Post by KittyLane on Jan 29, 2007 11:20:49 GMT -5
Today, the average person in any Western world culture knows their Zodiac Sun Sign placement (i.e. Hey baby! What’s your sign?) and millions read their daily horoscope as a source of momentary entertainment and amusement. And heck! Who knows? Maybe today will be your lucky day, and you'll finally meet that tall, dark stranger that your horoscope is bragging about.
From the very dawn of humanity (until today), people have looked to the heavens and the planets for guidance. Thousands of years ago astrology was, generally speaking, reserved only for members of royalty. There were good points to astrology being embraced by those in political power, and there were sadly enough several bad points. One of the best advantages was that an astrologer could often look forward to a nice, comfortable, civil service job in the palace.
One of the worst "difficulties" was when the astrologer inevitably made his/her royal benefactor angry. That was when the court astrologer most often literally lost his/her head over the matter.
The Roots/Greek Thought
The roots of Western Tropical astrology (the type of astrology most Westerners are familiar with today) date all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia (2300 BC). From there, perhaps as early as 600 BC, astrology began making its way into ancient Greece. Astrology's entrance into Greece coincided with the beginning of the first great Greek philosophers and with the rise of the Greek state and culture.
Socrates - 469 to 399 BC
Plato - 427 to 347 BC
Aristotle - 384 to 322 BC
Then Alexander the Great burst onto the scene beginning his famous conquests over much of the entire (then known) world. Alexander's conquests lasted between the years of 336-323 BC. Due to Alexander's powerful influence and control - and his having been tutored by the master philosopher Aristotle - Greek culture and thought was then spread throughout much of Alexander's vast conquered domain.
In this process of "hellenizing" the world - Alexandria, Egypt became the established cultural center of ancient Hellenistic Greek thought and philosophy between the years of 323 - 31 BC. It was during this 300 year period of time that the study, development, and acceptance of astrology flourished among many of the prominent thinkers of the day... and it was during this period of time, when the roots of horoscopic, zodiacal, individualized astrology (much as we recognize it today) first came into existence.
In this Hellenistic Greek atmosphere, astrology was no longer reserved for royalty. Later ancient Hellenistic sky watchers such as the famous Ptolemy (85-165 AD) served in dual roles as both the scientifically minded mathematical astronomer searching out the skies and as the metaphysically minded astrologer divining the purposes of the heavens.
The Quiet Period In The West
After a several hundred year “heyday” in ancient Greek and then Roman culture - astrology in the Western world, while never totally dying out, became rather quiet during the period of time now called the Middle Ages. During this time, astrology continued to flourish and evolve in other cultural environments. However... in Western world cultures, in fourth century AD, the Christian Church was busily at work establishing itself as the predominant Western world political power and belief system during the next several hundred years.
Suffice to say that during the Christian Church's rule in the medieval period, the Church in Rome vacillated back and forth over its official viewpoint and level of tolerance regarding astrology. At times Christian church leaders condemned astrology and astrologers as being heretical, while at other times church leaders sought out the guidance of astrologers. According to historian Valerie Flint (The Rise of Magic In Early Medieval Europe), in the early Middle Ages, some Christian church leaders actually encouraged a belief in astrology in order to keep believers away from what seemed to be more dangerous magical practices. Some church officials during this very large span of time, such as French Cardinal Pierre d'Ailly (1350-1420), were practicing astrologers.
For the most part, in the Western world, astrology kept its low profile until a reemergence and renewal during the European Renaissance.
Renaissance/Age of Enlightenment
For the most part, in the Western world, astrology kept its low profile until a reemergence and renewal during the European Renaissance (ranging in date anywhere from 1453 - 1598 to as late as the 1670s). Spurred on in Italy by the Medicis, the philosopher, astrologer, and Catholic priest Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499), along with the revival of Greek neo-Platonic philosophies - astrology once again began gaining prominence among many of the scholastics of the day.
During the European Renaissance (ranging from 1453 - 1670) the vast majority of Western astrologers were practicing Christians. In fact, one of the more notable English astrologers during the latter Renaissance period, William Lilly (1602-1681), remonikered astrology as being "Christian Astrology," although it's thought by some that this naming was to keep the still rather powerful (and vacillating) Christian church leadership at bay.
