The Babylonian Influence on Ancient Greek Astrology

Early Greek texts, such as Hesiod’s poems dating back to 750 BC, subtly alluded to celestial connections. However, it was the increasing cultural exchange with Mesopotamia, catalyzed by Alexander the Great’s conquests, that ignited a profound interest in astrology among the Greeks.

The ancient Greeks not only embraced astrology but also played a key role in its transformation. They established a “school” of theoretical astronomy, leveraging their advanced mathematical prowess to explore the cosmic realms.

However, their wellspring of astrological knowledge was often drawn from non-Greek sources. Ancient Babylonian heritage was especially important in that sense. As articulated in the Epinomis, an Ancient Greek text, “Whatever the Greeks take from the barbarians, they bring it to a finer perfection.”

Babylonian Astrology Read the Will of the Gods

The Babylonians recognized five planets, as well as the Sun and Moon. They attributed each of these celestial bodies to specific deities of their pantheon. The movement of each of these was seen as an expression of divine action and a message from the gods. The sages associated Jupiter with Marduk, Venus with Ishtar, Saturn with Ninurta, Mercury with Nabu, and Mars with Nergal.

As for the Sun, the Babylonians saw a connection with the ancient god Shamash. It was believed this god could see everything that was happening in the world each day. The moon was associated with Sin, who became the prototype of the sage god.

Fragments of a Babylonian star calendar. pic.twitter.com/HrePp26U5C

— David Hanrahan (@uchroniaUtopia) June 22, 2020

Interpreting these heavenly omens, the Babylonian priests paid attention primarily to the welfare of the state and the central figure, the king. They believed that performing rituals would appease the gods and soften any unfavorable celestial signals.

Their approach to interpretation was based on memories obtained from past instances of comparable celestial events. They intertwined the distinctive attributes of deities associated with the planets with those narratives associated with the constellations, creating profound messages in the process.

The influence of Babylonian astrology spread widely. Documents detailing lunar signs and solar eclipses based on this system have been discovered in Hittite, Akkadian, and Assyrian cities.

Roots of Horoscope

The idea that a person’s life can be influenced by the location of the stars at birth has ancient roots in Babylonian astrology. The creation of individual birth horoscopes apparently began around 400 BC. This coincided with Persian influence in the region.

In April 69 BCE, a child was born, and his horoscope survives on a cuneiform tablet from Babylon that describes a solar eclipse in August of the previous year.

"a solar eclipse when watched for was not seen…that child good fortune…good fortune will diminish" #SolarEclipse2020 pic.twitter.com/hMDKwemInl

— Dr. Moudhy Al-Rashid (@Moudhy) June 22, 2020

Horoscopes were of great importance to the Ancient Babylonians, who practiced predicting human fate. One of the most famous Babylonian birth horoscopes describes the night sky in detail.

A particular celestial configuration prompted the astrologer to foresee the favorable fate of the newborn to whom the prediction was made. However, if there were unfavorable signs in the child’s horoscope, the priest could perform rituals that would help overcome potential difficulties and smooth out his or her future life.

Ancient Greek Adoption of Babylonian Astrological Beliefs

The ancient Greeks played a key role in transforming astrology from its Babylonian roots into a recognizable Western practice. Although Babylon laid the foundation, it was the Greeks who brought significant improvements and innovations to this area.

Before Alexander’s conquest, Babylonian astronomy and astrology flourished, but Greek thinkers showed limited interest in these disciplines. It was the Babylonian priests, in particular Berossus, who settled on the island of Kos. The priests are credited with the spread of astrology in Greece and neighboring regions.

In addition, Plato, in his work Timaeus, mentioned seekers of heavenly signs. In his Epinomis, Plato stated that “every combination of harmony and concord of the rotations of the stars must and will be manifested” if one studies correctly by keeping one’s gaze on unity.

The Greeks’ contribution to astrology included such vital elements as recognition of the four classical elements (Fire, Earth, Air, and Water) and an understanding of the process of the equinoxes. Ptolemy, a prominent Greek astrologer who lived around 100 AD, authored major works, and his Tetrabiblos served as the authoritative textbook on astrology for centuries. He came from Ancient Alexandria, which was a center of intellectual activity, and contributed to the significant development of Hellenistic astrology.

In the surviving Greek astrological writings, carefully cataloged in the Catalogus Codicum Astrologorum Graecorum (CCAG), a fascinating array of attributions can be found, often linking early astrological works to historical or mythological figures such as Nechepso, Petosiris, and Hermes.

This rich amalgamation of cultures and ideas allowed ancient Greek astrologers to enrich Babylonian astrology with their discoveries, leaving an indelible mark that continues to shape Western astrology to this day.