affects the extent of our intellect. Hence, the Sun signifies intellectual capacity. Truly, the light of the mind!

My formal definition: the ?mind? is the intellect, our ability determine truth and/or reality via reason.

UPDATE:

Reading on the Form of the Good, I saw another, more direct way of associating reason with the Sun. The Form of the Good is ultimate object of knowledge, and the Sun is an image or instantiation of the Good.

Plato believed that those fit to rule are those who can grasp the Forms, and of course, the Form of the Good must necessarily be understood as well. Plato called these people 'philosopher-kings'.

Since the Sun signifies rulers, and under Plato's political theory rulers should be capable of grasping the Forms, that is, having high rational capacity, therefore the prominence of the Sun also signifies high rational capacity.

(h) This term could mean either one's ability to make a wise decision, or the decision itself, or a legal sentence in court. In all cases, judgement requires the use of the intellect.

(i) This phrase has a special meaning in Greek philosophy. It was explained by Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics. It refers to phronesis, practical thought, the ability to consider actions which will lead to the desired ends, AND the ability to determine the correct ends to pursue in order to live well (i.e. eudaimonia).

It is something which comes with experience, as phronesis deals with specific situations. It is very similar to our modern notion of practicality.

(j) ?Outward form? was one of the significations I had problems understanding. Riley gives ?beauty? as the translation, and Andrea Gehrz's translation was also something about ?appearance?, so I am convinced for the mean time that outward form meant one's physical appearance.

Now, how do we translate a person's physical appearance based on the condition of the Sun? I have no idea.

Nature of the Stars: Moon
(Version 1.2)


Sect: Nocturnal


Signifies:

1. Change and Impermanence (b)
a) Of a person: Life, body, fortune (c), one's person (d)
b) Living place or physical location: living abroad/travels(R) (e), ships/voyages(R), wanderings, home (f), city (g)

2. Nurture and Maintenance
a) Nurturing roles: mother, mistress of the house, nurse, older brother (h)
b) Living conditions: home, house-keeping, property/possessions (R), expenditures, receipts (i)
c) Physical conditions: conception, body

3. Women: mother, mistress of the house, nurse(j), goddess (k), queen

4. Uniting, or Coming Together: living together or legal marriage, gathering of crowds

5. Illness like dropsies (l)


Rules over:

1) Anatomy: left eye, stomach, breasts, spleen, marrow
2) Elements: silver
3) Compound/Mixture: glass



--------------------

Footnotes and Definitions

(a) With the Moon's significations we will find that some significations can be placed in more than one category. This is also true for other significators; there's often more than one way to categorise them.

(b) The Moon, as seen from the Earth, changes shape throughout the month. Its velocity also varies from time to time, but the shape of the Moon is more apparent to our eyes, and so is more demonstrative of the concept of change.

Unlike the Sun, which provides His light to every person on Earth with impartiality and for as long as we live, the Moon's light, due to its waxing and waning, changes noticeably as time passes by.

This is reminiscent of the difference between Forms and shadows. The appearance of things in life changes quite a bit; these things that undergo changes, what are they really? Here again we see Plato's ideas seemingly shining through Valens' work.

This line, according to Schmidt, "The Moon, being truly generated by the reflection of the solar light, and possessing a counterfeit light..." is yet another indication of Plato's Forms. The Moon is believed to be an image of the Sun. The Sun is an image of the Form of the Good, so the Moon is like the shadows that the prisoners see in the Allegory of the Cave. The shadows are not real ('counterfeit'); they are simply a reflection of the real people and/or things passing by the fire.

(c) Likely means luck here.

(d) Schmidt notes that this could mean mask or countenance, and Riley gives "appearance". My guess is that Riley's translation is correct. The reason why both signify appearance is likely because they are both lights; they allow things to be seen.

(I thought that if we use the meaning of "mask", the Moon would indicate appearance of a more superficial kind compared to the one depicted by the Sun. However, logically that makes little sense, since appearances are by definition superficial; they are things one can see with the eyes.)

(e) Here I placed both translations because I've found them to be equally appropriate. The second translation (the one with an (R) at the end) is Riley's translation. I will use this format in subsequent notes.

