Skyscript Astrology Forum

Posted: **Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:01 pm**

We have long had mystery chart feature in the traditional forum. I have thought for a while now it would be fun to also put up a mystery text now and again and invite suggestions from members.

Philip Graves recently tried out a similar idea on the News and Books section of the forum. However, unlike Philip I plan to run this on a more informal basis. There are really no rules other than the normal forum guidelines. I will indicate if guesses are getting hot or cold and may also give the odd clue or pointer if people seem to be struggling. Your welcome to ask questions. As long as the answers dont give away the identity of the text in one go!

To keep things simple I am just using one text. Knowing what an erudite membership we have on Skyscript I have made this first text quite difficult (I think!). However, I will be posting other offerings from the same text as we go along.

So to get us warmed up here goes our first selection:

Again, beware lest thou enter into partnership when the moon
is with Saturn or Mars ; moreover, should it be in Aries, Scorpio,
Capricorn, or Aquarius, enter not into partnership during any of
these four signs. Form partnership when the moon is in Sagittarius
or in Pisces, Taurus, Cancer, or Libra, make the association and it
will be favourable.

Any brave souls want to have a crack at it?

Mark

Posted: **Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:00 am**

Hello Mark,

Are we suppose to find out where this excerpt was taken from i.e. name the author and title of the book/journal?
Sorry, a bit slow!

Thanx.

Posted: **Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:24 am**

My guess is Dorotheus, "Carmen Astrologicum"...

Goran

Posted: **Wed Oct 13, 2010 1:27 pm**

Hello,

"The Book of the Zodiac", translated by E.S. Drower.

Posted: **Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:32 pm**

Hello,

"The Book of the Zodiac", translated by E.S. Drower.

Bullseye! Well done astrojin! I must say I had thought this one would keep you folks guessing a bit longer.

That will teach me to open a thread with a void of course Moon.

I'm curious how you got this so quickly though astrojin as its its hardly regular bedside reading even for those into ancient astrology.

I take it you have studied the text in some depth youself?

For those that dont know The Book of the Zodiac is one of the sacred texts of the Mandean religion. The religion originates from southern Iraq.

Astrologically the text seems to be an fusion of influences from Babylonian, Greek, Sassanian Persian, and Arabic astrology.

On the text ES Drower comments in his introduction:

In considering the fragments as a whole, it should be borne in mind that most of them are probably, and some admittedly, translations, or, it may be, translations of translations. Arabic, Greek, Persian, and Pahlevi writers probably drew upon older material. In some passages references to the '' King of kings " and mention of certain place-names indicate a Sasanian epoch, and much of the folklore and magic is a heritage from Babylon.

The Mandeans are an intriguing religious grouping and there are various views on where they originate from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaeans

http://www.nineveh.com/Mandaeans%20The% ... deans.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabians

The Book of The Zodiac has various uses for the Mandeans and this includes selecting a name for a newborn baby:

A very interesting religious ritual is giving the new born four names; one used during religious rituals given by the priest, second is the family name, a third is a sort of clan name, and a personal Arab name used for everyday life that does not has any astrological value (not to cause particular problems). The astrological name, called the "name of the sign of the zodiac" is calculated in this manner: the (12) signs of the zodiac, from Aries to Pisces, are placed in a circle, and beginning from the sign corresponding to the month of the child's birth, the priest passes from sign to sign, for as many positions as there were hours in the day until the moment of birth, to arrive at the sign of the zodiac under whose influence lay the hour of the day in which the birth occurred. The numerical value of this sign is what counts, and the numerical value of the astrological name of the child's mother is subtracted from this. Once a certain number has been arrived at, a list of names corresponding to that number is compiled from the list in the "Book of the Zodiacs," and the parents choose a name from that list. There are other rituals that evolve around constant consultation of the stars and others in which the priests redact horoscopes and predict the future.

http://www.farvardyn.com/mandaean4.php

Mark

Posted: **Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:57 am**

Yes - well done Astrojin. E S Drower's name seems familiar. Did he write about the Yezidi sect?

Mark - thank you for the links. They certainly took their astrology seriously in Harran. A fascinating subject. I am sure that there is a name choosing technique in Agrippa that is similar to the one described. If so it shows the remarkable tenacity of beliefs like this.

Matt

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