In Terms of Fate: A Survey of the Indigenous Egyptian Contribution to Ancient Astrology in Light of Papyrus CtYBR inv.

1132(B) Author(s): Briant Bohleke Reviewed work(s): Source: Studien zur Altgyptischen Kultur, Bd. 23 (1996), pp. 11-46 Published by: Helmut Buske Verlag GmbH Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25114392 . Accessed: 18/03/2012 09:24
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Helmut Buske Verlag GmbH is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Studien zur Altgyptischen Kultur.

http://www.jstor.org

In Terms

of Fate:

ancient

a survey of the indigenous Egyptian contribution in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)1 astrology

to

von

Briant Bohleke (Tafel 1)

If not the originator of horoscopic astrology, Egypt developed the craft into an art, having a significant impact on the Roman world and the Roman elite. This article gathers the native Egyptian astrological documentation, and using the Demotic nomenclature reconstructs themissing title and text of P. CtYBR inv. 1132(B), handbook. Several a list of Terms which must have once constituted a section of an Egyptian astrologer's

systems of Terms used for casting personal horoscopes are known from Ptolemy and other ancient authorities, themost widely accepted being the sequence labeled "Egyptian". As the only ancient manuscript preserving a table of Terms, P. CtYBR inv. 1132(B) is similar to, but deviates from the Egyptian sequence. With the reconstruction of the missing column of the manuscript from data in the first two preserved columns, there appears a consistent echeloned sequence of planets similar to the system of Critodemus. Thus P. CtYBR is the Egyptian system modified by that of Critodemus for mnemonic purposes for native Egyptians.

The Contemporary Despite logers

Background prohibiting astrology the private remained consultation implanted of astro among

decree of AD 11 strictly Augustus' or the prediction of anyone's death, population2. of personal horoscopal of individual communal

firmly

the Roman The

popularity

the burgeoning over cedence

aspirations the underpinning

as had risen during the late Republic astrology men for themselves took pre seeking power concerns of the traditional form of senatorial

have it, when the manuscript of this article was finished, L. Depuydt's of publication pCtYBR inv. 1132(B) appeared in: Enchoria 21, 1994, 1-9, Taf. 1.1 have modified my text and noted (dis)agreements in light of this work, but neither the substance nor conclusions of my work have been affected.] F.H. Cramer, Astrology in Roman law and politics, 1954, 99 (hereafter cited as ARLP). Specialists of other spheres of knowledge had come to include astral lore in their teachings, too, by the 1st century BC; Cramer, ARLP, 84f.

[As the stars would

12 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

ex the Republic in 139 BC that the first of many It was during recorded government3. to native from Rome is recorded4. accustomed of astrologers forms of Being pulsions more or to Roman the senate and suited societal divination, had group augury haruspicy - on a of the influx of which could with ideas Oriental par grown wary foreign, mostly customs. minds that of Greek and threaten long-held philosophers agitate for the decree of AD and the bans on practicing 11, the multiple astrology Except from Rome the expulsion of the trade were not of unrepentant practitioners or include to be permanent Rome intended outside itself. Whereas those astrologers a gullible or receive be accused their trade might of duping cliental the scorn of plying who the to of humans few questioned ability signs correctly, skeptics interpret heavenly orders for among the intelligencia would that the regular motions the sun and matters6, decree astrally on mundane Augustus' of astrology5, science" which acknow seven of the "stars" (the five planets plus the wandering the moon) a conscious from in resulting plan or divine doubt could neither be to ascertain using proper interpreted techniques to vitiate aimed the fundamental theory that one's to stamp out a profession which focused on the "exact

ledged two luminaries, fluence

the future. fate was

determined

nor attempted

sating (or merely

distinct decree

feeding) the human propensity for determining one's destiny. The

11 addressed two major concerns for the ruler's person and the an astrologer in private could be employed to seed a plot to overthrow an the emperor after obtaining "imperial a the time of the emperor's death could encourage Determining or embolden the aspirant to test his imperial horoscope by the time of the predicted demise7.

of AD

stability of the state. Consulting a propitious to discover moment horoscope" coup d'etat hatching 3 4 for oneself. for that moment, around

a plot

T. Barton, Ancient Cramer, ARLP,

astrology, 1994, 38f., 41, 62f., 210. 232-248; Barton, Anc. astrol., 32. On the edict of AD

11 specifically,

see Cramer, earliest

claimed

ARLP, 232, and especially pages 250, 253, and 281. 5 Cramer, ARLP, 4. "Revelation satisfied the religious
devotees. For rationalists, however, scientific observations

as it had appealed
over extended

to astrology's
now were

periods

... Lay folk the 'proof for the particular influence of each star or constellation were thus assured by both Egyptian, as well as Mesopotamian astrologers of a supposedly solid rational basis of the extravagant claims made by the pseudo-scientists" (Cramer, ARLP, 18). Seneca to have furnished pointed out thatmankind did not fully understand the signs and their laws (see S.J. Tester, A history of western astrology, 1990, 53). 6 Augustus himself minted coins bearing his zodiacal birth sign to promote his divinely ordained destiny to reign, even bravely publishing his horoscope with ascendant (from which his death date could be calculated) in AD 11. See Cassius Dio, Dio's Roman History, 56 25, 5, trans. E. Cary, 1914-1927, vol. 7, 56f., and Barton, Anc. astrol., 40f. (citing Suetonius, De vita Caesarum, Augustus
94.5, trans. J.C. Rolfe, 1914,

266f.).

Barton, Anc. 1, 40-43

astrol., 45 (quoting Tacitus, Histories and 284f. respectively).

1, 22; 2, 78, trans. C.H. Moore,

1925-1937,

vol.

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

13

The successor Greek

weapon Tiberius

of

one's was

enemy himself

Alexandrian, future

Tiberius and had

often be employed him, and Augustus' against a practicing a With his advisor astrologer8. Thrasyllus9, citizens with horoscopes rooted out prominent predicting He also ruthlessly enforced the decree which

can

an imperial Augustus It was

them executed. during rumors

had promulgated no coincidence

of his own advisors

impending successfully

demise. served the imperial

that Egyptian

astral

household, for Egypt was the accepted home of astrology and the knowledge of this topic
by a native would be considered was Thrasyllus' the astrologer priesthood and sacred of son Balbillus held by the imperial nonpareil patron10. For this reason serve to retained Tiberius' In such repute was successors11. that the emperor at Alexandria and throughout at Alexandria bestowed upon his councillor the high buildings the pre

by Claudius of Hermes

of the temple groves the

and oversight

of "all imperial including and

in Alexandria

the rest of Egypt", (the Serapeum)

sidency

renowned

university

its priceless

library12.Though forbidden by the aforementioned edict, Balbillus' specialty of fore telling deaths was applied to that of his imperial patron13. Nero kept Balbillus on the imperial payroll and appointed him praefect of Egypt14.
Other Egyptians, or Graeco-Egyptians bearing Egyptian names, were associated with this

learned how to cast horoscopes from Thrasyllus. See Cramer, ARLP, 94; Tacitus, Annals 6, 21, trans. Moore, 1925-1937, vol. 3, 188f.; Cassius Dio 55 11, 1, trans. Cary, vol. 6, 420f. 9 Cf. The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja, ed., trans., and comm. D. Pingree, Harvard oriental series Having 48, 1978, 444f. 10 Most modern scholars view Babylonia as the originator of the fundamentals of astrology (B.L. van der Waerden, in: AfO 16, 1952-1953, 216-230; Cramer, ARLP, 3-5, 15). Recent variations see the elements of this prophesying introduced from heterogenous beliefs and practices of Babylonia and Egypt, and synthesized in the milieu of Hellenistic Greece or the Near East. For the disseminators of Hermetic astrology, see G. Fowden, The Egyptian Hermes: a historical approach to the late pagan mind, 1986, 162. not every astrologer endeared himself to the ruler by the news he bore. The Egyptian foretold in his native land [emphasis mine] the actual fate of Caligula. He was arrested Apollonius for clearly violating the edict of AD 11 and sent to Rome to answer for his crime. Brought before the emperor on the day of his assassination and condemned to suffer the death penalty, Apollonius survived because Caligula did not, and received amnesty under Claudius (Cramer, ARLP, 11 If., 27If., 279; Cassius Dio 59 29, 4, trans. Cary, vol. 7, 358f.). For Balbillus, see Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 423. 12 Cramer, ARLP, 114. 13 Cramer, ARLP, 115. In AD 52 Claudius "had renewed earlier expulsion orders banishing astrologers from the capital and from Italy as well" (Tacitus, Annals vol. 3, 390f.). 12, 52, trans. Moore, Evidently Balbillus was exempted. 14 Cramer, ARLP, 126. Although 11

14 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

emperor. astrological maintaining When was

Chaeremon, topics, carefully

the head was Nero's preserved

of

the Alexandrian

Museion an Egyptian

and himself astrologer worked with

an author whose habit

on of

tutor15. Pamennes, files would clients

lead to calamity, were accused about

the opposition. the indictment future and that for

two highly prominent Roman with based on their consultation Though A sentenced fellow exile to exile

of lese majeste, (imperial)

Pamennes

their own

of Nero.

on an island, of

Pamennes

continued contacts and

to be retained rifled

consultation. loger's He was Romans The the fore,

got wind

the clandestine

the astro clients. The two

tidy files, allowed soon

finding incriminating prepared horoscopes to proceed to testify against to Rome them and their lives; the fate of Pamennes overthrow either

for the two aspiring the astrologer. unknown16.

paid with

remains

instability though

following the stakes

Nero's for being

the astrologers' placed predictory or the about wrong right aspirations

arts at of the

curious and ambitious had the potential for being too high. Of (Graeco?-)Egyptian des
cent, Ptolemy death, by was Seleucus Otho's incited ascendancy historians his craft Otho's overthrow throne, of Galba and by predicting demise the elderly as well17. leader's Viewed astrologer Seleucus and to the as alone this patron's

contemporary through disliked

"an ambitious had risen

who

and unscrupulous professional to influence and power"18, Ptolemy edicts against astrologers the reinstated

by Vitellius, of them

but survived to cast his

this emperor's lot with Vespasian,

subsequent

executions

joining

Balbillus19. Executions Egyptian commenced Asclepion's his own once more under Domitian20, who sought to discredit by compelling be the

astrologer

prediction

of the emperor's the astrologer him wrong, to prove

time of death replied

the Egyptian devoured be burned tinguished

to predict

death. When

that he would

by dogs, Domitian alive and promptly

endeavored buried.

the pyre

and canines

the immolation, During soon tore apart the half-charred

that the astrologer ordering a rainstorm ex however, corpse21.

15

Cramer, ARLP, 1984.

82, 116; P.W. van der Horst, Chaeremon, 265, 272f.; Tacitus, Annals 132, 272, 279.

Egyptian

priest and Stoic philosopher,

16 17 18 19

Cramer, ARLP, Cramer, ARLP, Cramer, ARLP,

16, 14, trans. Moore,

vol. 4, 356-359.