(f) Could be change in residence, could be changes inside the house, like refurnishing.

(g) It's also very likely for the city we live in to experience changes. New shopping malls, some buildings get demolished, decorations during the holiday seasons, etc.

(h) In the past, mortality rates and the risk of death during pregnancy were higher. If the mother dies, the young children will likely be taken care of by their relatives, and most likely the task will fall on their older siblings.

(i) Redundant, as expenditures often come with receipts these days. Riley translated it as "gains", which I do not quite comprehend at the moment. The contradiction in translations may be a source of discussion in the future.

(j) Riley translated this as "nursing"; both are usable.

(k) The Greek name for the Moon is Selene; she was the Moon Goddess in Greek mythology.

(l) The Moon was believed to rule over the marrow (bone marrow?), which allows it to cause dropsies, i.e. edema.

Nature of the Stars: Kronos
(Version 1.1)


Sect: Diurnal


Causes:

1. Limitations (a): constrictions, bonds (b), captivities (c), long-lasting punishments (d), interference with what is being done (e), concealments (f), those who do not marry (g), widowhood (h)
(a) Infertility: childlessness (i), fathers of the children of others
(b) Problems in childhood: exposure at birth (j), orphanhood (k)
(c) Restrictive power over others (l): guardianship and administration of the affairs of others, fathers of the children of others

2. Inactivity: torpors (m), inactions (n)
(a) Deactivation: dismantlings of things (o)

3. Ruin or The Falling Apart of Things (p): depressions (of all forms) (q), dismantlings of things, long-lasting punishments (r), accusations (s), widowhood
(a) Physical misfortunes: violent deaths in the water or strangling or bonds or dysentery, falls upon one's face

4. Sadness or Melancholy: tears, griefs, long-lasting punishments (t)

5. Illnesses form from cold and moisture (u), e.g. cough, dropsy, gout, dysentery

6. Great reputation (v)

7. Notable rank (v)


Signifies people who are:

1. Deceptive: those with a feigned appearance, deceitful, those who conceal their deceits, slanderers (w)
2. Melancholic: of sorrowful countenance, downcast, miserable
3. Persistent: austere, importunate
4. Defamers: slanderers, those who bring themselves into disrepute (x)
5. Concerned about trifles
6. Solitary
7. Squalid (y)
8. Black-clad (z)
9. Given to sailing (aa)


Signifies those who work in these occupations:

1. Waterside trades
2. Labourers (of the earth)
3. Farmers
4. Tax collectors
5. Customs collectors
6. Forced activities (ab)


Rules over:

1. Anatomy: leg, knee, tendons, phlegm (ac), bladder, kidneys
2. Element/Compound: lead
3. Uncategorised: trees, stones



--------------------

Footnotes and Definitions

(a) I have read about this signification for a long time, and I think we need more examples to substantiate our understanding of 'limitations'. Reading Valens's significations for Kronos has improved my comprehension of this concept. I shall create a list of limitations after I have sufficient knowledge about it.

Note that 'inactivity' is also a form of limitation, but I decided to separate the two because I find that it needs a special mention.

The Sun and Saturn opposes each other in this respect; while the Sun promotes activity, Saturn brings about inactivity.

(b) Riley translated 'bonds' as 'chains'. Basically means 'being restrained from doing what one wishes'.

(c) Physically restrained.

(d) A long-term punishment reduces one's happiness. Sometimes it also places a limit on the type of activities we can do, and how much, depending on the nature of the punishment.

(e) Interferences reduce efficiency, and sometimes prevents us from completing our business altogether.

(f) Concealments include secrets and hidden objects or information. Those things may prove to be resourceful, but since they are hidden, we have less material to work with.

(g) Being never married likely limits one's progeny, sexual and familial fulfilment, social status, happiness etc. Some people are happier when married.

(h) Widowhood induces restrictions similar to being never married, but less. During Valens's time, it probably creates financial and livelihood issues.

(i) Denial of progeny.

(j) Exposures at birth may have long-term health consequences. So, reduction of one's healthiness.

(k) Being orphaned significantly limits one's livelihood and opportunities in life, in general.

