Current Astrology Triplicities WRONG?
-
In Babylonian astrological tablets dating back to at least the fourth century BCE, the Minor Planets are assigned to Signs of the Zodiac in the order Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, etc. (Rochberg-Halton). That is, they are assigned according to the descending cycle of elements: Fire, Air, Water, Earth. Therefore, Jupiter is Lord of the Aries-Leo-Sagittarius triplicity, Venus of Taurus-Virgo-Capricorn, Saturn of Gemini-Libra-Aquarius and Mars of Cancer-Scorpio-Pisces. The Fixed Signs of these triplicities correspond to the Seasons, as already enumerated: Air-Taurus-Spring-Wet, Fire-Leo-Summer-Hot, Earth-Scorpio-Autumn-Dry, Water-Aquarius-Winter-Cold. (These are not the elemental association now current in astrology, which apparently derive from Vetius Valens' Anthologia, although they are consistent with Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos; both date from the 2nd. cent. CE.)
Rochberg-Halton, F., "New Evidence for the History of Astrology," Journal of Near-Eastern Studies 43 (1984), no. 2, pp. 115-140.
Thoughts?
-
I'm not sure what point you are making in your subject/title. This is all quite familiar stuff.
-
Here's the original article: web.eecs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/PP.html#plane
The author tries to analzye the pentagram from a pythagorean view.
Essentially, I was curious if anyone on this forum had knowledge of the Babylonian attributions of elements to the zodiac. Jupiter is hot(fire), Venus wet(air), Saturn cold(water), and Mars dry(earth). So according to this Jupiter would rule the fire triplicity, Venus the air, Saturn the water, and Mars earth triplicity. These attributes come from Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, which are different from the current triplicities we have from Vetius Valens' Anthologia.
If you have the extra time read the article and please share your thoughts. I would like to operate from a more pure Babylonian astrological system, so any feedback on this system would be appreciated, Thank you!
-
My current understanding:
Marduk rules Aries, Leo, Sagitarius and these are of the element fire
Istar rules Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn and these are of the element air
Ninurta rules Gemini, Libra, Aquarius and these are of the element water
Nergal rules Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces and these are of the element earthThis changes the modern attribution of the elements to the zodiac and their ruling planets, not all of them but some.
-
The elemental attributions, as used in popular astrology, were crafted for the fictitious Tropical zodiac in Medieval times. But the Triplicities (not interpreted as elements) were most anciently attributed as follows. (I'm using elemental names just for reference.)
Fire - Sun, Jupiter
Earth - Moon, Venus
Air - Mercury, Saturn
Water - MarsUou can see these reproduced faithfully in 777.
-
@Jim Eshelman said
"The elemental attributions, as used in popular astrology, were crafted for the fictitious Tropical zodiac in Medieval times. But the Triplicities (not interpreted as elements) were most anciently attributed as follows. (I'm using elemental names just for reference.)
"I looked it up in 777 and read "in each case the cardinal sign represents the birth of the element, the Kerubic sign its Life, and its mutable sign its passing over towards the ideal form proper to it i.e. to Spirit.
So if triplicity are not elements, what would you reference as a name for them instead?
-
I would just call them Triplicities.