130 and note 447; page 160. Cramer, ARLP, 134, 137f. On Vitellius' expulsion orders and execution of astrologers, see Cramer, ARLP, 242-4, 270; Barton, Anc. astrol., 47f. (quoting Suetonius, Vitellius 14.4, trans. Rolfe, 268

271). Cramer, ARLP, 267. 21 Barton, Anc. astrol., 48f. (quoting Suetonius, Domitian 273f. 20

15.3, trans. Rolfe,

372-375); Cramer, ARLP,

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR

inv. 1132(B)

15

The being

reign of Hadrian a trained astrologer

witnessed whose

the height visit

of interest in AD

in astrology, 130 was

the emperor by

himself

to Egypt

recorded There were

daughter breaching the second and

of Balbillus the edict

in a graffito of AD

on the colossus the reigns deemed

of Memnon22. of Antoninus

the grand no trials for Aurelius, "rational would

11 during a Stoic who

Pius

and Marcus deity,

of these being to men

that Fate was the signs hand,

the supreme

impartial

and matter"23. On join

Whatever the other

in the heavens

indicated

have to be accepted. necessarily nor Stoicism. He did, however, tradition The of an Egyptian priest

Commodus and having

liked neither shaved

astrology in the

the cult of Isis, the statue

his head

procession24. not astro did its consulted for its founder twice start, get dynasty once the reign of Marcus Aurelius future, (for which logers about his political during a no were at which and there second during the rule of Commodus, time repercussions)25 so odious was the emperor was considered that Septimius and Severus innocent judged Severan almost his accuser crucified26. When he assumed the purple, however, Severus was not so kindly

carried

of Anubis

in a religious

to forgiving to be breaching those purported 11. He put to the edict of AD disposed a senator and the governor death men who enquired about his fate and condemned of Asia because the latter's nurse had dreamt that her master would be emperor and the former When and because visiting he had been Egypt told of this portent27.

then scoured

tomb not only also to rid

the tomb of Alexander Severus Septimius opened the land for magical the extensive in the collection writings, enclosing because of a firm belief in Alexander's divine and magical powers28, but of material which could be eventually used against him by

as emperor,

the province

aspirants This

to the throne29. overview of the slant, Serapio influence comes told of astrology on Roman Caracalla. to his face leaders, Cassius that his Dio especially recorded that that was

an Egyptian featuring an Egyptian named

to an end with the emperor

assassination

22 23 24

astrol., 46; Cramer, ARLP, Cramer, ARLP, 51.

Barton, Anc.

172.

Cramer, ARLP, 208. (From the Scriptores historiae Augustae, Commodus 9.4-6, trans. D. Magie, 16.4 (vol. 1, 302f.), Pescennius Niger, 6.8-9 (vol. 1922-1932, vol. 1, 286-289; compare Commodus 1, 442f.), and Caracalla, 9.11 (vol. 2, 24-27).
Barton, Anc. Anc. Anc. astrol., astrol., astrol., 209. 210, 212-4, 269. 269f.; Scriptores historiae Augustae, Severus 15.4-5, trans. Magie, vol.

25 26 Barton, 27 Barton,

1, 404-407.
28 Barton, Anc. astrol., 10.

29

F. Cumont, L'Egypte des astrologues, 1937, 152f., note 4. (Both footnote 26 and 27 rely on Cassius Dio, epitome 76 13, 2, trans. Cary, vol. 9, 224f.).

16 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

imminent

and even

named

his

successor.

In appreciation

for the revelation

Caracalla

had

Serapio thrown to a lion, which was kept at bay by the Egyptian holding out his hand.
As he was slain by another have survived more successful method, lived Serapio another was day said and to have conjured declared certain that he could spirits30. Most modern this also if he had

scholarship

has assigned

the origin

of astrology zodiac

to Mesopotamia and the earliest peculiarities the reuse of earlier of astrological

based casting from com ante

on the first appearance of a personal Egypt ponents cedents32, astrology cooked horoscope

there of the currently (410 BC)31. But

recognizable elements of

astronomical

and to a lesser in new it may in any

extent

Greece

entered the origin

the art, and because and original if not ideas

contexts be one

obscures

intention origins,

fruitless location.

to seek

the origin, of

of personal must context, than

horoscopal have been

The melange East,

and

convictions the social results

in the pot of the Hellenistic of developed astrology

and understanding more promising

function for

and practice

yields

a search

specific origins33. Ptolemaic Egypt and during evolution

witnessed

a concerted literature

effort

to translate

Egyptian

texts

into Greek34, a rapid (including

this era Hermetic of astrology

began

to emanate

from Egypt,

indicating

in that location

and perhaps

syncretism

of two or three

Mesopotamian)

cultures35.

30

Cramer, ARLP,
the fingers

215; Cassius Dio,

of magical

epitome 79 4, 4-5, trans. Cary, vol. 9, 346-349.

protection, see R.K. Ritner, The mechanics

For extending
Egyptian

in a gesture

of Ancient

magical

31

from Serapio practice, SAOC 54, 1993, 227-229. This Serapio is to be distinguished an astrologer who flourished in the first century BC or AD, and whose writings are Alexandrinus, derived from Nechepso and Petosiris (cf. Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 440f.). in: JCS 6, 1952, 52-57; van der Waerden, in: AfO 16, 1952-1953, 216-230; Cramer, exact 13f. O. The sciences in antiquity, 21969, 102f., 140. ARLP, 3, 8, (Berossus), 15f; Neugebauer, The surviving works of Teucer of Babylon attest his investigations of the planets, decans, signs of the zodiac, and simultaneously rising stars. His floruit was the first century AD and his residence A. Sachs, the city near Memphis, not the dying metropolis
29, 160; Tester, History,

inMesopotamia
41.

(Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 442f.).

32 Barton,

Anc.

astrol.,

34

Cumont, L'Egypte, Cumont, L'Egypte, 25. 35 Cramer, ARLP, 15. "The emergence of Egypt as the most important center of astrological activities in the Hellenistic world obscured the preceding long and solid Mesopotamian contributions. A literature, hermetic as well as "scientific," now widened syncretistic complex of astrological immeasurably the possibilities of applying astrological techniques to every field of human endeavor. Not only the individual human being, but also the separate parts of the body were now "scientifically" connected with astral influences" (Cramer, ARLP, 18).

33

18, 27.

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR

inv. 1132(B)

17

Astrological cause writings, velations a divine sophical astrological

doctrines

generated

Hermetic

literature,

in the opinion

of one expert,

be

of their relevance

The corpus of Hermetic "to all aspects of human experience"36. or more of 42 works the re comprised consisting by the 3rd century AD37, to his son and initiate Tat, imparting Hermes of the mystagogue Trismegistus message Known which now was only the basis from of this pseudo-scientific in Greek, the earliest of celestial periods and philo Hermetic signs, their

visionary dialogue38. treatise

fragments a book events,

is the Salmeschoiniaka,

of 72 pictures

settings, what they indicate for future risings, Because the god Nebu they are sovereign39. Babylonian, potamian was not Egyptian, origin method

and the five-day and

over which are a

is mentioned some

five-day have

intervals sought

of time-keeping,

scholars

a Meso

for the book

and derivation

work

the "mingling of those who a genuinely and which

of Babylonian have treated

majority represents

of the title, conceding that the developed and Egyptian Greek astrological traditions"40. The the subject are convinced that the Salmeschoiniaka work whose 72 figures BC are in the tradition upon of the or mid-2nd

Egyptian dates

hermetic to the early

the 36 decans authority)41.

century

(depending

Fowden, Egyptian Hermes, 91. Barton, Anc. astrol., 25. For higher, fantastic numbers, seeW. Gundel/H.G. Gundel, Astrologumena: die astrologische Literatur in der Antike und ihre Geschichte, 1966, 14. 38 Fowden, Egy. Hermes, 28. 39 see RE (neue Bearbeitung), For a summary of the state of knowledge about the Salmeschoiniaka, 2. Band 1914-1972, Reihe, Suppl. V, 1931, cols. 843-846. 40 note that if one Tester, History, 21. What about, however, native Egyptian input? Additionally, 37 halves 41 the number of figures from 72 to 36, the number of days per figure becomes of the Egyptian week. Astrologumena, zur Geschichte 15f., 49, note der Sternbilder, 18; F. Boll, 10, the period

36

Sphaera: neue griechische Texte und 1967, 376ff., 377, note 3 for posited non-Egyptian Untersuchungen derivations of the title of the work, page 378 for Egyptian derivation of the title; Cramer, ARLP, 16; Fowden, Egyptian Hermes, 32, 37, 39, 139f. The integration or wholesale absorption of foreign elements into Egyptian religious thought has an extended history from the "hocus pocus" spells of Gundel/Gundel, Texts (PT 280, 281; Pyr., 219f.) to pHarris Magical (H.O. Lange, Der magische Det danske Videnskabernes Selskab. Harris, Meddelelser, Papyrus Kongelige Historisk-filologiske Bind 14, No. 2, 1937, 98f. Spell Z [XII, 1-5]) and into the Graeco-Roman in period as witnessed magical papyri (for example, PGM IV.296-466; PGM IV.850-929; PGM PGM PGM VII.846-861; ed. H.D. Betz, The Greek magical papyri in V.424-435; VII.795-821; translation, including the Demotic spells, 21992, 44-46, 55f, 109, 140, 141 respectively). Further, were on occasion into absorbed the and foreign gods Egyptian pantheon (e.g. Astarte mythologized and the Sea; LESt, 76-8la). The use of Nebu (=Mercury) is consonant with this tradition and may lend a mystical or potent air to the text or be the writer's nod to the "Chaldeans" to enhance the efficaciousness of his text. the Greek and Demotic the Pyramid

18 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

The

Salmeschoiniaka work of said

is mentioned to have been

in the earliest composed by

astrologer's the priest Based on

handbook, who of its

that pseudo received the Hermetic legitimacy by the

epigraphic revelation model assigning of

Petosiris the idea

its contents between

from King Hermes

Nechepso42. and Tat,

dialogue

the manual of

retained the hoary

its composition

to distinguished

compatriots

past43. Numerous

42

The expounding was, however, mutual. See Depuydt, in :Enchoria Vettius Valens, Anthologiae. Vettii Valentis Antiocheni Anthologiarum 1986, 138, 4-5 and 337, 25.

21, 1994, 6 note 14, citing libri novem, ed. D. Pingree,

43

A. Bouch6-Leclercq, grecque, 1899, xi. Searching for historical figures behind the L'astrologie names Nechepso and Petosiris, modern scholars have postulated that "King Nechepso" might have been anciently identified with Manetho's Nechepso, second king of his 26th dynasty (Manetho, trans. ed. and W.G. Waddell, 1971, 168-173). This would most likely be the Aegyptiaca (epitome), Delta dynast Nikauba, about whom nothing is known, his Egyptian name being preserved on a broken counterpoise (K.A. Kitchen, The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, 1100-650 B.C., with suppl., 21986, ??116, 351, 356, 363; Table 4).