(l) That is, it creates a person who imposes limitations on others. A strict parent is a good modern example of this.

(m) Torpors refer to a state of physical or mental inactivity.

(n) As far as I know, this word doesn't actually exist, but we can take it to be synonymous to 'inaction'.

(o) Things that were taken apart cannot carry out the activity they were designed to do.

(p) I suspect that Ares brings about ruin as well, but in a more direct manner than Kronos. In Ares's case, the correct term is 'destruction', implying that some kind of direct force is applied. This is why Saturn's malice is increased in a night chart, for his misdeeds are harder to see. Ares, on the other hand, receiving more energy from the Sun in a day chart, becomes more irritable and destructive.

(q) Here Robert Schmidt notes that the signification means different kinds of depressions. He gives examples of low estate (which from what I have read means 'low social status'), dejection (emotional depression) and vileness (wickedness, moral degradation).

(r) I imagine that a long-term punishment ruins the person emotionally and socially, and simply makes it harder for him to be productive.

(s) Accusations tend to ruin either the accuser or the accused's reputation, or both!

(t) Long-term punishments saddens people. Maybe it's too obvious?

(u) Here we see a reference to the four humours theory (or humourism). The cold and moist combination is the most conducive to illnesses (according to Deborah Houlding's article, 'Hippocrates, Humours & Temperament-theory ...'). The problem is that Kronos is (excessively) cold and (moderately) dry most of the time, and only rarely moist (according to Ptolemy, Book I).

Further investigation on Hippocrates's works is necessary (as he was the major authority on medicine and the four humours at the time.)


I believe that it was because of the four humours theory that the ancient Greeks designated Kronos and Ares as malefics and Zeus and Aphrodite as benefics. Kronos being excessively cold and Ares excessively dry made them inimical to life (according to the theory), while the other two planets were temperate and were therefore beneficial to life. I have not worked out Ptolemy's text, but this is the feeling I got after I read a little about the four humours.

(v) These are likely to be bestowed only by a dignified, well-placed Kronos.

(w) Perhaps in those times papyrus was a luxury, so people who wanted to defame others did so by words. Today we have the option of slandering or libeling someone.

(x) Technically, they are 'self-slandering'.

(y) It means 'dirty', in the physical and/or moral sense.

(z) Literally, dressed in black.

(aa) There might be some esoteric meaning as to why people born under Kronos are given to sailing. Maybe it is simply the four humours theory again, where because Kronos is excessively cold, it makes those born under him like coldness, that is, water. It is still somewhat far-fetched, however.

(ab) Robert Schmidt notes that it might refer to a job unsuitable for the given person or one that goes against the grain. I place it here although it's not a real job because I think the meaning is pertinent

(ac) Since Kronos is the only star who is cold and dry, it is understandable that he rules over the phlegm.

Book 1, Chapter 1 - Nature of the Stars: Zeus
(Version 1.0)


Sect: Diurnal


Signifies:

1. Productivity or Prolificness: Begetting children (b), childbirth, plenty of fruits (c), abundance/prosperity
(a) Financial possessions: fidelities (d), trusts/deposits in trust (e), inheritances, possessions, confirmation of goods/secure possession of goods (f), stipends (g)
(b) Friendship at a grand scale (h): alliances/political ties, friendships with great men, brotherhood, community/fellowship
(c) The giving of things to another person, generosity: great gifts, benefaction

2. Wise Rulership Over People (i): justice (j), mediation of disputes, sovereignty/offices, governments/officeholding, alliances/political ties, friendships with great men
(a) Religious authority: preferments of priests/authority over temples

3. Hospitality (Xenia) (k): households/stewardships, alliances/political ties, friendships with great men, brotherhood, community/fellowship

4. Freedom (l): freedom, loosing of bonds (m), deliverance from evils (n)

5. Erotic Desires (o): erotic love, desire


Rules over:

1. Anatomy: thighs, feet, seed, womb, liver, inner parts on the right side
2. Element/Compound: Tin



--------------------

Footnotes and Definitions:

(a) In this section, there is some order differences between the two translations. It may be that Riley uses both Greek texts while Schmidt uses Pingree's text exclusively. Or it could be a difference in translation. I assume that the first is the case.

