SSS > its Page 10 February 1983 Cassiar Courier THE ORIGINS OF ASTROLOGY - Cont'd 3000 B.C. - The Babylonians - (The Age of Aries): The first ‘‘Historic’’ Astrologers were the Babylonians and Chaldeans of around 3000 B.C., the later occupants of Ancient Mesopotamia (the heart of the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys). This first historic rise of astrol- ogy is known as the Age of “’Aries’’. Aries is the sign of the ““Ram’’, of Shepherds gazing at the sky’’, of ‘‘ener- getic new beginnings’, of ‘‘great heat and dryness”’ and of “all that is aggressive and pioneering in enterprise’’. The Babylonians were the first recorded society to simplify mathematics. This was applied to their observa- tions of the motion of the sun and planets, They were able to make remarkably accurate discoveries through the clear desert sky, considering that there is no record of the use of methods of magnification. They made maps of the heavens and discovered at least two constellations naming them ‘’Pleiades” and ‘’Orion”. They used towers with a height of 50 to 70 feet as their ‘observatories’, From their calculations the basis of astronomy was developed, which for 4500 years was to be the right hand of astrol- ogy. In the beginning observation of planetary motion centered on the sun and the moon, since these luminaries controlled the seasons and growth processes. It was not long before the planets - moving against the constellations - were noticed and their regular motion was noted. Since the sun and moon's effect of life were evident and pre- dictable, the earliest observers noticed that various con- junctions between these luminaries and the motion and position of the planets corresponded with certain predict- able events in the nation’s (or tribe’s) affairs. At some point the planets were given names and assigned appropri- ate characteristics and thus the 12 zodiacal signs were de- fined and classified. The foundation of mathematics used by the Baby- lonians and Chaldeans are still used today. On the basis of their observations calendars were devised and a system of information - exchange was set up between the astrologers of the time. There were no personal horoscopes in the ‘‘Arien’”’ age. Astrology was strictly a matter for the state. Its find- ings referred to the fate and hopes of the nation. These were. personified in the King, (what was good for the King was good for the people). Prognostications were derived from eclipses and major conjunctions of the planets and based the interpretations on the happenings of the nation and its rulers under similar conditions of the past. The Babylonians identified the planets with their gods, investing them with corresponding powers, and thus astrology became the foundation of the nation’s religion. The astro-priests. were the King’s advisers and it was their ~ privilege to keep the whole system shrouded in mystery in order to hold the reigns of power. Through the secrecy of this science evolved the term “‘occult’’ meaning “hidden’’. Astrology eventually became a diabolical political weapon towards the control of an unruly or rebellious populace. At the same time, lower Egypt established the first historical dynasty of Pharaohs. Egyptian culture and learn« ing, which revolved around the sun-god “Ra’’, developed under the influence of astrological tradition. The earliest extant horoscope was cast by Imhotep in 2767 B.C. PHONE 778-7689 222 KENNEDY STREET CASSIAR B.C. There are frequent referrals of the works of astrology found in the Old Testament of the bible. It was cultivated greatly by the wisest of the ancient Israelites. Abraham, the first of the Hebrew Patriarchs, lived with his father’s clan in ‘‘Ur’’, in the centre of Babylonian civilization, be- fore he led his fellow countrymen to Israel in about 2000 B.C, One old Jewish reference book states: ‘‘Abraham, the Chaldean, bore upon his breast a large clay astrological tablet on which the fate of every man might be read.” It’s most inconceivable that the Hebrews did not assimilate astrological knowledge during the 2000 years that they wandered between Egypt and Babylonia. The Egyptian priests were well taught of the fundamentals of astrol- ogical science and was not Moses an Egyptian priest prior to his leading the Hebrew revolt to freedom around 1200 B.C.? Astrological knowledge was also jealously guarded by the Egyptians by applying superstition and debasing the art when suitable. It effectively controlled the weaker Pharaohs and the people. Around 1000 B.C. the Assyrians conquered Babylon. They preserved the temples and compiled an astrological library of cuniform clay tablets ranging over approximate- ly 2000 years of Babylonian history. More than 30,000 tablets have been recovered from the site of ancient Baby- lon during this century. With the Assyrian Conquest, many Babylonians drifted towards the northwest settling in Greece. 