The, all too brief, European Renaissance was then followed by the bright rationalistic light of the Age of Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution of the 17th century AD, with the scholastic world finally determining, once and for all, that the Earth was not the center of the universe.
astrology.about.com/od/traditionalhistory/a/history_2.htm
From the very dawn of humanity (until today), people have looked to the heavens and the planets for guidance. Thousands of years ago astrology was, generally speaking, reserved only for members of royalty. There were good points to astrology being embraced by those in political power, and there were sadly enough several bad points. One of the best advantages was that an astrologer could often look forward to a nice, comfortable, civil service job in the palace.
One of the worst "difficulties" was when the astrologer inevitably made his/her royal benefactor angry. That was when the court astrologer most often literally lost his/her head over the matter.
The Roots/Greek Thought
The roots of Western Tropical astrology (the type of astrology most Westerners are familiar with today) date all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia (2300 BC). From there, perhaps as early as 600 BC, astrology began making its way into ancient Greece. Astrology's entrance into Greece coincided with the beginning of the first great Greek philosophers and with the rise of the Greek state and culture.
Socrates - 469 to 399 BC
Plato - 427 to 347 BC
Aristotle - 384 to 322 BC
Then Alexander the Great burst onto the scene beginning his famous conquests over much of the entire (then known) world. Alexander's conquests lasted between the years of 336-323 BC. Due to Alexander's powerful influence and control - and his having been tutored by the master philosopher Aristotle - Greek culture and thought was then spread throughout much of Alexander's vast conquered domain.
In this process of "hellenizing" the world - Alexandria, Egypt became the established cultural center of ancient Hellenistic Greek thought and philosophy between the years of 323 - 31 BC. It was during this 300 year period of time that the study, development, and acceptance of astrology flourished among many of the prominent thinkers of the day... and it was during this period of time, when the roots of horoscopic, zodiacal, individualized astrology (much as we recognize it today) first came into existence.
In this Hellenistic Greek atmosphere, astrology was no longer reserved for royalty. Later ancient Hellenistic sky watchers such as the famous Ptolemy (85-165 AD) served in dual roles as both the scientifically minded mathematical astronomer searching out the skies and as the metaphysically minded astrologer divining the purposes of the heavens.
The Quiet Period In The West
After a several hundred year “heyday” in ancient Greek and then Roman culture - astrology in the Western world, while never totally dying out, became rather quiet during the period of time now called the Middle Ages. During this time, astrology continued to flourish and evolve in other cultural environments. However... in Western world cultures, in fourth century AD, the Christian Church was busily at work establishing itself as the predominant Western world political power and belief system during the next several hundred years.
Suffice to say that during the Christian Church's rule in the medieval period, the Church in Rome vacillated back and forth over its official viewpoint and level of tolerance regarding astrology. At times Christian church leaders condemned astrology and astrologers as being heretical, while at other times church leaders sought out the guidance of astrologers. According to historian Valerie Flint (The Rise of Magic In Early Medieval Europe), in the early Middle Ages, some Christian church leaders actually encouraged a belief in astrology in order to keep believers away from what seemed to be more dangerous magical practices. Some church officials during this very large span of time, such as French Cardinal Pierre d'Ailly (1350-1420), were practicing astrologers.
For the most part, in the Western world, astrology kept its low profile until a reemergence and renewal during the European Renaissance.
Renaissance/Age of Enlightenment
For the most part, in the Western world, astrology kept its low profile until a reemergence and renewal during the European Renaissance (ranging in date anywhere from 1453 - 1598 to as late as the 1670s). Spurred on in Italy by the Medicis, the philosopher, astrologer, and Catholic priest Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499), along with the revival of Greek neo-Platonic philosophies - astrology once again began gaining prominence among many of the scholastics of the day.
During the European Renaissance (ranging from 1453 - 1670) the vast majority of Western astrologers were practicing Christians. In fact, one of the more notable English astrologers during the latter Renaissance period, William Lilly (1602-1681), remonikered astrology as being "Christian Astrology," although it's thought by some that this naming was to keep the still rather powerful (and vacillating) Christian church leadership at bay.
The, all too brief, European Renaissance was then followed by the bright rationalistic light of the Age of Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution of the 17th century AD, with the scholastic world finally determining, once and for all, that the Earth was not the center of the universe.
astrology.about.com/od/traditionalhistory/a/history_2.htm