Babylonian Astrology
Babylonian astrology is basically one of the richest tradition of astrology in terms of history and discoveries.
Babylonian astrology, starting off in Babylonia and at the same time in Assyria, first serve as a discipline that is actually one of the two chief means at the disposal of the priests for the determining of the plans of the gods, and otherwise for the examination of the sacrificial animal’s liver.
Brief History of Babylonian Astrology
In history, Babylonian astrology first appear during the second millennium B.C. Basically, it was the first organized system of astrology, particularly an omen-based astrology, making a lot of dissertations and determinations.
However, in the 16th century B.C., Babylonian astrology started to take shape in the astrological writings of the time, and gone along way for not being just an omen-based astrology. In the following years, it appeared in one of the most prominent writings, Enuma Anu Enlil, with 70 tablets of 7,000 recorded mundane phenomena and various celestial-related events.
Basically, Babylonian astrology was purely mundane, and before the 7th century B.C. the practitioners’ know-how on astronomy was highly “primitive”. Fortunately, in the 4th century, because of some improvements and innovations, Babylonians then was able to make sound determinations and was able to calculate then some future planetary positions with rational precision.
The Divine Government Theory
Because it is typically associated with the sacrificial method of divination together with the “soul” that was placed in accordance to the mind and will of the gods, Babylonian astrology, for such reason, is associated to the theory of divine government of the world.
Basically, Babylonian astrology starts with the incontestable fact that man’s life and happiness are mainly attached to the heaven and earth phenomenas as well as with the various theories attached. That everything in this world is dependent to another like for example the soil fertility that is generally dependent upon the sun shining in the heavens and glistening to the earth.
The Gods and Planets
In most astrology systems and traditions, the Gods and planets are normally being linked to the planets, and vice versa. In the Babylonian astrology, there were five recognized planets – Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Mars ( just as how they appear in order in the older cuneiform literature).
Basically, these five planets were identified with distinct gods of the well-known temple of Babylonian pantheon. Generally, Jupiter with Marduk, Venus with the goddess Ishtar, Saturn with Ninurta (Ninib), Mercury with Nabu (Nebo), and lastly, Mars with Nergal.
Over the years, the said association has a meaning, for the Babylonians, the five planets with the gods represents the activity of the five gods themselves together with the sun-god Shamash and moon-god Sin. At the same time, what god could bring to the rest of mankind.
Planetary Theories
Considering the god-planet relationship and Babylonian records, Babylonian scholars were able to construct the planetary theories for the purpose of predicting planetary phenomenas or the like. There was the Theory A – by which heliacal phases of the Moon and the planets are successfully calculated.
Days of the Week
Aside from the planetary theories, there were the days of the week. Basically, Sunday is the day of the sun, Monday is the day of the moon, Tuesday is the day of Mars, Wednesday is the day of Mercury, Thursday is the day of Jupiter, Friday is the day of Venus, and finally, Saturday is the day of Saturn. At present, these days of the week are still widely used in various places around the world.
The Celestial Houses
Babylonians have brilliant minds, aside from the planetary theories and days of the week, they were also able to to set out the twelve houses of the horoscope; that are still used today by various systems of astrology. For the record, they are the first to set out such houses.
Generally, the houses were numbered from the east downward under the horizon, and depict areas of life. 1st house for life, 2nd house for poverty or otherwise riches, 3rd for brothers, 4th for parents, 5th for children, 6th for illness or good health, 7th for wife or husband, 8th for death, 9th for religion, 10th for dignities, 11th for friendship, and 12th for Enmity.
Interpretation System
The system of interpretation used in Babylonian astrology was actually perfected by the Babylonian priests. It was the system to be observed in the heavens, and to be stretched from the moon, sun and five planets up to the more apparent or visible fixed stars.
Generally, the interpretation were established on the recollection or comprehensively written records of the happenings in the past, particularly when some phenomenon or phenomena had taken place and at the same time on the association of ideas relating to some phenomenon or phenomena.
Early Knowledge Limits
For some reasons, astrology has gone though some limitations in relation to nature, expertise, and constellations.
First, the general nature says that the place, the movements and position of the heavenly bodies should point to occurrences that are of public import and affect the general welfare alone and not of that any single person.
Second, the expertise which is actually referring to astronomical expertise, says and encourage that astrology was totally limited and flawed. At the same time, that all the findings go without basis or foundation.
Finally, the constellations, representing outstanding groups of stars with outlines of images based from their religion and mythology, are on the flip side believed to be not part of the zodiac because of lack of evidence, thus, excluding the idea of such to be added in the studies of astrology.
The Great Assurbanipal
In the history, Assurbanipal is a great king of Assyria popular for assembling a great library of cuneiform tablets in Nineveh on the subjects of astrology, history, mythology and science.
For the years he has been a ruler, he was able to make a lot of astrological assumptions but on the later years have encountered a lot of problems. Unfortunately, after he died, everything goes to nowhere, even his library was destroyed and his Nineveh fell to the Medians and the Chaldean Babylonians.