600 B.C. - The Greeks and the Age of Pisces: In 600 B.C., the Greek enlightenment era began form- ing a long line of brilliant and creative minds such as Pythagoras, Aristotle, Plato, Hippocrates and many others These minds were involved with scientific inquiry and phil- osophical speculation, and astrology, for a time was not of any importance and seemed to be ignored, but new astro- nomical and philosophical concepts were being formulat- ed which was essential to astrological progress, preparing the foundation for a harvest of astrological inspiration. The Babylonians taught the Greeks all that they knew of astrology, and the Greeks in turn added astounding dis- coveries of their own. Of these discoveries came the found- ing of trigonometry which has become the basis of all astronomical calculations. About 300 B.C., Aristarchus of Samos theorized that the earth revolved around the sun. This of course was not PORTRAITS, PASSPORT PICTURES EVENTS, B.& W DARKROOM FINISHING Ladies Wear Jeans Sweaters Blouses Dresses Lingerie Sizes from 3~22 MORTIFEE MUNSHAW DEALER FOR COLOR & ENLARGEMENTS, FILMS, CAMERAS & ACCESSORIES FOR SALE, CAMERA REPAIRS, WEDDINGS & SPECIAL 7/5 Malozemoff 778-7345 FINAb TOU \ well accepted as the “‘obvious”’ truth at that time was that the sun revolved around the earth. It wasn’t until seven- teen centuries later that Copernicus, the founder of mod- ern astronomy, was to describe the sun as the centre of the universe. Pythagoras, 500 B.C., who spent time studying in Egypt, is claimed to be the first to contend that the earth, moon, planets and fixed stars revolved around the sun, although he left no written evidence of this. Copernicus labelled Pythagoras as the originator of this theory and stated that he (Copernicus) was merely reviving the theory, Gradually the Greeks began to apply their attention to astrology. Their contribution to astrology was massive, as it was in regards to other arts and sciences. The Greeks quickly developed their own special approach to astrology. Instead of considering astrology as an exclusive subject for the King and country, they tried to understand what the planets and stars meant for the individual, and so the in- dividual horoscope was born. This wasn’t just a chance occurance, for this period of time marked the start of a 2000 year age called the “Pis- cean Age’’, the emotional, watery sign that through suffer- ing and compassion dissolves the bonds and shackles that bind the individual to temporal authority, whether it be the rock of a church, the sovereignty of a King, the solid- arity of a King, the solidarity of a nation, or a political ideology. By the 20th century, individuals should largely have broken away from these constraining traditions and be ready to enter into the age of Aquarius. About 150 B.C., the precision of the equinoxes was discovered. Without this discovery astronomical observa- tion, accuracy was impossible. The ‘““mean’’ motion of the moon was worked out using Chaldean eclipse data. In 280 B.C. a Babylonian, Berosus, set up a school of astrology on the Greek Island of Cos. Over the next two years the Greco-Babylonian astrology spread as far as Rome. One very important change was made by the Greeks was the substitution of the ‘“‘Heathen Gods” of the Babylonians, placing the names of their own Gods on the planets. In 165 B.C., a Greek philosopher, Posidonius, found- ed a school in Rhodes where the individualized method of casting horoscopes called “‘Genethliac’’ astrology Through the use of astrology by the Greeks an interpretive medium evolved rather than the system which predicted the soul- crushing actions of fate. The Greeks believed that only fools and the weak-willed accepted astrological definitions as statements of fate. The more evolved individual would see in the science a pattern of possibilities, warnings and pitfalls, which could either be heeded or ignored. To be Continued next month...... : HOURS Wed & Thurs 12~5:30p.m. Friday -12-7p.m. Saturday 11~5p.m. we Cassiar Courier February 1983 Page 1 l We can’t give you a break with the weather but we’re giving you A Break on Prices MID-WINTER SALE ROASTS PRIME RIB 3-99 Ib STEAKS ORANGES 49¢Ib SIZE 88 CUCUMBERS 69¢ Ib ONIONS 29¢Ib JUMBO SIZE SHORT RIBS = 9.49 in. [99 Ih. by the piece i GRANOLA BARS - 1.79 WEST BRAND MARGARINE eo Sek nd Use C S NATURE VALLEY 275g 1.36Kg 2, AQ eg vay Se lie PORK & BEANS-.69 HAMBURGER HELPER 1.69 : YORK OR WESTERN FAMILY 398ml ALL TYPES WESTERN DOG FOOD - 9.99 BRAVO SPAG. SAUCE-.99 ? 8Kg LIMIT 3 WITH MEA7 398 MI YORK APPLE JUICE - 1.59 TUNA § 1.49 1.36L TINS STARKIST CHUNKS 184g PINK SALMON - 1.79 SEVERAL BRANDS 220g CAMPBELLS TOMATO SOUP 284MI WESTERN FAMILY 1.39 FROZEN ORANGE JUICE 355MI 2 “95¢ ~~ all sizes Foe ODDS & ENDS 1, PRICE or less USUAL DISCOUNTS APPLY ‘QUANTITIES MAY BE LIMITED - ON SOME ITEMS