The text appears to be too messy if I use '(R)' to indicate Riley's translation, so I have omitted it. Whenever there is a signification in this form 'word1/word2', word2 is Riley's translation. I may adopt the same format for future posts.

Reading briefly about the Greek god Zeus and Roman god Jupiter in their respective mythologies, many of the significations make sense. The epithets of Zeus, for example, reveals quite a fair bit about the characteristics of the god.

(b) As in making a woman pregnant with a child. Zeus had many, many offsprings in Greek mythology.

(c) Riley: abundance of crops. So 'fruits' in this case refers to vegetation.

(d) I believe 'fidelities' is meant in the financial sense, where a person holds a property on behalf of someone else who is either too young or is deceased.

(e) Redundant, as 'fidelities' means the same thing.

(f) I believe Riley's translation is more accurate here.

(g) Stipends refers to a fixed, regular income, that is, salaries. Appropriately, Riley translated this signification as 'salaries'.

(h) Due to the productive nature of this planet, the friendship one obtains is large scale.

(i) The person signified is both a ruler and a wise person. He is also fair and just. These are the characteristics of Zeus in Greek mythology. He is the Father of Gods and men, having rulership over all of them.

However, he does not rule via power and dictatorship like his father Cronus does. He won the subservience of his people through his Wisdom and Justice. This is why the significations 'alliances' and 'friendships with great men' fall under this category.

(j) By extension, Zeus also signifies the law and those related to the law.

(k) The Greeks practised an ancient concept of hospitality, called Xenia. The host must be hospitable to the guest by providing food and drinks, and a bath if necessary. Due to the reciprocal nature of the practice, the guest in turn must be courteous to the host and not be a burden. Gifts may be exchanged among both parties.

This practice was also extended to travellers, even if they were strangers, for the travellers may have been a God in disguise, who may bestow good things or ruin, depending on the host's conduct.

Zeus was an epitome of a good host. He took care of and protected travellers.

It was perhaps due to his hospitality that Zeus earned many allies and became friends with great men, and just generally had numerous congenial relationships with people (hence the 'brotherhood' and 'fellowship' significations).

For the first signification on the list, Riley's translation 'stewardships' is likely more accurate than Schmidt's 'households', for this reason.

(l) In the mythology, Cronus (i.e. Kronos) had swallowed every child he sired except for Zeus, because he heard the prophesy that one of his sons will overthrow his authority, just as Cronus had overthrown his father, Uranus.

When Zeus had grown up, he forced his father to disgorge his siblings (Hera, Poseidon and Hades, among others), effectively giving them 'freedom'.

In one version of the myth, he also freed the brothers of Cronus (the Gigantes, the Hecatonchires and the Cyclopes) from a dungeon in Tartarus, releasing them from their bonds or chains (hence, 'loosing of bonds/release from bonds').

(m) Riley translates this as 'release from bonds', which I find to be easier to understand. 'Loosing' is not a very common word. Bonds here, as noted in my interpretation on Kronos, means 'chains', in the physical sense.

(n) Again, I find Riley's translation easier to understand here, 'relief from troubles'. This is a form of freedom, but I also think that it can be categorised under the 'Wise Rulership Over People.' Under the government of Zeus, evil people were almost always punished and the good were almost always rewarded. He was just. So the troubles caused by the evil acts of others were lessened.

But I think it was too far-fetched and esoteric, so I placed it here instead. Or I was just lazy.

(o) Zeus was probably the best example of a horny person; he can have a contest with Ares. Or maybe it was the 'like father, like son' phenomenon?

Hera was his main partner. His other mistresses include the nymphs, Leto, Demeter, Dione, Maia, Semele, Io, Europa, Leda and many other humans. Later he realised that the world was overpopulated, and conspired to depopulate it in the Trojan War, though it was partly his fault for crowding the world in the first place.