The "priest Petosiris" seems to have been the product of a conscious association with the high priest of Thoth of Hermopolis Petosiris, who flourished in themid-4th century BC, and whose tomb shows noticeable Hellenistic architectural and artistic influence. The hieroglyphic inscriptions in the tomb (for which, see G. Lefebvre, Le tombeau de Petosiris, IFAO, 1923-1924, preserve ancient and traditional Egyptian religious concepts by including material from the Pyramid Texts, Book of the Dead, and sun hymns. Even newly composed texts (by Petosiris himself?) appear on the tomb walls. (For recent translations of select texts, see M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian literature III, 1980, 44-54). Barton (Anc. astrol., 26), following Gundel/Gundel 28, note 1) and F. Boll (Astrologumena, und were as the composers of the believes the chosen (Sternglaube Sterndeutung, 1926, 23f.), pair seminal textbook on astrology because Petosiris represented "the prestige of the Egyptian priesthood, that of the Egyptian monarchy." Gundel/Gundel (Astrologumena, 29) postulated that was chosen he because ruled the time of the Assyrian invasions and introduction Nechepso during of Mesopotamian influences. Whereas it seems that Petosiris' reputation outlasted his life and that as a kind of "saint" (Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 3If.; Cramer, ARLP, 17; ed. Yavanajataka, Pingree, 436), it is harder to imagine why the obscure kinglet Nechepso was assigned the role of revelator of divine wisdom. The notion that he was an early astrologer should viewed be rejected (RE, v. 16, col. 2167; Cramer, ARLP, 17). Considering the heros of Demotic tales and hellenistic romances, such as Pedubast, Inaros, Pemu, Pedikhons, and Sesonchosis (Sheshonq I, not III!) were Libyan kings or princes, it becomes apparent that these dynasts were looked back upon as heros of a golden age, much as "knights in shining armor" are treated in our own "once upon a time" fairy tales. An astrological treatise was said to have been written in the time of "Psammethicus" (Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 35, 69). Senwosret he was and Nechepso

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

19

fragments been

in Greek

survive44. more likely,

For philological however,

reasons, was

an original initially ethnic

work written group.

in Egyptian in Greek This

has by an

presumed45; educated Egyptian first set down

the work

in the language around

of the socially 150 BC

dominant

handbook, of horo drew

on papyrus and

or a century all

later46, became authors back

the basis on

logical

astrology

the source

from which

subsequent referring

the topic

for casting personal horoscopes, as "the Egyptians" or "the ancients"47. By Petosiris synthesizing the basis was said the time of Chaeremon, and Nechepso were himself household an author words.

their information

to the purported

authors

of an astrological work by

treatise,

the names canon, as

Their

then had become

all the principles

and techniques

of astrology

and enshrining

the system The duo's

for all later doctrine to have been in verse

through manipulation and very dense,

and dissemination48. containing strong

work

elements

of theology fell into four Later them

and mysticism49. From preserved fragments one of which is of direct relevance categories, astrologers and compilers excerpted heavily

the topics

covered

in the opus

to this paper: from Petosiris

horoscopic

astrology50. among

and Nechepso,

(in chronological order) Dorotheus of Sidon (late 1st cent. AD), Ptolemy (2nd cent. AD),
Vettius Alexandria writing Valens (2nd-3rd 380), cent. AD), Firmicus Maternus (4th (fl. AD a more cent. 415). AD), These Paul notables, record of life of (fl. AD in Greek and Hephaestion for Firmicus Maternus) of Thebes compiled a horoscope

(except "facts"

or less helpful the length

of astrological

and facets

to construct

and calculate

(by their time an illegal act).

E. Riess, in: Philologus Supp. 6, 1891-1893, 325-394. Additional fragments have been published in the Catalogus Codicum Astrologorum Graecorum, 12 vols., 1898-1953. 45 Cramer, ARLP, 16. 46 J. Schwartz, in: Livre du centenaire, 1880-1980, MIFAO 104, 1980, 320; Gundel/Gundel, Astro note 105; Fowden, logumena, 11; Barton, Anc. astrol., 27f.; see too Boll, Egyptian Hermes, 3, CCAG VII, 129-131. The date 150 BC was favored because the circumstances in the treatise reflect and military events in Egypt and Syria at this time; see O. in: JAOS 63, Neugebauer, 1943, 121, citing W. Kroll, in: RE, vol. 16, col. 2160-2167 and Cumont, L'Egypte, 39. 47 Tester, History, 22, 49, 60; Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 220; Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 201. For only a few of the numerous examples, see Vettius Valens, Anthologiae, ed. Pingree, 103, 8 and 453, 8; Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 111.10,127, trans. F.E. Robbins, 1971, 270f., note 1; and Hephaestion of Thebes, Hephaestionis Thebani Apotelesmaticorum, ed. D. Pingree, vol. I, 1973, 4,23; 32,10; 52,9; 82,10 (mentioning Petosiris); 120,23 (mentioning Nechepso and Petosiris by name); vol. II (the Terms per Dorotheus and "The Egyptians"): 138,17,25; 140,5,14; 142,4,13; 144,3,10; 145,27; 146,6; 148,1; 152,14; (the Terms per Ptolemy and "The Egyptians"): 154,18; 156,12). 48 Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 34; Barton, Anc. astrol., 26. 49 32. Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena,
50 Barton, Anc. astrol., 26.

44

the political

20 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

The Egyptian Extant Greek, paying been

Astrological

Documentation from the ancient and world are nearly stratum without exception With to have and in a

horoscopes the

on papyri

lingua franca either

of the East native Greek

the intellectual

of Alexandria. expected

clientele educated Greek

speakers,

or in the West

a gentry

to understand would have

the language been

and view

it as the conveyor for recording

of philosophy

wisdom, aspects

the expected

medium

of the heavenly wanderers. Because the synthesis of astrology the Egyptians and Petosiris in particular and the ancient in civilization Nechepso to have been composed and the Hermetic works purported in the native general script, seem odd that so little remains of astrological it may in Demotic51. works The sum of the astrological stems from the first two centuries AD corpus in Demotic and has been though antedates Demotic Ashmolean After lines, between viewed as a transient written Greek down phenomenon. years The horoscope afterward, by nearly and lines cast for the earliest is O. Ashmolean, two decades. date, which Inked in O.

the positions and was attributed to

doubtlessly the oldest

or decades from several Egypt

horoscope

and hieratic, is dated

and presenting

orthographic two are a Year

lexical

difficulties,

by the lunar calendar of the sun, date Jupiter,

in the first and moon

to the reign given

of a Queen52. in two more

the positions the civil

subsequently

calendar

is noted, dates

this being

the lunar and civil

allows

the occurrence

14. Comparing the discrepancy to be placed of the new moon

within
Cleopatra The

the 19th year of the 25 year lunar cycle, thus in 38 BC, during the reign of
VII53. ostracon continues for eight more planets lines in decreasing for Mercury)54 states and of preservation the four cardines: with the

the positions 51

of the remaining

(except

For the Greek evidence, American Philosophical

see O. Neugebauer/H.B. Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, Memoirs of the Society 48, 1959, and D. Baccani, Oroscopi Greci: documentazione papirologica, Ricerca Papirologica 1, 1992. Gundel and Gundel (Astrologumena, 35) postulated that there ought to have been handbooks inDemotic corresponding to those from the hands of the Greek and Latin compilers. If there was a non-historical construction which had been based on a fictitious be only derivative works and no

52 53

attribution of the birth of astrology to Egypt, then there would original handbooks equivalent to those in Greek and Latin. O. Neugebauer/R.A.

54

Parker, in: JEA 53, 1968, 231-234, pi. XXXVI, 2. in: JEA 53, 1968, 233; R.A. Parker, The calendars of ancient Neugebauer/Parker, Egypt, SAOC 26, 1950, 25. See also the discussion of pCarlsberg 9 below. It is odd that Jupiter is repeated after Venus in line 10. From line 7 to line 11 inclusive, the order of planets is: Saturn, (Jupiter mentioned in line 3 with the sun), Mars, Venus, and then Jupiter again. Perhaps the sequence should have been from the slowest (outermost) planet to the swiftest (innermost), Mercury. Thus, Jupiter in line 11 may be an error for Mercury. (For another substitution by error, see R.A. Parker, in: Grammata Demotika. Festschrift fiir Erich Liiddeckens zum 15. Juni 1983, 1984, 142 in which Mars is written instead of Venus.)

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

21

ascendant, caelum,
mean

descendant,

mesuranema

(medium

caelum,

or MC),

or IMC)55. Each
"center".

of the cardines

receives

the label

and the hypogeion (imum to ib "heart", here specialized of the text. While

There some

are a number

of difficulties

which

obscure

the full

es traces (end of line 11), several signs are illegible interpretation, the group ending lines 5, 8, 9, and 10. The significance of Libra 6? in line 4 pecially on a an otherwise the star which has determinative it, hinges sign preceding indicating in that section unknown the of the sky56. And whereas astronomical(?) phenomenon publishers Scorpio triplicity ment of Even Egyptian of O. Ashmolean in line 12, could not venture of these two a guess as to what have the fourth signs may with Pisces If this conjecture is correct, the place (here also the ascendant)57. a here and its significance this information still be would mystery58. if incompletely O. Ashmolean remarkable about evidence understood, yields the presence preceded constituted Pisces and

reading others defy

The earliest cast horoscope a fully in Demotic astrological practice. displays method for the moment information of the developed recording preliminary regarding out the names of the planets, client's birth. Instead of writing zodiacal signs, and astro individual Demotic/hieratic the predecessors of the sigla used up terms, logical signs to the present day - are already employed. common as ib "heart" and words such Finally, tni.t (<dni.t) to astrology59. "division, portion" have assumed a specialized, technical definition specific

55

The ascendant

is the point on the horizon where the sign rises (0?), the descendant where it sets mesuranema The (180?). represents the apex or meridian (90?) and the hypogeion the nadir (270?). on For further details and definition of the cardines, see Neugebauer/Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 2-13. In O. Ashmolean: midheaven (MC) (1. 6), [ascendant] (1.8), [descendant] (1.11), and

56

[lower midheaven] (=IMC) (1.13). doubtlessly Might it have been a comet or other ephemeral phenomenon whose existence at that time had been recorded for posterity in some handbook? Comets were the topic of several treatises and had been discussed in the work of Nechepso and Petosiris (Tester, History, 66f.). The amount of degrees of ascension separating any postulated comet from the sun in this most would horoscope likely preclude its visibility, for it would not have approached near enough to our star to commence

shedding its surface substantially for the unaided eye to view. On the efficacious aspect known as the triplicity, the four groups of three zodiacal signs 120? apart, see BoucheVLeclercq, L'astrologie grecque, 199-206; Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 1.18, trans. Robbins, 82 87; Neugebauer/Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 12f. 58 The mention of a triplicity in the fragmentary pCairo 50143 (discussed below) may be reference information in an otherwise lost astrologer's handbook, and thus not of help in explaining the presence of a triplicity in the current context. 59 The term tni.t also appears in pBerlin 8345, ti tni.t Sr "the portion (KA,T)poq) 'son'" (G.R. Hughes, in: Egyptological Studies in honor of Richard A. Parker, 1986, 67). The astrological definition of 57

