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Get Your Reading Now15 Facts On the History of Astrology
As long as our species has looked upward at night, we've found meaning. While the Zodiac has many permutations, its essence relies on mapping the paths of the sun and planets against constellations in the sky in a revolving set of symbols that repeat with every rotation.
Farmers relied on the Zodiac for a productive harvest, and sailors used the signs to navigate, but astrologers perceived a more mystical connection between the stars and life on earth. The Greeks can be credited for the basis of Western astrology, although the history of the Zodiac's signs begins much earlier.
Paleolithic Cave Dwellers: 18,000 BC
Discovered in 1940, the Lascaux Cave in southern France uncovered a treasure trove of insight into human history during the Paleolithic era. The well-preserved cave paintings imply a nascent knowledge of the Zodiac's symbols; the Shaft Scene appears to depict Capricorn, Taurus, and Libra.
By comparing the cave paintings with computer models of the night sky during the Ice Age, researchers have found compelling evidence that humans have used the Zodiac to mark the passage of time for up to 40,000 years—much longer than previously thought possible.
Sumerians: 1500–1000 BC
The Sumerian civilization produced the first historical record of the Zodiac that we have today. The Enuma Anu Enlil, a collection of Sumerian astrological tablets assembled by the Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal, is the oldest recorded evidence of explicit astrological knowledge known today. Beyond naming the constellations, the Enuma Anu Enlil explains the nature and subtle influences of the planets in the Zodiac.
Babylonians: 700–500 BC
Knowledge of the Zodiac passed from the Sumerians to the Akkadians, Assyrians, and finally, the Babylonians, the civilization that laid the foundation of the Zodiac as it stands today in Western astrology. The Babylonians gave the Zodiac its circular form, wherein the positions of planets (including the sun and the moon) within astrological houses define a chart.
Using mathematical techniques that allowed them to predict the position of stars and planets in the sky, the Babylonians were the first to divide the sky into twelve areas corresponding to the Zodiac's constellations.
Greeks: 400–300 BC
The word 'zodiac' derives from the Greek zodiakós, meaning 'circle of animals.' Having been introduced to astrological knowledge from the Babylonians, the Greeks—including Plato, Aristotle, and the stoic philosophers—regarded the astrological study of the Zodiac as a branch of science. The modern names and symbols for the planets and constellations draw from Greek literature and mythology.
Alexander the Great spread knowledge of the Greek Zodiac throughout his Empire, from North Africa to Asia. Ptolemy of Alexandria added a scientific basis for calculating the aspects and angles that define an astrological chart.
Chinese: 206 BC–9 AD
Dating the Chinese Zodiac is difficult, but official documentation dates back to the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago. The Chinese Zodiac is based on the lunar calendar and a system of 12 Zodiac animals (the primary symbols representing the year of birth rather than the month) along with 36 calendar animals or decans.
The position of decans with the primary animal is analogous to the sun, moon, and risings signs in a Western astrological chart.
Vedic Astrology: 1200–200 BC
Astrology in South Asia goes back as far as 1200 BC when the monk-scholar Lagadha produced the Vedanga‐Jyotisa, an astrology based on the Vedic philosophy. The Vedanga-Jyotisa describes 12 signs, 27 constellations, seven planets, and mathematical techniques for calculating lunar leap months. There is also a correlation between celestial events (such as eclipses) with their influences on Earth.
The Western zodiac was translated into Sanskrit in the 2nd century BC. Modern-day Indian astrology draws from both traditions and remains prevalent in all aspects of life in the subcontinent, from opening a new business to deciding on a wedding date.
Roman Empire: 27 BC–476 AD
The Romans continued to use the Greek Zodiac throughout their empire, changing the names of the planets to reflect their pantheon. The Roman Emperors turned to astrology and the Zodiac to justify their right to rule; Augustus went so far as to imprint his sun sign (Capricorn) on the coinage, claiming that his ascendance was foretold in the stars.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Western astrology disappeared from record in most of Europe until the 12th century, although its influence persisted throughout the Persian Empire and in Vedic astrology.