Book 1, Chapter 1 ? Nature of the Stars: Ares
(Version 1.0)


Sect: Nocturnal


Signifies:

1. War and Violence: military campaigns, wars, combat, violence, cuts and bloodshed and violent murders, screams, abortion (a), ruination of women/deaths of wives (b), captivities (c), imprisonment, tortures, manliness (d)

2. Larceny/Burglary/Robbery: violent thefts, piracy/banditry, rapine, plunderings, taking away of belongings, taking away of good things/loss of goods

3. Conflict between people: breaches of friends/quarrels among friends, enemies/hatreds, lawsuits, reproaches/verbal abuse, anger

4. Sexual relations: sexual intercourse/love affairs (e), adulteries (f), wedding/marriages (g)

5. Hunting of Animals: the hunt/hunting, the chase/wild game

6. Lying: lies, perjury, wandering (h)

7. Banishment: banishment/exile, estrangement of parents

8. Illnesses (i): attacks of fever, ulcerations, pustules/boils, inflammation/burns, apoplexy/stroke, weak vision

9. Falls from heights or quadrupeds


Signifies those work in these occupations:

1. Generals and leaders
2. Warriors/infantrymen,
3. Supremacy/governorships
4. Those who gain their ends through fire or iron (j)
5. Handicraftsmen
6. Workers in hard material/masonry.


Rules over:

1. Anatomy: head, rump, genital, blood, spermatic ducts, bile(k), excretion of faeces (l), the hind-parts/the parts in the rear (m)
2. Element/Compound: iron
3. Uncategorised: wine, pulse/beans



--------------------

Footnotes and Definitions:

(a) Schmidt noted that the word used here literally means "cutting up the foetus in the womb", so it is a form of violence.

(b) Probably a result of violence or war, where women were raped and killed.

(c) The signification here would mean "being captured as a result of war or violence".

(d) The Romans perceived their God of War, Mars, as manly and the one who fights in order to bring peace. Their perception of the God was more positive compared to the Greeks' conception of Ares, because they were a warrior race.

(e) I find Riley's translation, "love affairs", more accurate here, as in Greek mythology Ares had many love affairs, and he never married.

(f) Ares had a love affair with Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty, who was married to Hephaestus, the God of Blacksmiths. When he found out, the wronged husband then devised a very fine net to catch them in their sexual act. Then, he invited the Gods to see what they were doing.

Despite this humiliation, Aphrodite continued to seek Ares and they had several children together.

(g) Ares was unmarried, so I was hard-pressed to find out why this signification was attributed to him. Then I read about Mars (the Roman equivalent of Ares.) Mars was married to Nerio or Nerine.

I am still unconvinced about this signification, however, so further research is necessary.

(h) Schmidt notes that in this context, 'wandering' may have the meaning of 'deceit or imposture'. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and decided to use that meaning.

(i) Most of these illnesses seem to be caused by excessive choler (see Deborah's post, "Hippocrates, Humours and Temperament-Theory..."), which would be consistent with the Greek's conception of the natural causes of illnesses.

(j) If I remembered correctly, Ptolemy also mentioned something similar in his astrological treatise, Tetrabiblos, on the Quality of Action.

(k) Ares was associated with the choleric humour, the natural fluid of which was yellow bile.

(l) Perhaps what was meant here was not that Ares ruled over the "excretion of faeces", but rather that he ruled over the PARTS that dealt with the excretion of faeces.

(l) Not quite sure what was meant by this, but we can assume that it meant 'the buttocks', as this definition would be consistent with the 'excretion of faeces'.

Book 1, Chapter 1 ? Nature of the Stars: Aphrodite
(Version 1.0)


Sect: Nocturnal


Significant for:

1. Pleasure (b): giving and receiving of gifts (R), indicative of pleasure, weddings (c)
a) Sexual pleasures: desire, erotic love, beauty of form
b) Musical pleasures: euphonies/fine voices, making music/a taste for music, sweetness of melody/sweet singing
c) Visual pleasures: beauty of form, painting, purchases of ornaments (d), mixing of colours in embroidery and dyeing and unguent making (R) (d), bestows ornament (d)

2. Gaiety (e) and Playfulness: friendships, companionships, those who are fond of play, laughter, festive rejoicing, merriment, weddings

3. Nurturers: mother, nurse/nurture, indicative of nurturing of another

4. Further acquisition of belongings/acquisition of property

5. Reconciliations for the good/agreements on favourable terms (f)

6. Advantages from royal women or relatives (Riley: ?...and it brings very high rank when it operates in such affairs...?)

