Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos

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PTOLEMY’S TETRABIBLOS OR QUADRIPARTITE BEING FOUR BOOKS OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE STARS

NEWLY TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK PARAPHRASE OF PROCLUS WITH A PREFACE, EXPLANATORY NOTES AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINING EXTRACTS FROM THE ALMAGEST OF PTOLEMY AND THE WHOLE OF HIS CENTILOQUY TOGETHER WITH A Short Notice of Mr. Ranger’s Zodiacal Planisphere AND AN EXPLANATORY PLATE

By J. M. ASHMAND

NEW EDITION

“Ye stars, which are the poetry of Heaven! If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate Of men and empires,—’tis to be forgiven.” LORD BYRON.

LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. FOULSHAM & CO., Ltd. DEALERS IN SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 10/11 RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET, LONDON, E.C.4

Made and Printed in Great Britain

TO THE AUTHOR OF “WAVERLEY” THIS TRANSLATION OF A WORK CONTAINING THE BEST ACCREDITED PRINCIPLES OF ASTROLOGY IS DEDICATED With the most profound admiration of his unrivalled Talents WHICH COULD ALONE HAVE RESTORED INTEREST TO THE SPECULATIONS OF AN ANTIQUATED SCIENCE

ADVERTISEMENT

The use recently made of Astrology in the poetical machinery of certain works of genius (which are of the highest popularity, and above all praise), seems to have excited in the world at large a desire to learn something of the mysteries of that science which has, in all former ages, if not in these days, more or less engaged reverence and usurped belief. The apparent existence of such a general desire has caused the completion of the following Translation, and its presentation to the public; although it was originally undertaken only in part, and merely to satisfy two or three individuals of the grounds on which the now neglected doctrines of Astrology had so long and so fully maintained credit.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE BOOK I I. Proem 1 II. Knowledge may be acquired by Astronomy to a certain Extent 2 III. That Prescience is useful 8 IV. The Influences of the Planetary Orbs 13 V. Benefics and Malefics 14 VI. Masculine and Feminine 14 VII. Diurnal and Nocturnal 15 VIII. The Influence of Position with regard to the Sun 16 IX. The Influence of the fixed Stars 16 X. Constellations North of the Zodiac 19 XI. Constellations South of the Zodiac 20 XII. The Annual Seasons 21 XIII. The Influence of the Four Angles 21 XIV. Tropical, Equinoctial, Fixed, and Bicorporeal Signs 23 XV. Masculine and Feminine Signs 23 XVI. Mutual Configurations of the Signs 24 XVII. Signs commanding and obeying 26 XVIII. Signs beholding each other, and of equal Power 26 XIX. Signs Inconjunct 27 XX. Houses of the Planets 28 XXI. The Triplicities 29 XXII. Exaltations 31 XXIII. The Disposition of the Terms 32 XXIV. The Terms (according to Ptolemy) 35 XXV. The Places and Degrees of every Planet 36 XXVI. Faces, Chariots, and other similar Attributes of the Planets 37 XXVII. Application, Separation, and other Faculties 38