Astrology in Medieval Europe: 500-1500 AD
Astrology had a profound impact on the Medieval European worldview and daily life, influencing everything from agriculture to political decisions. Kings, queens, and nobles often kept court astrologers to guide them in decisions of state, war, and personal matters.
Influential figures such as Guido Bonatti wrote comprehensive astrological guides that outlined the principles of astrological divination and were widely distributed. Astrology also found its place in medicine, with physicians consulting astrological charts for diagnosis and treatment plans.
Astrology in Islamic Golden Age: 8th – 14th Century AD
During the Islamic Golden Age, advancements in astrological knowledge flourished. Muslim scholars like Al-Biruni and Ibn Sina penned influential astrological treatises and translated Greek astrological texts into Arabic, thereby preserving and further developing ancient astrological knowledge.
Their work included explanations of the Zodiac, lunar cycles, and planetary movements, along with forecasts of events based on celestial calculations. The synthesis of Greek, Indian, and Persian astrological traditions created a more holistic and nuanced understanding of astrology, which remains influential to this day.
Renaissance and Enlightenment: 1500–1780 AD
Having flourished during the late Middle Ages in Europe (1200-1400 AD), astrology first began to come under question during the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods. In Elizabethan England, people consulted astrologers for any and all life decisions, and the great thinkers of the day began to question the validity of astrology as a scientific practice.
The Age of Enlightenment (1650-1780 AD) saw the formal split between astrology and astronomy, wherein a new spirit of empirical thought began to replace what was considered mere superstition.
Astrology in the New World: 1492-Present
With the discovery and colonization of the Americas, European astrological practices crossed the ocean and intermingled with indigenous cosmologies. European settlers brought their astrological traditions, while Native American tribes had their own rich celestial mythologies that often correlated with terrestrial events.
In the modern age, Latin American countries like Mexico still celebrate traditions like the Day of the Dead that are deeply linked to astronomical phenomena.
19th Century to Today
Since the 19th century, astrology has once again been ascendant in the cultural domain. Carl Jung began to incorporate the Zodiac into psychological analysis and practice, and Dane Rudhyar pioneered transpersonal astrology in the 20th century by incorporating psychological theory within astrology.
The New Age movement of the 1960s and 70s are largely to credit for the broad appeal astrology enjoys today.
Astrology and Psychology: Carl Jung's Influence
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung saw great value in astrology, weaving it into his development of analytical psychology. He suggested the Zodiac and its archetypal symbols resonated with the collective unconscious, shared by all humanity.
Jung often used astrological birth charts to gain insights into his patients' personalities and life experiences, lending a new degree of respectability and intellectual rigor to astrology in the process. His exploration of astrology and synchronicity, the idea of meaningful coincidences, laid the groundwork for the modern interface of psychology and astrology.
Astrology in Popular Culture: 20th and 21st Centuries
In the 20th and 21st centuries, astrology has taken on a life of its own within popular culture. Newspaper horoscopes have become a daily ritual for many, while the advent of the internet has seen astrology expand to blogs, social media, and online platforms.
Astrology memes and apps proliferate, and the "Mercury in retrograde" phenomenon has become a popular explanation for misfortunes. In films, books, and music, references to astrological signs are commonplace, showing astrology's deep-seated place in our cultural lexicon.
Future of Astrology: Digital Age and Beyond
The Digital Age has transformed the way we access and interact with astrology. Astrology apps, online birth chart generators, and digital astrological readings are readily available to anyone with an internet connection. These digital tools have democratized access to astrological knowledge, allowing individuals to explore their astrological profile in depth. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, we can anticipate even more personalized and sophisticated astrological insights.
While the future of astrology is uncertain, it is clear that as long as humanity looks to the stars for guidance, astrology will continue to evolve and adapt.