7. Those who are fond of cleanliness (g)


Makes those who work under these occupations:

1. Priestly rites/priesthoods (h)
2. Office of gymnasiarch (i)
3. Inventors and masters of embroidery, dyeing and unguent making (R)
4. Craftsmanship or trade and work in emeralds, precious stones and ivory (R)
5. Those who spin gold thread
6. Those who adorn with gold
7. Haircutters/Barbers,
8. Those who are fond of cleanliness (j)
9. Those who are fond of play (k)
10. Office of market-overseer, measures, weights, businesses / office of supervisor of weights and measures, markets, factories (l)


Rules over:

1. Anatomy: neck, face, lips, organ of smell, fore-parts of the body from foot to head, parts of intercourse (R), lungs
2. Material: precious stones, many-coloured ornaments/fancy jewellery



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Footnotes and Definitions:

(a) The significations of Aphrodite are pretty messy. So I decided to add and remove some words and punctuation to make the meanings clearer. I am sure I did not alter the meanings, but please refer to the original translations if there is any doubt.

I preferred Riley's translation of some significations, so for those that end with ?(R)?, they are Riley's version.

(b) Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of pleasure. She was so beautiful that Zeus married her to Hephaestus to prevent the other gods from warring with each other for her hand in marriage.

She had many lovers, gods and mortals alike. Examples include Ares, Hermes, Poseidon, Adonis, Anchises. No doubt, these men find her companionship pleasurable.

(c) I suppose that weddings do bring about pleasure to those who are marrying, and those who share their happiness.

(d) Ornaments are used for beautifying the body or a place, which makes the body or place pleasant to look at. Similarly colours and smells make things look and smell more pleasant.

Unguent is an uncommon word, and therefore one that deserves defining. Google gives ?a soft greasy or viscous substance used as an ointment or for lubrication?, which is good enough for our purposes.

We can probably assume that 'unguent making' means making beautifying ointments (for the skin) and perfumes', since Schmidt translated this as 'aromatic arts'.

(e) I use the word 'gaiety' here to mean 'light-heartedness'.

The fact that three planets signify 'friendship'...perhaps the nature of these friends depends on the planet they are signified by?

(f) Both translations have a different notion, so I'm not sure which one should be used.

(g) This signification can mean ?people who, in general, like things to be clean?, instead of actually taking up an occupation related to cleaning. So I placed it here as well as in the occupations section.

(h) I have no idea why Aphrodite signifies priesthoods.

(i) This is an ancient occupation. A 'gymnasiarch' was an officer who was in charge of managing a gymnasium and its participants in Ancient Greece. Originally, gymnasiums were a place for physical activity and what we would call 'sports contests'. In those days, these contests were a means of leisure and to honour the gods.

As time passed, in addition to physical activities it became a place for non-physical education, philosophical talks and other things.

(j) This signification may very well refer to a form of work, as the other significations that are in the same sentence are also forms of occupation.

(k) This signification might also refer to a form of work that involves playing something. In our modern age, this could be chess, poker, maybe sports, game reviewers, professional gamers, etc. Of course, this is all speculation on my part, so some kind of empirical study is warranted.

(l) Looking at both translations, it seems that although the significations are separated by commas, they are part of the same signification, ?market-overseer/market supervisor?.

However, looking at mythology, I cannot find a sufficient connection between Aphrodite and this symbol. Perhaps because, in one version, Aphrodite was said to be born in Cythera (a Greek island), which was a stopping place for trade and culture between Crete (another Greek island) and the Peloponesus. Aphrodite was born an adult, so she might have overseen the trades occurring there.