22 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

There living posed

are 4 horoscopes in Medinet

on ostraca

claimed

to have

been

cast by

the same

individual

around AD

a fragmentary to the corpus60. Com fifth no doubt belonging Habu, scheme of composition: date, position 50, the ostraca share a common ascendent and descendent, midheaven ("lake of the sky") and

of sun, moon, the nadir bined ("lake

and planets, of Duat"),

the swSp, and the twr61. The most I/O. Strassburg, the 'Houses' As with the fortunes see pBerlin "accounts

complete

ostracon,

the com

O. Collection signs...,

Thompson enumerating moment"62.

for the influence to the zodiac

of all twelve in its special from was

zodiacal position

in their relationship O. Ashmolean of the individual 8345 below.)

at the given

no conclusions for whom

are drawn the horoscope

the tabulated cast. (For

data concerning the reasons why,

The nearly contemporary O. Berlin P. 6152 is dated explicitly toYear 3 of Nero (AD
57). "old" A mysterious (iiw) and Demotic sign, thus be a reference calendar63. specifies a technical indicate term, may perhaps astrological as opposed to the use of the traditional Egyptian to of the luminaries and planets being duly noted, out instead of being for all are written

the Alexandrian the last indicated The Madi model line by

The positions

the ascendant. signs.

The words

the specialized

latest horoscopes in the Fayum. texts written Madi R.A.

written Parker

in Egyptian published in a temple

are on ostraca two of school

excavated

in 1938

at Medinet were

the lot, noting at which

that the ostraca became

by novices 1154

the shards

archives.

O. Medinet luminaries of varying

the unspecified of the planets and only positions in the zodiac; the two texts on O. Medinet Madi 1060 were schoolboy copies As Parker stated, "the chief interest and value of these small texts accuracy64. variants they offer for the signs AD of the planets, sun and moon recording

records

lie in the paleographical and the zodiac65." Indeed,

by this date, mid-December

171, the information

tni.t is "Lot". (See clarification in footnote 97 below.) The most important Lot is that of Fortune; others include Daimon, Eros, Necessity, Courage, and those specifying various family relations. As for Lots in the horoscope, "they are not segments which together make up a complete circle, but are rather specially endowed points in the chart of a nativity" (Manilius, Astronomica, trans. G. P. 1977, lxiv). in: JAOS 63, 1943, 120. 61 in: JAOS 63, 1943, 118. Neugebauer, 62 in: JAOS 63, 1943, 116, 118. For "Houses" Neugebauer, accurate; see footnote 97 below. The top section of this in: OLZ 5, 1902, cols. 223-225. Spiegelberg, 63 in: JEA 53, 1968, 234f., pi. XXXVI, Neugebauer/Parker, 64 in: Festschrift Parker, Luddeckens, 141-143, Taf. 23. The 60 Neugebauer, 1063, and 1066. 65 Parker, in: Festschrift Luddeckens, 142. Gould,

the descriptor "Places" would be more ostracon was initially published by W. 1. other ostraca are O. Medinet Madi 842,

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

23

the planetary

positions

was

done

solely

in signs,

bolstering

O. Neugebauer's

assertion

that the later zodiacal

symbols

originated

from Demotic66.

The coffin lid of the priest Heter, who died around AD 120 in Thebes, had originally
been of the twelve zodiacal by pictures painted with "a large figure of Nut surrounded had been added in Demotic in mid-October the positions of the planets signs" to which 93 at the moment The evidence of birth of the purchaser67. is more outlook, extensive concern, and diverse, knowledge, encompassing and origin. distinct Papyrus lines Berlin

AD

from papyri

of astronomical/astrological

8279, written in the Fayum after AD 42, is a copy of a hieratic original tabulating the
positions pared of the known to modern planets through the zodiac display the vernal for the years a consistent equinox. 16 BC to AD 11. Com the positions by the use of a fixed point near calculations, the text68, concluding and condemned of calculation -4? from the vernal deviation Neugebauer with in longitude republished the "eternal obtained

explainable and explained tables"

that the planetary by Ptolemy. He

data correspond adds and that

mentioned

the data were

fixed

through on the ecliptic

a combination

and observation, equinox

that the use

of a longitude "precludes the

at the time of Augustus

possibility of deriving the longitudes of the planetary texts from Greek astronomy of the
period between Hipparchus and Ptolemy"69.

66

67

O. Neugebauer, in: Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, n.s. 32, 1942, 245; in: JAOS 122f. traced the for Libra back through Demotic, 63, 1943, Neugebauer, carefully sign to and the ih.t for "horizon." hieratic, hieroglyphic sign O. Neugebauer/R. A. Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts HI, Brown Egyptological Studies 6, 1969, in: JAOS 115. 93-95, pi. 50; Neugebauer, 63, 1943, Originally published by H.K. Brugsch, in: ZDMG 14, 1860, 15ff. and H.K. Brugsch, Recueil de monuments egyptiens dessines sur lieux et publics sous les auspices de Son Altesse le vice-roi d'Egypte Mohammed-Said-Pacha, 1862-85, pi. 34 & 35. The painted ceiling of a tomb in Athribis depicts the planets and figures of the zodiac in human, animal, and composite form. Two labeled &a-birds near Orion are those of the two brothers originally buried in the tomb (Athribis, 12f., 23f., pi. xxxvi-xxxviii). From the arrangement of the luminaries and planets among the graphic depictions of the signs, Neugebauer and Parker (in: JEA 53, 1968, 231) have determined the dates of the horoscopes to be AD 141 and 148, the birth years of the brothers. All other inscriptions are in hieroglyphics (see Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical

68

69

Neugebauer, Philosophical Society, n.s. 32, 1942, 209-250; pi. 1 27. For the earlier partial publication without the astronomical explanation, see W. Spiegelberg, Demotische Papyrus aus den koniglichen Museen zu Berlin, 1902, Taf. 99. in: Transactions of the American Philosophical Neugebauer, Society, n.s. 32, 1942, 243. For con clusions pertaining to the fixed point on the ecliptic and data on the tables being obtained through calculation and observation, see pages 240 and 242 respectively.

texts III, 96-98, pi. 51). in: Transactions of the American

24 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

whether the astronomical To Neugebauer, is without for astrological purposes employed are used for positions of the planets does not with

tables

of pBerlin interest. Because

8279

would

have

been

the signs

of the zodiac

indicate

to the author

of the data. To back motivated the tabulation astrology were of "old-Egyptian stated that if the tables purposes origin then astrological gebauer can certainly no astrology be excluded because existed in Egypt before the latest period the numbers of its history"70. The errors in the document confusion between 10 and 20 -would if the Berlin papyrus had been copied from an original be explainable in hieratic, in which script the signs for these numbers that the hieratic have original would influence. used even when of not only in the Dead and other funerary but also compositions, These would have been for the most part composed Demotic script, was the standard are very similar71. The implication been a pharaonic ("old-Egyptian") is then compo

that preoccupation Neu up his supposition,

drawn sition

of astrological hieratic was However, texts such

free

"sacred"

as the Book

mathematical in expository treatises. was developed, before Demotic but not necessarily the horoscopic (viz. O. Ashmolean, ostracon from the reign of Cleopatra and pBerlin 8279 itself turns out to be further VII) B.L. proof-in-point. table" was calculated van and der Waerden tried to prove reexamined by the methods at motions

were that all planetary positions known methods72. "Babylonian" sitions that recorded use the texts a fixed

calculated, Further,

looking not observed,

this "eternal by which of each heavenly body and had been reckoned by

in the text and actual origin of

the systematic 4?-5? difference between po calculated modern methods "means longitudes by the zodiac, with the fixed connected stars, just as

Babylonian Egyptian of the latest

moon texts

and planetary tables do. the origin of the zodiac in our ...[H]ence with that of the Babylonian texts and observation ephemerides time"73. Thus contra Neugebauer, whose later rebuttal claims the question coincides

must of computation remain unanswered74, the text could not be old Egyptian, and its raison d'etre would be more astrological than not. Any hieratic original would have been or even Roman the Ptolemaic, composed during period, by a scribe versed well enough in the old script to give his tables the aura of an antique pedigree75.

70 71 72

Neugebauer,

in: Transactions in: Transactions

of the American of the American

Philosophical

Society,

Neugebauer, B.L. van der Waerden, 50, 1947, 536-547; Van der Waerden,

in: Koninklijke

Philosophical Society, Nederlandsche Akademie van Wetenschappen,

n.s. 32, 1942, 235. n.s. 32, 1942, 247. Proceedings

782-788. in: Koninklijke Nederlandsche Akademie van Wetenschappen, Proceedings 50, be around the beginning of the Seleucid and Ptolemaic eras. Hoesen, Egyptian astronomical texts HI, 235-240, and earlier Neugebauer/Van 173, note 82.

73 74

1947, 537. This would Neugebauer/Parker, Greek horoscopes, The astronomical Egyptian

75

texts which unequivocally refer to an original and pre-Hellenistic, pre-astrological trans concept of the heavens are pCarlsberg 1 and la, written in hieratic with Demotic

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR

inv. 1132(B)

25

The

Stobart

Tables,

four wooden gaps) were

tablets

of planetary sometime The

tables after AD

covering

the years AD

71

132 (with similar not been 365-day Whether unknown The native

substantial

composed 8279.

