The Origin Of The Zodiac

Lively account examines the nature, philosophy, and mythology of the zodiac in ancient Mexico, Tibet, China, India, Greece, Rome, Babylon, and Egypt. Anecdotes and illustrations enhance a text that includes fascinating material on zodiacal gems and birthstones. An absorbing, well-researched study that will fascinate students, scholars, New Agers, and anyone interested in the zodiac's colorful history.

The zodiac was first clearly defined by the Babylonians some 2500 years ago, but until recently the basis of this original definition remained unknown. This zodiac of the Babylonians, known as the sidereal zodiac because it is specified in direct relation to the stars (Latin sideris, 'starry'), was used for centuries throughout the ancient world, all the way to India, and must be distinguished from the tropical zodiac in widespread use by astrologers in the West today, which was introduced only in the middle of the second century A.D. by the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy. Such was Ptolemy's influence, however, that the tropical zodiac gained prominence and, except for its survival (in a variant form) in India, knowledge of the sidereal zodiac was lost. In this thrilling study of the history of the zodiac, first submitted in 2004 as his Ph.D. thesis, Robert Powell rescues the the sidereal zodiac from the dusts of time, tracing it back to the Babylonians in the sixth/fifth centuries B.C. The implications of this discovery-among them the restitution of the sideral zodiac to its rightful place at the heart of astrology-are immense, they key point being that the signs of the sidereal zodiac, each thirty degrees long, coincide closely with the twelve astronomical constellations of the same name, whereas the signs of the tropical zodiac, since they are defined in relation to the vernal point, now have no direct relationship to the corresponding zodiacal constellations, owing to the precession of the equinoxes.This revolutionary history of the zodiac includes chapters on the Egyptian decans and the Hindu nakshatras, showing how these sidereal divisions, which originated in Egypt and India, are related to the original Babylonian zodiac. It also sheds light on the controversy surrounding the 'zodiac question' (tropical vs. sidereal), illuminating the history of the tropical zodiac-showing that originally it was not a zodiac at all, but a calendar for describing the course of the seasons! This book, the fruit of thirty years of research, is intended not only for scholars but for general readers as well, and offers the clearest and most comprehensive study of the history of the zodiac yet published.

Originally published in 1837, An Enquiry into the Origin of the Constellations that Compose the Zodiac and the Uses They Were Intended to Promote is a fascinating exploration of ancient astronomy and mythology. Written by John Barrett, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, this book offers a detailed analysis of the symbolism and significance of the 12 zodiac signs. Whether you're a student of astrology or simply interested in the history of science, this book is a must-read. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

You know your zodiac sign. Maybe you're a Virgo, or an Aquarian. But did you know that your sign is not the same thing as the zodiac constellation that it is named after? Your sign is actually in a different part of space to the constellation of stars we can see in the sky. What? That makes no sense... or does it? In this book, The Origin and Nature of the Tropical Zodiac, researcher Dr Damien Pryor unpacks the difference between what's known among astrologers as the 'sidereal zodiac', and the 'tropical zodiac.' The sidereal zodiac, made up of the 12 constellations, is visible and real. The tropical zodiac, on the other hand, does not exist in the sense of a visible group of stars. So what is it, actually? Astronomers believe it's just a fanciful idea, with no basis in reality. Yet there are many references to the tropical zodiac in ancient Greek texts, including the writings of Ptolemy. Dr Pryor's meticulous research into these texts reveals the secret of what the tropical zodiac is, and how the teachers in the ancient Greek and Babylonian Mysteries understood it. Written in everyday language, with helpful graphics, The Origin and Nature of the Tropical Zodiac is an invaluable resource for astrologers - and anyone who has an interest in their astrological sign.

The zodiacal signs impact art, advertising, literature, history, mythology, psychology, health, and language with their evocative imagery, symbols and scientific and religious lore. This fact-filled reference guide pulls together applications of the zodiacal signs in those fields and others. Each sign is explicated in a separate chapter which discusses its origin and importance in diverse cultures, including its history, artistic applications, traditions, literary and religious interpretations, psychological significance, and application to notable historical and contemporary figures. An organized overview with cross-references and indexing allows the zodiac to be studied from numerous points of view. Artistic representations of each of the 12 houses accompany the text. Introductory chapters on the origins of the zodiacal signs, the historical foundation of astrology, the zodiac in the first millennium A.D., and the zodiac in the arts and sciences provide a thorough overview and comparative examination of the influence of the zodiac in human history and thought. A detailed timeline synchronizes discoveries and development of zodiacal associations and thought around the world. Appendices list planetary correspondences in jewels, metals, herbs, color, flavor, form, shapes, food preferences, and senses, and the symptoms and pathologies associated with birth signs. The work also contains an extensive bibliography and index.

This book is a scholarly study of a German astromonical manuscript that contains information on the origin of the signs of the zodiac. The author, Robert Brown, was an expert in ancient astronomy and astrolgy and provides a detailed analysis of the manuscript and its significance. This book will be of interest to anyone interested in the history of astronomy and astrology. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.