Book 1, Chapter 1 ? Nature of the Stars: Hermes
(Version 1.0)


Sect: None


Signifies:

1. Intellect (b): intellect/forethought, practical wisdom (c), versatility (d), hearing (e)
a) Qualitative Intellectual Activities: education of children (f), letters, speech/reasoning (g), declamation (h), announcement/communication, sending messages (i), interpretation, disputation (j), discoveries
b) Quantitative Intellectual Activities: counters/accounts (k), number, geometry, commerce/markets

2. Commerce (l): commerce/markets, community/association (m), service (n), profit, those who covet fame for a wondrous deed for the sake of profit, theft (o), fashioner of every mercantile and banking art/creator of all marketing and banking

3. Brothers (p): having brothers/brotherhood (q), lord of brothers

4. Youth (r): education of children, lord of younger children, youth

5. Sports: contest/sports (s), wrestling (t)

6. Irregularities in our fortunes and frequently sidetracks us from our goals/makes everything capricious in outcome and quite disturbed (u)

7. Giving and receiving (v)


Indicative of the following occupations (w):

1. Construction workers: architects, temple-builders, brick-makers/modellers (x), sculptors (y)
2. Thinkers and Communicators: the herald's office/embassies, lawyers, orators, writers, philosophers
3. Divination related workers (z): mantics (aa), augurs, interpreters of dreams, those who come to know the heavens or even become searchers of the sky
4. Entertainers: musicians, those who make a living through display, those who are strong performers or sing mimes/weight lifters and mimes (ab)
5. Commerce related workers: fashioner of every mercantile and banking art/creator of all marketing and banking
6. Medical workers (ac): physicians/doctors, those who are methodical/systematic physicians
7. Textile workers: weavers, braiders
8. Those who are in the forefront in wars and military actions/those in charge of war and strategy (ad)


Rules over:

1. Anatomy: hand, shoulders, fingers, joints, belly, ears/the sense of hearing (ae), windpipe/arteries (af), gut/intestines, tongue
2. Material: copper, every coinage



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Footnotes and Definitions:

(a) Similar to Aphrodite's translations, in some places Hermes' translations experiences drastic differences in either ordering or meaning, but these are far and few in between.

(b) There is no direct reference to Hermes as the God of Intellect, but based on his actions, we can infer that he is one of, if not the most, intellectual among the Gods that were used as the basis of our astrological symbolism (compare Hermes with Cronus, Zeus, Ares, and Aphrodite).

For example, when he was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene, he went all the way to Thessaly to steal Apollo's cattle, while his mother was asleep. Not only only did he steal them and hide them away in a small grotto in the city of Pylos, he also remembered to cover their tracks!

On the way back to the cave, he caught a tortoise. With its shell and intestines from a cow, he created the lyre. Later, he enticed Apollo with its sweet melody while they were arguing, which allowed Hermes to reconciliate with Apollo by exchanging the cattle for the lyre. We can even guess that he knew this was going to happen, and prepared the lyre beforehand for this very purpose.

(c) Probably the same ?practical wisdom? signified by the Sun, phronesis.

(d) Hermes's intellect allows him to be flexible with his means of achieving what he wants.

(e) One's hearing is crucial for learning, listening to speeches and the arguments of others, as well as reciting one's lines before speaking to others.

(f) Riley translated this as ?education? only. Perhaps Schmidt tried to add context to it (combining both of Hermes's significations, 'intellect' and 'youth') , or perhaps the Greek source texts were different.

(g) Different meanings, but both are relevant to Hermes.

(h) This is a new word to me. 'Declamation' refers to 'a recitation that will be delivered to an audience.'

(i) Schmidt's translation is different from Riley's translation, and although both makes sense, since they address different things, I will go with Schmidt's translation because it is a more prominent role of Hermes's. Hermes is an emissary and messenger of the Gods, much like angel Gabriel from the Abrahamic religions.

The fact that he is a messenger partly coincides with why Hermes is one of the fastest star among the seven. This role of messenger and guide (he is also a psychopomp, someone who guides souls into the after-world) explains why he also symbolises letters, speech and communication.

(j) This signification reminds me of Schmidt's characterisation of Mercury as one who 'contests and destabilises'.

(k) Both translations have differing meanings, but again they are both relevant.

(l) Hermes is the patron of commerce. The epithet, 'Agoraeus', meaning 'belonging to the market', was attributed to him. Another epithet is 'Empolaios', which means 'engaged in traffic and commerce'.