134 in Thebes,

information preserved, Egyptian

to that of pBerlin were based used

tablets,

an additional as opposed

providing two of which have to the invariably

on the Alexandrian in the Berlin

calendar papyrus76.

calendar

the Stobart methods,

Tables

had been drawn tables

calculated

they were of lunar

up using found

or presently solely by "Babylonian" as pBerlin the same formulas 827977. 9 are, however, influence. the result of

three Egyptian

columns

in pCarlsberg Hellenistic

mathematical

calculations

without

Copied

after AD

144 in Tebtunis
[emperor Tiberius

(Fayum), the layout of the papyrus follows

the pattern "Year X of

1 of the moon". These Pius], through Antoninus l.p.h. (equals) Year a at to the beginning of the end of which lunar cycle, the new years correspond 25-year moon this is a list year. Following 365-day again falls on the same day of the Egyptian with Leo, the sign in which the sun resided at the beginning of the zodiac, commencing of the Egyptian year at the time pCarlsberg the twenty-five of each year 9 was dates used copied. Thirdly, five lines of five on The the

sequential which fifth

numbers

provide

in the next

section

to calculate will occur. and

day of the second month and last part "great" from doubt specifies years

in the cycle years

the new moon

the nine (those with

"small" the added

(those with

12 lunar months) a scheme

remaining already No

intercalary

lunar month),

known

the 12th dynasty78. used to calculate originally lunations=9125

festival days

dates had

from

the 4th century augmented,

BC

onward79,

the cycle

25 years=309

its purpose

and updated,

lation and commentary. They contain the cosmological texts describing the depictions of Nut and the decans found in the cenotaph of Seti I and the tomb ceiling of Ramses IV but date to the first century AD and come from Tebtunis in the Fayum (O.H. Lange/O. Neugebauer, Papyrus Carlsberg No. Text, Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes kosmologischer Bind Nr. in: Transactions of the Skrifter, 1, 2, 1940; Neugebauer, historisk-filologiske n.s. American Philosophical in: JAOS 63, 1943, 124; 32, 1942, 238f.; Neugebauer, Society, Selskab, 1, ein hieratisch-demotischer

76

Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts I, 33-94; pi. 36-43). Stobart Tables: Neugebauer, in: Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, n.s. 32, 1942, texts III, 225-228, astronomical 232-240. Originally 209-263; Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian recherches sur la division published by H.K. Brugsch, Nouvelles sur d'un suivies m6moire des observations plan?taires consignees de 1'anee des anciens Egyptiens, dans quatre tablettes 6gyptiennes 50,

77

en 6criture demotique, 1856. Van der Waerden, in: Koninklijke

Nederlandsche

Akademie

van Wetenschappen,

Proceedings

1947. For Neugebauer's rebuttal, see both citations 78 Beni Hasan I, pi. xxiv-xxv and pages 54, 61. 79 Parker, Calendars, ?? 49-140, pages 13-29.

in footnote 74 above.

26 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

by the addition bution

of the zodiac80.

Not

only

could

its original

value

be maintained

for distri

at the appropriate to of grain to the temples times81, it could also be employed as as a and O. Ashmolean) for casting horoscopes tool lunar locations determine (such or Alexandrian into the Egyptian lunar calendar the Babylonian for converting year82. Lunar fragments, conjunctions the versos are also of three main which exists in sixteen D4876, topic of pVienna to information. Due of which contain the astronomical the interest in astronomical the remaining frag Because the their companions83. evidence, to see how elucidate the astrological the relationship

Neugebauer's labeled ments, papyrus elements dates

and Parker's

were not published as "astrological" with to the Roman be illuminating it would period, and how

to the lunar phenomena, to the lunar cycle of the zodiac 25-year the oldest direct From 73 BC comes related cartonnage culations the zodiacal sign in which of found in Abusir-el-Melek, for Years the moon were

this might

in pCarlsberg 984. on eclipses evidence

lunar eclipses sign in which certain

13146/13147 pBerlin 18 to 28 which correspond resides at the moment

in Egypt. Retrieved from recto contains the cal to 84-73 BC. Given is the

of eclipse

and sometimes

calculations

Babylonian tations or conclusions. 80

to be simultaneously. The astronomical predicted were to those used in contemporary done in a manner similar apparently or not the does other include any omina texts85; papyrus astrological interpre planets

For pCarlsberg 9, see O. Neugebauer/A. der in: Quellen und Studien zur Geschichte Volten, Astronomie und B: in Mathematik Studien. Band 4, 1938, 383-406; Neugebauer, Physik, Abteilung Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, n.s. 32, 1942, 240, 242f.; Neugebauer/Parker,
Egyptian astronomical texts HI, 220-225; K.-T. Zauzich, in: Enchoria 4, 1974, 157f., Taf. 12.

81 82

Parker, Calendars, Van 50, der Waerden, 1947, 785-788.

?? 90-104, pages in: Koninklijke Nederlandsche The author concedes

19-22.

type of conversion A Vienna Demotic

10f.).

van Wetenschappen, Proceedings, remains to be pursued in this area. The is spelled out in col. A, lines 24-27 of a Vienna eclipse papyrus (R.A. Parker, Studies 2, 1959, 5, papyrus on eclipse- and lunar-omina, Brown Egyptological Akadademie that much work

Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts III, 243-250. 84 Whereas contemporary scholarship has sometimes tiptoed around pseudo-science latching onto texts can a be studied in modern scientific context, I doubt very much that the Greek Imperial which world, especially in the first two centuries AD, would have undertaken astronomical pursuits without exploiting the opportunity to seek out astrological meaning. Even Ptolemy, whose Almagest cribes a cinematic "astronomical" model of the cosmos composed the substantial Tetrabiblos
counterpart.

83

des as a

85

O. Neugebauer/R.A. 125, 1981, 312-327.

472-479.

Parker/K.-T. Zauzich, in: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, The verso of the papyrus computes the dates of the solstices and equinoxes; in: Studies presented to Hans Jakob Polotsky, 1981,

see Ibid., 323 and R.A. Parker/K.-T. Zauzich,

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

27

The Vienna D10111) separate five from books,

eclipsethe Fayum

and

lunar-omina

papyrus

(pVienna AD86.

D6278-D6289, It represents and

D6698 a copy

and of two for

dates

to the late 2nd century on eclipses

the first a treatise

of the sun and moon

their omina

of the year, hour the (mis)fortunes of the five depending upon the month occur. or the omina The effects could of the day night, and section of the sky in which on one country or spread over two or more. The second book treats lunar be concentrated countries, omina other than eclipses and their influence over Egypt and "foreigners"87. Nowhere in

86 87

Parker, Vienna Demotic

papyrus. Parker, Vienna Demotic papyrus, could not distinguish any difference between the terms pi itm ("the disk") in the upper half of each column and ic\\ ("moon") in the lower half when they are considered in relation to the vignettes, which are all colored full disks. He concludes that both terms refer to the full moon, not the sun and moon respectively. The vignette in col. VIII (Ibid., 38) is black below and dark yellow above while in col. IX, line 5 (page 42) the text states "if you see the moon at a time when its northern part is black and it southern illuminated ...". These conditions, both associated with the jch, not pi itm, best describe the first or last quarter moon when the darkened

against the celestial background. Parker claims that it does not seem "possible to consider pi itm as referring to the sundisk" (page 35) because the sun's brilliance would preclude situations in which (black) disks or stars are adjacent to or in (hry-ib) it. The moon,
true, as Ptolemy noted (R.R. Newton,

other half can be discerned

he writes,
Ancient

could occult

stars and planets

and the

(page 36); this is

accelerations of

astronomical

observations

1970, 156-164), though these objects would then be behind the lunar disk and not apparent on its face. To occult three stars at once as pi itm does (col. XII, line 2, page 43) would be a phenomenally rare event. (The ancients were well aware of the dark basaltic lunarmares and crater basins, so these should not be considered for explaining black disks and stars.) Without with Parker on this particular text, it must be noted that observations of sunspots (black stars?) were observed perhaps as early as 1200 BC in the Far East. Around 350 BC, Theophrastus of Athens, a pupil of Aristotle, made the earliest recorded observation of sunspots in disagreeing theWest. From 28 BC to AD no less than 112 observations
hen's egg, date, plum, eyes

the earth and moon,

1638 the systematically kept annals of China, Japan, and Korea record of sunspots, describing them as black emanations, or shaped like a
brows, or a three-legged crow. These observations were made in

with

of cases at sunrise/sunset, but other atmospheric conditions such as dust storms, smoke from fires, volcanic activity, and partially cloudy skies obscured the brilliance of the sun enough for the solar disk to be inspected. the majority only rare and fragmentary attestations of sunspots exist due to the misguided respect that the sun was a perfect body paid to the teachings of Aristotle, whose philosophy maintained without blemish. So prevalent and pervasive was this claim that in Einhard's Life of Charlemagne In theWest a sunspot seen around AD 807 had to be Even the Arabs, reinterpreted as a transit of Mercury. excellent astronomical observers and chroniclers but also the heirs toAristotle's works, forsook their well-earned knowledge of the skies for that scholar's pontification. Abu-1-Fadl Ja'far ibn al-Muktaft (AD 907-977) recorded that the philosopher al-Kindf observed a spot on the sun inMay AD 840,

28 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

either

text does year

the zodiac

appear.

Instead,

there is a concordance and the months of

between

months

of the

Babylonian

(transcribed

into Demotic)

the Egyptian

calendar.

Because
month,

the month of Choiak (IV Akhet)

the fourth month of the roving

is equated with Nisan,

calendar would have

the first Babylonian

coincided with the

Egyptian

beginning of the fixed lunar calendar from around 625 to 482 BC. What might be fragments of the name of Darius I in the first book (Text A) tilts the date toward the
lower limit. Thus, derived the introduction of "judicial astrology" (otherwise called the 27th mundane dynasty, of astrology), and omen literature, from Babylonian took place during a late copy, retained its original form without papyrus,

the Vienna

the influence

Hellenistic Matched

astrology88. in character

with

the Vienna

papyrus

but distinct

in its employment

of

the

zodiac is pCairo 31222 originally published by W. Spiegelberg89 and later republished

and explained pCairo's Syria, by G.R. Fayum, Egypt, to the Roman Dated Hughes90. period is to the economic, purpose predict political, (not Parthia)91 from the positions with astrology 415), and perhaps from events the of and military

and Crete

of the planets rising) the same work

in zodiacal

signs

at the time Sirius the sun. Hughes in Book

rises, whether pointed

in conjunction

(heliacal has

out that such judicial of Thebes and (fl. AD

or in opposition to tenor as that found heavily viewed on the

I of Hephaestion tradition

whose

relies

Nechepso-Petosiris

sources92. Most

interestingly,

Hughes

pCairo

which

he (erroneously) attributed to a transit of Venus. As much as Ptolemy had tried, he could not observe actual transits of Mercury and Venus (black disk?) and actual ancient sightings of these
are unknown. of pre-telescopic observations of solar phenomena, see R.J. Bray/R.E. Loughhead, a summary

phenomena For

Sunspots, 1965, 1, and D. Justin Schove, ed., Sunspot cycles, 1983. Might the Vienna text have been a copy of an original treatise describing both lunar and solar omina but altered to describe only the moon out of deference to the prevailing Aristotelian philosophy? If some of the black stars or disks seen on pi itm do refer to sunspots or transits of the inferior planets, the observations Egyptian or Babylonian 88 Parker, Vienna Demotic in the Vienna papyrus would constitute the sole examples of these phenomena sources. from

papyrus, 28-30. Papyrus Florence 8, of unknown provenance and Roman a concordance between the zodiac and the Tanis list of decans beginning with knm{t) date, provides as the first decan of Cancer (Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts III, 252-254, pi. 80C).

this easy transition from the traditional Egyptian division of the heavens into the zodiac, the was set for astrology to grow rapidly. stage 89 W. Spiegelberg, Die demotischen Denkmaler II. Die demotischen Papyrus, CG 40, 1906-1908, 309 and pi. CXXIX. 90 G.R. Hughes, in: JNES 10, 1951, 256-264, pi. X. 91 Parker, Vienna Demotic papyrus, 11, note to line 26. To be read nl Grty "Crete". 92 in: JNES 10, 1951, 257. Hughes,

With

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

29

31222 cussed Whereas

as part of an astrologer's below) which, however,

handbook, would in Greek have

assigning been used

the same

role

to pBerlin

8345

(dis

for casting which a few

personal assist of papyri

in casting have been

there are preserved a natal horoscope interpreted as having

lengthy

works only

would scraps

horoscopes93. an astrologer in Demotic to pCairo

for an individual, come from

the Egyptian

equivalent.

