The Development of 30 Degree Zodiac Signs

[Guest guest]

Here is a message I posted today on the NCGR Discussion Board, where the

origin of 12 equal zodiac signs is being discusssed. It may be of interest

on this board also:

 

DEVELOPMENT OF 30 DEGREE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC

 

There is a clear explanation of the development of 12 equal 30 degree signs

of the zodiac in two books: FROM THE OMENS OF BABYLON by Michael Baigent

(Arkana-Penguin, 1994; Highly recommended--Snap up one of the last copies

if you can find one)and MESOPOTAMIAN ASTROLOGY by Ulla Koch-Westenholz

(1995, very scholarly and pricy, by special order only from B & N; Not

recommended unless you want to spend $75 for one small book.)

 

----------------------------beginning of quotes--------------------

 

" Around this time, too, [time of the Persian Invasions, 539 BCE and later]

the planets became established in zodiacal signs rather than in zodiacal

constellations. Mathematical concerns had led to the sky being uniformly

divided up into twelve signs of equal length. It is thought that one of the

major factors contributing to this development was the need to calculate

the future movements of the Sun....

 

" Once established, the names of the zodiacal signs were derived from, and

identical with, the names of the zodiacal constellations, which leads to

cases of uncertainty over which is being referred to. For this reason it is

difficult to be sure when the first use of the zodiac occurred...

 

" Nevertheless, a tablet recording Venus setting in the sign Pisces dates

from 446 BC, and the Babylonian diary for 464 BC used both zodiacal signs

and fixed stars in order to co-ordinate stellar geography. " (OB p. 174)

(Baigent gives scholarly references for these statements.)

 

From MESOPOTAMIAN ASTROLOGY:

" Astrology and astronomy began to change in the late seventh century [bC],

and the development accelerated during the Persian and Seleucid

periods...The impetus for the changes may have come from the rise of

mathematical astronomy as much as from any outside influence...

 

" The most significant innovation was perhaps the zodiac, the division of

the ecliptic into twelve equal parts or signs. It replaced the earlier

series of 17 constellations on the " Path of the Moon. " The zodiac was first

used in Babylonian astronomy in the fifth century BC...The twelve zodiacal

signs...were: Aries, A Ram (etc.)... " (MA pp. 162-163) (The author gives

complete scholarly references for her statements.)

 

----------------------------end of quotes---------------------------

 

Hipparchus is dated c. 190-120 BCE, so there was no Tropical zodiac

measured from the equinoxes prior to that time. The earliest zodiac

composed of twelve equal 30 degree signs was without question sidereal. The

Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs exactly coincided in approximately 300 CE,

and as Rob Hand has pointed out, astrologers themselves may not have been

aware of which zodiac they were using at that time.

 

It greatly confuses the issue when sidereal astrologers refer to their

signs as " constellations. " They are Sidereal SIGNS and not constellations.

The constellations are stellar groups in the sky which line up only

imperfectly with the Sidereal signs. This fact doesn't invalidate the

Sidereal signs, but I believe we should be clear on what is a sign and what

is a constellation. For the ancient Babylonians the zodiac signs and

constellational stars were separate entities.

 

Terese Hamilton (from a book in process)

[Guest guest]

Dear Ms. Hamilton,

Greetings. Thank you for your praiseworty and enlightening posting.

I think the 12 equal zodiac signs come from the lower number of moon

cycles within a solar year; and believe it replaced the old Lunar

Mansions as western societies became completely patriarchal.

I'm interested in the NCGR Discussion Board. Do you think I could

read some of its messages? How can I find it?

I also am Interested in the old " Path of the Moon " of 17

constellations. Where could I find more info on it?

I look forwards to read your interesting book. Assuredly it will be

very successful.

 

Sincerily,

Alex C.

 

> Here is a message I posted today on the NCGR Discussion Board, where

the

> origin of 12 equal zodiac signs is being discusssed. It may be of

interest

> on this board also:

> .......

 

> From MESOPOTAMIAN ASTROLOGY:

> " Astrology and astronomy began to change in the late seventh century

[bC]

> .......

> " The most significant innovation was perhaps the zodiac, the

division of the ecliptic into twelve equal parts or signs. It replaced

the earlier series of 17 constellations on the " Path of the Moon. " The

zodiac