(m) This likely refers to 'the communities or associations whose purpose is to gain profit'.

(n) Services that are given to obtain a profit.

(o) Some people may be shocked as to why 'theft' is listed under 'commerce', but stealing is in fact one possible way of making a profit. Hermes is the protector and master of thieves. His involvement with this activity confers him the epithet 'Dolios', which literally means 'tricky'.

Of course, we should not forget that he did steal Apollo's cattle; he began his thieving career from infancy!

In the Homeric hymm, he was characterised as being, among other things, 'a robber' and 'a thief at the gates'.

(p) I do not know why Hermes signifies brothers, so research is warranted. At a glance, it may be because Hermes is the second youngest among the Olympians, and so he has several brothers before him.

(q) Different connotations here; Schmidt's translation means having brothers literally, but Riley's translation can mean having brothers OR being a brother to someone. Hermes has brothers, Apollo being one of them, and another that comes to mind is Hephaestus. However, he is only a brother to one god, and that is Dionysius.

(r) (s) (t) Firstly, as mentioned above, Hermes was the second youngest Olympian god. Secondly, Hermes was often depicted as a young man by the Greeks; they likely saw him as being always young. Finally Hermes was believed to have invented many types of racing and the sports of boxing and wrestling. He was also the god and patron of athletes. All of these associations made him the significator of youth and sports.

(u) Being intellectual probably makes him more unpredictable than the other stars. Since the star moves quickly, his effects changes as he travels through the different zoidia, which makes for the irregularities in fortune.

Interestingly, the Homeric Hymm to Hermes invokes him as the one ?of many shifts (polytropos)?. Tropos can mean quite a few things, but the basic meaning of 'polytropos' is versatility or adaptability (one of his significations!).

My take on this is that Hermes changes the way he does things depending on who he comes in contact with, so as to obtain maximum profit from the relationship. He is on no one else's side (recall, that he has no sect) except his own.

So, when in conjunction with Ares, he cooperates in creating wars, violence and other troubles. On the other hand, if he is with Zeus, he would make an honest and temperate person, one who is productive and hospitable.

(v) I have read about this phrase somewhere, I will need to read Valens's other books to be sure.

(w) Since Hermes is an impostor who adapts himself to the situation, the occupations indicated will be promised only when he is in the zoidon or with the star that creates such occupations. This explains this part of the translation (Schmidt's version):

?For, since this star is capable of many pursuits, it furnishes activities in accordance with the variation in the zoidia or its variously configured interweavings with the stars.?

(x) Schmidt's translation is the more concrete form, while Riley's translation is more abstract.

(y) The essence of sculpting is similar to temple-building, in the sense that although the objects created are different, both involves some kind of 'constructing' or 'building' of a concrete object.

(z) Aesop featured Hermes in his fables as being the ruler of the gate of prophetic dreams. As he was the messenger of the Gods, it should come as no surprise that he also brings prophesies to the common people. Another point which may or may not be relevant is that there is an ancient occult tradition called the Hermetic tradition, and I believe some of the materials on Hellenistic astrology was authored by a Hermes.

(aa) Related to the suffix -mancy, from Greek manteia, which is attached to any divinatory art. Examples include geomancy, necromancy, grammatomancy.

(ab) 'Strong performers' and 'weight lifting' seems familiar, in a sense.

(ac) Curiously, Hermes wields the caduceus, which if I understand correctly is the symbol of medicine that is extant until today.

(ad) Riley's translation seems more accurate, and it paints a picture of a warrior that is more like Artemis than Ares. Artemis is more strategic and deliberate, while Ares relies more on his physical strength and intimidation.

(ae) Since Hermes symbolises 'hearing', it would be consistent if he is also a sign for the ears.

(af) The word in the Greek text was probably 'arteria', which according to the Online Etymology Dictionary means 'windpipe', but can also mean 'an artery'! So in this case, either could be meant since the word is ambiguous.

However, we do have a reason to believe that it is Schmidt's translation that is more accurate, because Hermes rules over speech and communication, which relies on the windpipe.