In addition

31222 and pBerlin 8345, yet another fragment may fall into this category. From the
Roman [Gemini], period, pCairo 50143 preserves Of the seven 2 lines of text reading, planets (including to the closest Libra, Aquarius". counting "The 6th god isMercury. the sun and moon), Mercury to the sun. The three signs

is the sixth planet of the zodiac Papyrus consists Babylonian morning

from

the furthest

represent

the triplicity 32, dated

Carlsberg presently methods star95. Because of

of Mercury94. to the 2nd century columns for describing and complex and

AD

and from Tebtunis by procedures

in the Fayum, similar to as a

two

partial

computes

the pattern of

the day-to-day movements

motion of

of Mercury

planet, for natal horoscopy the positions in which of planets at the hour of the patron's birth must be plotted96. For casting an accurate the horoscope, as first required personal data such the day, hour, and location of the client's astrologer such precise calculations are critical Secondly, portenders the tables of the planetary positions would provide could the locations fine-tune of the his pre celestial at the moment future which prospects would

the swift

the innermost

birth.

of birth. Before for furnish wealth, aspects the person

the astrologer under study,

dictions refer

concerning to his handbook,

he would

once more plane pro Berlin

interpretations fame, career,

of single travel,

and combined family, marriage, Papyrus

tary positions creation,

in terms

of health,

proclivities,

and most

other

of the human

experience.

93 94 95 96

Hughes,

10, 1951, 257 and more recently Hughes, Egy. Studies Parker, 53-69. Die demotischen Denkmaler III, 1932, Taf. LIX. Neugebauer, in: JAOS 63, 1943, 124, Spiegelberg, note 53. For date, see Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts III, 218. 143-147; Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts III, 240f.,

in: JNES

R.A. Parker, in:AcOr 26,1962, pi. 79B.

Three other texts of tabulations have defied interpretation, thus they may or may not be astrological: Roman unknown 44, pFlorence period, provenance, preserves various large periods of days, one of which might signify the sidereal period of Jupiter (Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts III, 250-252, pi. 80B); pOslo Inv. 1336, Roman period, Fayum, is a small fragment of two columns, the first of which lists day numbers of mean difference 27;36 days. The sequence of number de crease in column II is similar to that of 31 pCarlsberg (following) (Ibid., 254f., pi. 79C); pCarlsberg 31, 2nd century AD, Tebtunis in the Fayum, consists of four fragments of papyri tabulating numbers associated with years in a linear function, decreasing with a constant difference. The parameters and the value of an individual period are unknown from other contexts (Ibid., 241-243, pi. 79A; Parker, in: AcOr 26, 1962, 143-147).

30 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

8345 which nations) Places

is the remains provides based varied on

of

the interpretive predictions for

section the fates

of an Egyptian of individuals

astrologer's (as opposed respective

handbook, to rulers horoscopic or

the presence

of Venus

and Mercury

in their

(X67COI, loci) Berlin from

at the time of birth97. Roman date within columns the floruit of Egyptian One astrology scholar,

Papyrus and comes

is of undetermined the Fayum. Currently

four partial

are preserved98.

noting that each of the five planets in the dozen Places would have yielded 60 positions
and predictions, columns stantial planets to the extant Saturn when sections postulated complete99. to defining that this Some section of the handbook astrological would have covered dedicate 12 sub of Greek and Latin treatises

the Places

and explaining

the significance

of the presence

relations (i.e., the geometric among planets with respect aspects sun moon were Whether the and in treated is unknown; the signs)100. pBerlin text represents the final columns of the original, which would have begun with and moved to the faster-moving inner planets, and Mercury ending with Venus under to the Each as opposed expositions

or their various

(as is the case with the Stobart Tables, pBerlin 8279, and pLondiniensis 98 [below]).
The sectioning papyrus study adhered twelve Place theory to that is entitled the cosmos into eight Places. of the two remaining

97

in: Egy. Studies Parker, 53 and Hughes, in: JNES 10, 1951, 257. Note that in both pub Hughes, lications Hughes uses the word "Houses" instead of Places for the translation of Demotic c.wy. Further, he equates the Houses with the Lots (Kkf\poi), which is not correct. Thus the technical astrological domicilium) usually twelve stationary divisions of the sky through which representing a distinct aspect of life. The Place is equivalent
as the "mundane house". (Cf. Tester, History, 25, 29; for

was

translation of c.wy is rightly "Places". In ancient astrology, the House (oIkoc;, domus, the zodiacal sign in which the planet was thought to rule. The Place was one of the signs rotated diurnally, each Place to what is known inmodern astrology
see Barton, Anc. astrol., 98f.,

definitions,

Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 7-9.) The source for the interpretations is no doubt the work of Nechepso and Petosiris. The origin of the Places has been attributed to Babylonia in: ZAS 41, 1904, 123), Egypt (Tester, (F. v. Oefele, History, 25), and specifically Hermetic literature (Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 21, 34, 64 note 98 99 7, and 110). Spiegelberg, Dem. Pap. Berlin, 28, pi. 97. Oefele, in: ZAS 41, 1904, 125. Hughes, in: Egy. Studies Parker, 53 postulates 18 to 19 columns. 100 Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos EI. 10,128, trans. Robbins, 272-275 and 272f., note 2. Vettius Valens, Antholo giae IV, 12; IX, 3, ed. Pingree, 170-172, 320-323 respectively; see also Vettius Valens, Anthologies,
Livre I, I, 21, ed., trans., comm. J.-F. Bara, 1989, 180-191. Firmicus Maternus, Mathesis II.XV-XXI,

212-214

and Neugebauer/Van

trans. P. Monat, 159.

1992-1994,

110-122. Manilius,

Astronomica

2.856-970,

trans. Gould,

lvi-lxi,

150

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

31

ni

shny.w

n pi order

ntr

twi/swg

"the

influences

of Venus/Mercury"101. whether the influence

There of the planet

follow will

in en

standard hance

each Place

and commentary

the prospects of health, wealth, and luck. Beginning with reputation, the ascendant is given in Egyptian. These (rc-hc.w) the name of each, where preserved, to the more common in meaning and Latin Greek of the correspond designations are the cardines, Places followed Places102. The most significant by the swSp (&7CO KA,{|iaTa; Greek loci 6, 9, and 12) that precede ll)103. the three upper cardines, and finally the twr (no

or penalize

analogue;

loci 7 and

The Demotic ostraca, in conjunction with pBerlin 8345 show the Places to be of key
importance could in casting be filled would a nativity. When in. These are the Demotic the client's horoscopic for casting hour of birth was which known, a template quite per ostraca, a Thompson

ceptively prefer labeling were the scrap paper upon which with other finally astrologer any planet planets near them), each

"elements

the locations by

Indeed, nativity"104. of the sun and moon were recorded of the signs of the zodiac swSp,

the ostraca (along and the

followed

the location which

within

of the Places,

are grouped be from this

by cardines, "chart" that

twr, and

the remaining could

three Places. to his

It would

the Egyptian of prospects

refer back

section

of handbook

listing

interpretations

for the future by the presence of specific planets (viz. pBerlin 8345) or zodiacal signs
within the Places105. indicating likely such labor actually with occurred Tables are found in Thebes106, in pLondiniensis perhaps 98, which part Results was most

discovered

the Stobart

constituting

col. I, line 1;Mercury: col. HI, line 10. As Hughes, in: JNES 10, 1951, 259, note 1 points ni out, "the influences or results of shny.w has the specialized meaning of xd drcoTeXteuaxa, positions of the stars on human destiny". Hughes' article translated and interpreted pCairo 31222, an astral omen text entitled ni shny.w Spd.t "the influences of Sothis", a fixed star. 102 H. Thompson, in: PSBA 34, 1912, 228-231. For the Greek and Latin see designations, Neugebauer/Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 7f.; Bouche-Leclercq, L'astrologie grecque, 276-288, 415-419; Boll, Sternglaube, 62f. 103 in: JAOS 63, 1943, 118f. Neugebauer, 104 in: PSBA 34, 1912, 227. Thompson, 105 The scraps of papyri constituting P. Vindob. D. 6614 (ed. E.A.E. Reymond, From the contents of the libraries of the Suchos temples in the Fayyum, Part 2. From ancient Egyptian hermetic writings, 1977, 143-157), whose precise meaning understandably escaped Reymond, preserve predictions for one who is born in the Place (not House!) of the "goddess" when one of the two luminaries is in it. The sections containing predictions when the other five planets are respectively present have been lost (Hughes, in: Egy. Studies Parker, 69). 106 F.L1. Griffith, in: ZAS 38, 1900, 71f., note 2.

101 Venus:

32 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

of an astrologer's totally recording known ascendant, column destroyed,

kit107. Divided the papyrus

into six columns, commences in Greek

the first and with

last of which detailed

are nearly horoscope and the five the

a highly

the positions planets MC, from IMC,

and astrological outermost to

characterization innermost (columns

of the sun, moon, I-II). Column The

III fixes last four

and descendant 15 lines of column

in that order, IV have

then four Lots.

lines of

III and first

been

erased108. When

the text resumes

there is detailed discussion of the Periods of life and predictions regarding the fortunes
of the client Following during these periods portion of his life109. whose astronomical data permit a date the Greek of the horoscope,

of AD 95 to be assigned110, a different hand takes up the discussion of the Periods of life

section of text (col. IV[end]-col. VI) was noted by Coptic111. This very difficult to constitute and H.B. Van Hoesen a long excursus on astrological Neugebauer doctrine, more "much the treatises of the than fifth the factual state resembling century simple on papyrus" ments in the bulk of horoscopes because of the use of the Coptic condi tional, "which would fit much better a general astrological treatise than an individual in Old

horoscope"112.

In a recent forms

reanalysis past)

of the conclusion had been

above,

T. Barton from F.LI.

questions Griffith's

why

certain

verb to be horos

(the Coptic

reinterpreted

translation

conditionals,

for Neugebauer

and Van Hoesen's

understanding

of the Old Coptic

107 Barton,

Anc.

astrol.,

132.

