Astrology, which has sometimes been called the foster-sister of astronomy, is regarded as the earliest of the occult sciences. Its great antiquity is beyond doubt, for its shadows merge into those of mythological lore and the origin of both is lost to us in the mists of time. It may be said to bear the same relation to astronomy that alchemy does to chemistry, and was the connecting link between magic and the latter science.
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There is an ancient legend that Adam received the doctrines and mysteries of astrology directly from God and thus, by foreknowing that the Earth was to be destroyed first by fire and afterwards by water, had this information engraved upon two pillars, one of brick and one of stone. The brick pillar was destroyed by the Great Flood; the pillar of stone, according to Josephus, was still existing in his day in Syria. Seth is said to have learned the science from Adam and he, as well as Abel, Cain, and Noah, were all expert astrologers. Abraham imparted the knowledge to the Chaldeans who in turn brought it to Egypt, and thus it spread to ancient Greece and afterwards to Rome and the West. How did this doctrine, which was in reality a creed, arise, develop, and captivate the intellects of the great men and philosophers from century to century throughout the ages? |
It probably began in star-worship, for wherever that cult prevailed, there existed the germ of astrology and faith in stellar divinities, which were believed to exert an influence on the world and its inhabitants. This, together with the inherent desire of mankind to pierce the veil which hid the future, had part in its birth.
Marmonides, the great Jewish philosopher, observes, "for as much as God has created these stars and spheres to govern the world, and hath set them on high and hath imparted honor unto them, and they are ministers that minister before Him, it is meet that men should laud and glorify and give them honor."
We know from recent research that the Akkadians and Sumerians, the earliest dwellers on the Euphrates of which we have record, were believers in stellar influence which was closely allied with the worship of the stars. The nature of this influence was largely due to observation, and the belief that the heavens were animated by regular movements and certain invariable laws. Man, who has ever been ceaseless in his endeavors to penetrate the mysteries of the future, began to conceive himself able to foretell what was to happen with the same certainty as the coming revolutions and conjunctions of the stars.
The constantly changing appearance of the heavens indicated to him the ceaseless activity of the gods, and since whatever happened on Earth was due to divine powers, this activity represented the preparation for terrestrial phenomena and more particularly those affecting the fortunes of mankind.
Original text by C J S Thompson, edited version © 2004-2006. Please note: all applicable material on this website is protected by copyright law and may not be copied without express written permission.
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