Beginnings of catarchic astrology (1)

Text
There are a few texts from Babylonia that seem to be precursors of Greek astrology. Two late, largely parallel, lists from Hellenistic Uruk (BRM 4 19 and 20) enumerate the “regions” or “areas” (KI) of the zodiacal constellations associated with a certain activity which, in order to succeed, has to be carried out in that region. Occasionally an explicit instruction is added: teppušma išallim “if you carry it out, it will succeed.” The Greek astrological tradition provides the clue for interpreting the Babylonian references to the signs of the zodiac. What the texts mean when they refer to these signs is the region of the sky where the Moon stands in that particular moment. The Moon’s position is considered auspicious or inauspicious for engaging in a specific activity, and these moments have been collected in Latin handbooks called Lunaria, preserved from the second century CE onward, to which the Babylonian texts represent often very close parallels. The lunaria not only indicate the auspicious moments but also the times to be avoided when engaging a specific activity. The Babylonian “Lunarium” includes, e.g., “to bring back a fugitive: region of Regulus, or Libra,” comparable to finding a fugitive, indicated for several days of the Lunarium of David and Solomon, and “to enter the palace (= to be well received by the ruler): region of Cancer,” comparable to “good for going before the king or a judge” indicated for the position of the Moon in Aries. The obscure “placing of silver” (šikin kaspi) of the Babylonian texts can be understood in light of the lunaria’s “to give or receive borrowed money” recommended for the signs Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Success is also sought in love, in business, and in obtaining royal favor.

Many of the activities listed describe calamities or diseases in order to indicate the proper time for carrying out apotropaia against them, especially when they were caused by maleficent practices. Such entries are, e.g. “Vertigo: region of Gemini”; and “seizing of the mouth”, “reversal of verdict”, “cutting the breath”, “hatred” and “migraine”, all well known and often listed among the evil machinations of sorcerers. The acts of black magic by means of which the sorcerer and sorceress sought to achieve their goals include, for example, “to seize a ghost and tie him to a man” and “to hand over a figurine of the man to death (or: to a dead man)”. These are comparable to the Lunarium which specifies the days suitable for making amulets and phylacteria and carrying out magical operations.

While only two texts are complete, several fragments dealing with “regions” testify that such speculations were fashionable in the late period. By determining the propitious time for initiating an activity, the genre represents an early example of the process known as catarchic astrology.

Sources (list of abbreviations)
BRM 4 19
BRM 4 20

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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