108 Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 28-32. Neugebauer/Van 109 and medicine under the Ibid., 32, 37f.; T. Barton, Power and knowledge: astrology, physiognomies, Roman Empire, 1994, 87; Barton, Anc. astrol., 132. For the definition of the Periods of life, see lOf. Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, Neugebauer/Van 110 Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 34f. Thus, the date of its composition was sometime Neugebauer/Van in the early second century, contemporary with the Stobart Tables. 111 The Old Coptic section was originally published by C.W. Goodwin, in: ZAS 6, 1868, 18-24. Griffith's (in: ZAS 38, 1900, 71-93) work was the basis for an update by J. Cerny/P.E. Kahle/R. A. Parker, pi. XI-XII. Griffith (page 76) noted that the bad writing and spelling made him suspect that the author was not Egyptian, and that his knowledge "was of the language insufficient to enable him to write it phonetically with correctness, or even so as to be properly intelligible". The author of the Greek text sometimes used demotic signs in the horoscopic "chart" to spell the names of the decans (Neugebauer/Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 29). We might have a case in which an Egyptian astrologer is better acquainted with the Greek language and script 1957, 86-100, in: JEA 43,

than the other astrologer. At this early stage of experimentation, there would be no standardized of transcribing Egyptian into such an alien system as Greek, trial and error and idiosyncratic method being the only path. There remain several ways of today transcribing languages, e.g. Arabic and Chinese, into Latin characters. method
112 Neugebauer/Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 35, 37.

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

33

as a treatise had hinged of the Coptic on J. Cerny's condi view of the evolution - an re which might have been preceded tional113 by an unstated assumption opinion the case for pLondiniensis itself. Barton makes the nature of the horoscope 98 garding cope being opus the only to provide original more in the Neugebauer and Van Hoesen (not retrospective) horoscope a treatise but a one not than and that it is in fact prediction, extracted and vague from a treatise, an actual which rough draft horoscopic refine

compilation analysis ment with

of predictions

contradictory own to fit the client's

pronouncements

had yet

to undergo

circumstances114.

First published by Spiegelberg115, who dated it to the 1st century AD, O StraBburg
D521 has most likely been explained this text of only poses116. Within terms and associations. astrological of the 5 living the planet stars" gods pi followed with which 5 by as a document for teaching pur by W.M. Muller 15 lines are enumerated and critical Egyptian unique wn The first line is labeled pi pi 5 siw cnh "the list of the planets and, for the first

time, with name(s) The Stobart sidered from

names the Egyptian they are associated117. siw cnh irm ntr.w

Lines

5f. conclude rn.w dr.w

this section are) the

the statement of order Tables, maleficent the beneficent

rn n pi

nb r-ir

"(these

the 5 living in which

stars and all the gods which constitute are mentioned the planets from diverges 8345. In this ostracon, are separated the planets by

their names"118. that of pBerlin influences one 8279, the

and pBerlin (Saturn planets

whose

are con (Mercury)

and Mars) (Venus

the ambivalent expressed

and Jupiter),

"an idea also

in the younger

Babylonian

order"119.

The second half of the ostracon is titled: pi wn ni si.w nty sr pi ibd 12 "the list of the
stars which technical are name spread (among) the 12 months"120. each There for the zodiac in Egyptian, sign being no collective is apparently a si.w of) stars" as "(group

the conclusion
months, [one year designated

states: dmd si.w 12 pi

star] to the month". by the old system

ibd 1[2 wc? siw] r pi

plus season,

ibd "Total 12 stars, 1[2]

of beginning the Egyptian with III Peret,

Contained

in the list are the months

of ordinal month

113 Cerny/Kahle/Parker,

in: JEA 43,

1957, 90 note 118, followed

by Neugebauer/Van

Hoesen,

Greek

horoscopes, 114 Barton, Power and knowledge, 86f., 92; Barton, Anc. astrol., 131, 133. 115 W. Spiegelberg, in: OLZ 5, 1902, cols. 6-9. 116 W.M. Muller, in: OLZ 5, 1902, cols. 135f. Further corrections and comments on O D521 were pub lished by Muller in: OLZ 6, 1903, cols. 8f. 117 Note that the anonymous astrologer authors of the Greek pLondiniensis 130 and pOxyrhynchus 307 employ the Greek equivalents (Neugebauer/Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 19-24). 118 in: JAOS 63, 1943, 121. Neugebauer, 119 Ibid., 122; Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts III, 236. 120 in: JAOS 63, 1943, 121. Neugebauer,

33, 37, 162.

34 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

which

is coupled

of the 12 signs noted, for

the sign in which out of the zodiac are written time122. corresponds to Scorpio, calendar The

to Aries,

the sun resided in Egyptian

at the vernal

in the same

equinox121. All text, as Spiegelberg

the first I Akhet

Because

and the sun never in the Roman sun was located

stands

in this sign during

the first month must be

of the Alexandrian

period,

the one used

in the ostracon.

calendar the Egyptian on the Egyptian in Scorpio

New Year's Day from about 370 to 250 BC, and in Scorpio on any day in IAkhet from
370 must to 130 BC123. These have attained early dates designate an air of authority realities of which the time of original composition, not to have updated to for the copiest of O D521 the 1st century AD. Perhaps the source of the

conform information treatise

to the calendrical for O D521 was

an Egyptian circulating

parallel

or precedent

to the Nechepso-Petosiris

or similar

compendium

contemporaneously.

P. CtYBR The vides a new x corpus

inv. 1132(B)124 of demotic horoscopic documentation described at some length above pro

the lexical addition

and conceptual P. CtYBR foundation inv. 1132(B), for understanding to the sparce astrological literature written in Egyptian. 19cm Measuring retains a title running completely but come horizontally extant, along the second and and the the top above three on a rough totally Greek

17cm,

the fragment

columns, surface of

the first of which the papyrus) The papyrus

is nearly fragmentary

(written

reconstructable, from Tebtunis,

third nearly discernable

destroyed. letters on
turies125.

may

have

the few

the verso

are Greek

names

dating

palaeographically

to the 2nd

or 3rd cen

121 in: JAOS 63, 1943, 121. Neugebauer, 122 in: OLZ 5, 1902, col. 8. The Stobart Tables and pBerlin 8279 designate all the signs Spiegelberg, by their demotic sigla. The three StraBburg ostraca write out the names instead, all 12 signs being represented among these Medinet Habu horoscopes; seeW. Spiegelberg, in: ZAS 48,1910,146-150. 123 in: Transactions of the American Neugebauer, Philosophical Society, n.s. 32, 1942, 246f.; in: JAOS 122. 63, 1943, Neugebauer, 124 I would like to extend my thanks to Dr. Robert G. Babcock, Edwin J. Beinecke Curator, Early Books and Manuscripts, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, for his kind to publish this text. Dr. Ruth A. Duttenhoefer, Papyrologist, Beinecke Library, lent her expertise to determine that the Greek name list is most likely on the recto. She has also informed me that the Demotic is clearly written against the fibers. 125 S. Emmel, The Yale papyrus collection, 1993, no pagination; entry under P. CtYBR inv. 1132. The permission is one of a substantial number purchased in Cairo in early April 1931. According to the are the from now dealer, papyri Abutig (ancient Apotheke) and Tebtunis. (See Depuydt, in: Enchoria 21, 1994, 1, note 1.) It was also in 1931 that important papyri, which formed the nucleus of the papyrus

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

35

Each column contains four headers, above a five every one of these in turn centered a name a of line entry of number ranges introducing non-luminary planet. The headers names of the signs of the zodiac, are the Egyptian with Aries (the vernal commencing to be easily restored. and thus permitting the last four in the destroyed column equinox), a section must of an astrologer's papyrus represent fragment as unequal the Terms pentamerous elucidating (6pioc, fines, termini), defined arc are slotted of each sign, in which the five planets in varying of the 30? This When handbook divisions

sequence. of a planet at the moment the position of birth is present within the degree range a as to to it is be "in the X". act said Terms of The Terms "fine assigned thereby planet, own lend nature to their the beneficial/maleficent influences; they tuning" horoscopic ramifications of a specific planet's presence within a sign and its aspects with other in the nativity126.

planets

collections

in Florence and Copenhagen, were obtained from Tebtunis (S. Donadoni, in: Acme 8, 1955, 74f.). Among them were pCarlsberg 1 (cosmological text), a papyrus for interpreting dreams (A. Volten, Demotische Traumdeutung (Pap. Carlsberg XIII und XIV verso), AnAe 3, 1942),

pCarlsberg 9 (lunar tables), pCarlsberg 31 (number tabulation associated with years), and Carlsberg 32 (motions of Mercury). P. CtYBR inv. 1088(B) and 1168(B), both currently unpublished, may concern astrological matters. Clearly further research is warranted to identify where centers for pursuits existed here. The most obvious answer to this is that in the cosmopolitan, diverse ethnically Fayum the temple libraries, which conserved and generated many genres of literary and scientific writings, counted astrology among the spheres of knowledge taught to young scribes. The temple being the traditional Egyptian center for learning and literacy, the priests must astrological have considered astrology a native subject whether it had been borrowed from their Greek overlords or concocted in Egypt by Egyptians writing inGreek (Nechepso and Petosiris). I agree with Depuydt that P. CtYBR inv. 1132(B) is significant partly because "it shows that native Egyptians used terms as an astrological medium in their mother tongue" (in: Enchoria 21, 1994, 6). However, this should
be surprising since other standard horoscopic tools such as the cardines, planets, zodiacal signs,

not

Places, Lots, triplicities, etc. are also attested in Demotic. I disagree strongly with Depuydt (Ibid., 7f.) that political motives need to be pondered "for the Sitz-im-Leben of the Demotic specimen" and that it was merely a "show-and-tell" piece for which "elucidation was the unique privilege of the class". If was elucidation the of the Greek ruling class, why ruling Greek-speaking unique privilege were the equally potent Lots, Places, etc. "allowed" to be used in Demotic horoscopes? And why are there interpretive treatises (pBerlin 8345, P. Vindob. D. 6614, and pLondiniensis 98) inDemotic and Old Coptic? Obviously, the natives had positions, power, influence, and money enough to seek knowledge of their fortunes and fate. Astrology was not the sole prerogative of Roman or Greek. That Terms have yet to appear in the few published Demotic horoscopes is probably owed to the statistics of preservation. They often do not appear in Greek horoscopes, either. For the contents of the libraries of the temples of Sobek, which included P. Vindob. D. 6614, see ed. Reymond, Suchos temples. 126 For a definition of Terms, see Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, Bouche-Leclercq, L'astrologie grecque, 206, and Neugebauer/Van 12. This handbook might have been kept in the temple archives.

36 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

Whereas have In his

no other Demotic the systems Ptolemy opus, most

or original commonly

ancient

text

list the Terms,

the Greek

authors

elucidated Tetrabiblos

employed

notes which he

the "Egyptian" states is based planet

by their contemporary astrologers. no doubt derived from the system, on the government to rule)127. The compels and Ptolemy the quantity a given of the (zodiacal) Egyptian system its

Nechepso-Petosiris houses of Terms (i.e.,

the sign

in which by logic each

a certain

is said

being

favored and the

the majority of

of astrologers of planets

to criticize of degrees

inconsistency assigned

the ordering notes

to them within by or one which

sign. He

that the first Term within exalted within

sign might

be occupied triplicity,

the ruler of a house,

the planet

the sign,

the ruler of a

a zodiacal has no special "influence" at all within sign. Ptolemy further questions the sense of the sum derived from the addition of degrees each planet a human the twelve holds among signs for determining lifespan. As the consummate astronomer degrees Ptolemy dismantles the assertion that the determination times of the order and (i.e., of the Terms are linked with the sum of all the rising

of the planets

for the two signs each planet rules). Almost two thousand years later S.J. Tester showed that even the genius of Ptolemy could not unravel of the Terms, the complexities and that when several factors are employed to decode how the totals are reckoned, it becomes apparent Ptolemy does that the Terms never were indeed originally based on rising times128.

