Hellenistic Astrology

The origins of much of astrology that would later evolve into Asia, Europe and Middle East are among the oldest Babylonians and their system of celestial omens that began to be collected in the mid-second millennium BC This system was later extended both directly and indirectly through the Babylonians to other areas such as India, China and Greece, Where it mixed with pre-existing indigenous forms of astrology. Came to Greece initially in the middle of the fourth century BC, and then on late second century or early first century BC, after the conquests Alexandria This Babylonian astrology mixed with the Egyptian tradition of Dean astrology to create horoscopic astrology. The latter system is so named because, unlike the earlier traditions, employed the use of ascending Known as Horoskopos ("Marker time") in Greek, and twelve homes heavenly arising therefrom. The focus on chart the individual, as derived from the position of the planets and stars at the time of his birth, represents the contribution and most significant change of emphasis made during the Hellenistic tradition of astrology. This new form of astrology, which seems to have originated in Alexandrian Egypt, quickly spread around the world to Europe, the Middle East and India.

The complex system of astrology was developed to the point that the later traditions were few fundamental changes to the core of it, and many of the components of astrology horoscopic that developed during the Hellenistic period are still used by astrologers today.

Mythical origins

Several astrologers attributed the creation of Hellenistic astrology to a mythical sage named Hermes Trismegistus. Reportedly, Hermes wrote several important texts which formed the basis of this art evolved from the astrological system inherited from the Babylonians and Egyptian. Several authors cite Hermes as the first outline the homes and its meaning, and that is why we normally think that the concept of house dates back to the very beginning of the Hellenistic tradition, being in fact one of the major defining factors that separates the Hellenistic astrology and other forms of astrology horoscopic Babylonian astrology and other traditions of different parts of the world. This system of astrology horoscopic have been transferred to another mythical figure called Asclepius, who referred some of the Hermetic writings.

According to Firmicus Mate usThe system was then transmitted to a Pharaoh Egyptian named Nekepso and his priest Petosiris. It is said that they wrote several important books that explained the system and it is these texts that many of the Hellenistic astrologers quote and the inspired directly. This system formed the basis of all later forms of astrology horoscopic.