He

defines the Terms, the reader knows them and their usage. assuming a table of the Egyptian and the number of planets of degrees provide sequence on them within each to before the "Chaldean" by occupied sign system, which moving to of the a the This assigns priority position system produces planet ruling triplicity129. regular, repetitive term sequence of planets and assignment of the number of degrees, from 8 in the first found less to 4 for the last130. The mechanical in the eyes of practicing planets Caldean

credence

to maleficent and first places for an aspiring client131. horoscope degrees In his attempt to formulate a viable

system, though logical, and its assignment of more astrologers, cast an optimistic could not have helped a chaotic,

system

from what

seems

irrational Ptolemy yet

one

and another which is suspected of being (the "Egyptian"), to have come upon a damaged which manuscript yielded

too regular, a consistent

claims

believable

127 Tetrabiblos 1.20, trans. Robbins, 90-97. 128 For the details of the complicated argument, see Tester, History, 74-76 and his use of the clima and rising times in Neugebauer/Van Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 3-5, 11. 129 Tetrabiblos 1.21, trans. Robbins, 98-101. 130 For clarification, see the table in BouchS-Leclercq, L'astrologie grecque, 210. 131 Comment by trans. F.E. Robbins, 98, note 1, citing Bouche-Leclercq, L'astrologie grecque, 210.

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

37

rational Despite "ancient system Unlike does

pattern his noble

taking attempt,

into

consideration labors

the exaltations, never like

Ptolemy's

manuscript" of his own manufacture Ptolemy's work,

sounds

suspiciously in historical "gives

and houses132. triplicities, saw practice, and the mention of an a the astronomer's method of veiling

which

guise. a brief theoretical

background

not offer

guidance

tical handbook Egyptian only with

for practice"133, that of Vettius Valens provided from which nativities could be cast and interpreted. Valens' and attribution of degrees such the client assigned happy such of degrees, deviating from

but for astrology more of a prac method is the

in sequence

that given

in Tetrabiblos Term is imbued would be

in the number "influences"

to three planets union,

in Libra134. Each and

as beauty, born

instability, might system

so on, which

characteristics course of

under Beside

conditions archaic

expect of

to experience

in the Valens

his/her

lifetime135.

the

Critodemus136,

132 Tetrabiblos 1.21, trans. Robbins, 102-107. 133 Firmicus Maternus, Ancient astrology: theory and practice. Matheseos Libri VIII, trans. J.R. Bram, 1975, 4; Barton, Anc. astrol., 138f.; Tester, History, 70; Cramer, ARLP, 190. On the usefulness of tables, see Barton, Power and knowledge, 201f., accompanying mathematical note 225 and note 230. For manuscripts attributed to Valens, see Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 444f. 134 Livre I 1,3, trans. Bara, 78-90. Mercury: 5? (Vettius Valens) versus 8? (Ptolemy); Anthologies, Jupiter: 8? versus 7?; andMars: 4? versus 2?. See also Anthologiae Additamenta 5, ed. Pingree, 358. of Thebes, cf. Dorothei Sidonii Ptolemy follows Dorotheus of Sidon as found in Hephaestion Carmen Astrologicum, ed. D. Pingree, 1976, 429-431. 135 Barton, Anc. astrol., 114-131 casts an amusing, yet highly instructive natal horoscope for Prince employing the influences of the Terms as stated in Vettius Valens' handbook to foresee the prince's future. Concerning ourselves only with the influences of the Terms, the positions of five anciently-known planets at the time of Charles' birth (leaving aside the more complex issue of the Terms of the aspects, i.e., geometrical planetary relations such as triplicities), we may cite the following, using Dorotheus as our authority, to indicate some experiences to which Charles might Charles, face and to he and is all II 33.11, ed. Pingree, eyes, agreeable (page 127; Astrologicum 235). Venus is in the Terms of Jupiter (in Libra) - Charles "should work as a steward for women and amass some wealth thereby" (page 128; Astrologicum II 31.2, ed. Pingree, 233). is in the Terms and House of Mars (in Scorpio) - Charles "will be an insignificant fool, Mercury a shameless liar, neither believing in religion nor good works, and fond of adultery. He may act consort and with treacherously magicians. He will receive hostility from the people on the grounds that he is an untrustworthy reprobate" (page 127; Astrologicum II 32.3, ed. Pingree, 233). Mars is in the Terms of Mercury (in Sagittarius) - Charles "will be reasonable, keen to marry, clear (in Taurus) II 30.4, ed. Pingree, 232). thinking and intelligent" (page 127; Astrologicum the a is with Obviously astrologer dealing disparate series of contradictory variables even with only The moon look forward or has already experienced: is in the Terms and House of Venus - Charles will have a handsome a handbook without

38 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

conserves luminaries fixed diurnal, The to have

another among

system

of Terms

of unknown Known of the

authorship,

this one

including

the two a one

the five planets. to each

number

of degrees

as the system of the heptazone, seven of two signs and consists

it assigns charts,

the other fourth

nocturnal137. AD senator from the only writer Firmicus Maternus a treatise in Latin dedicates chapter of his work a planet them and stating that when is found in Syracuse, if it were in its zodiacal Egyptian Later house. He thereafter the as

century

composed

a major

astrological by defining there according in Vettius

to the Terms, its own records helpful Terms

commencing its influence exactly

is as

the Terms embellishments

to Ptolemy's Valens138.

scheme

and without such

found

authors

and compilers

Paul of Alexandria 415), and Rhetorius

Ptolemy's Egyptian The Egyptian Sidon, work whose in Greek with

(fl. AD 380), Anonymous of 379, Hephaestion of Thebes (fl. AD the Egyptian (fl. AD 500) either restate the Terms according to
method or employ it in casting assured model of Terms exists had been horoscopes139. early on. Dorotheus prominence of fragments140, Doretheus to himself composed commences as the king of his the of

system Pentateuch verse.

in a substantial horary and natal

number

Covering

astrology, referring

Pentateuch

a reference

to Hermetic

tradition,

four Terms, and though certain predictions ring true while others are not applicable, it is left to the astute expert to edit and tailor from what knowledge he might have of his client. 136 Cf. Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 424-426. Critodemus was an Egyptian astrologer who flourished in the late 1st century BC or early 1st century AD. His system of Terms followed a consistent pattern six planets, excluding the moon, "are listed in descending (Aries to Virgo) or ascending to (Libra Pisces) order; the first planet of each sign is the second planet of the preceding sign; and the first planet in Aries is the Sun" (Ibid., 212f.). IV 26, ed. Pingree,
Mathesis

in which

137 Anthologiae
grecque, 138 Firmicus

193; for explanation

trans. Monat,

and chart, see Bouch6-Leclercq,

158f., note 23.

L'astrologie

213f. Maternus, II, 6, 98-100,

139 Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 220, 227. Paul of Alexandria: Pauli Alexandrini Elementa Apotelesmatica Ch. 3, ed. E. Boer, 1958, 11-14, 103; See citations inYavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 437f. and Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 236-239; Tester, History, 74. 1, 194-211; Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 159, 239-241. of Thebes: ed. Pingree, infra, (see index in vol. 1, page 424 and Hephaestion Apotelesmaticorum, vol. 2, page 451 for citations of 6piov); see citations in Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 429; Bouche Anonymous Leclercq, L'astrologie
81f.

of 379: CCAG V

grecque, xiv; Gundel/Gundel, See citations

Barton, Anc.

Astrologumena,

241-244; Barton, Anc. 439f.

astrol.,

Rhetorius
Astrologumena,

the Egyptian:
249-151;

in Yavanajataka,
astrol., 82; Tester,

ed. Pingree,
History, 94f.

and Gundel/Gundel,

140 Cramer, ARLP,

186, note 308.

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

39

Egypt

instructing

his

son Hermes141. has now been

First dated

thought

to have

been

late Hellenistic likely a con

authority142, temporary fragmentary

Dorotheus

to the 1st century and Manetho, It was he who

AD143, most both wrote could of whose

of Thrasyllus144, works

and senior

of Anubio

show his strong system of Terms,

influence145. which though

surviving verse the mnemonic and more

for the Egyptian readily

complex,

be retained

Terms is precisely list of Egyptian Ptolemy's and compilers, the tradition carried on by all later astrologers who that of Dorotheus147, own more the system over Ptolemy's reasoned maintained (and consciously) carefully highly successful; revision. his verses Not to the success of the author's and as a testament fortuitously, on the Terms were excerpted of Thebes and have by Hephaestion intentions, come down

perpetuated146. tactic was Dorotheus'

to the present148.

Commentary Owing touch to Depuydt's upon what 1 has The recent publication, only a truncated commentary is necessary to

he did not mention. been constructed preceding primarily each according signify to the layout the sequence system of P. CtYBR of each planet are inv. and there those of

Figure 1132(B). number

numbers

column

of degrees

attributed

to them of degrees

in the "Egyptian" (e.g., Libra

of Terms. the first

Where

is variation

in the number

and Scorpio)

... to have claimed also "to have traveled in Egypt and Babylon gathered the best of the sayings of the first authorities" (Ibid., 58). 142 117-121. Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, 143 Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 426f.; Tester, History, 80, 88f. 144 Cramer, ARLP, 186, note 311. 145 Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 422 and 435f.; Gundel/Gundel, Astrologumena, fig. 2. Very little is astrol., 57. Dorotheus whose name suggests a native Egyptian, a Greek living in Egypt, or a the writer with Egyptian tradition. His reputation stems from having pseudonym associating a on poem composed astrology in elegiacs. Manetho, born AD 80 was associated with the revelation of magical doctrines and appears in connection with a compendium of astrological poetry titled the known about Anubio(n), ed. A. Koechly, Apotelesmatika (Manethonis Apotelesmaticorum, 1858) and is said to have come from Sebennytos. Some of his works were burned as magical texts in AD 487/8. 146 Barton, Power and knowledge, 90, citing Bouche-Leclercq, L'astrologie grecque, 207f., notes that an memory played important part in the practice of astrology. In a society where literacy was not common, and books not written for ready reference, oral tradition would be the main purveyor of knowledge. 147 Tester, History, 90. 148 I 1, 9; 28; 47; 66; 86; 105; 124; 144; 164; 183; 202; 222, ed. Apotelesmaticorum Pingree, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 27, 29 (=Astrologicum, ed. Pingree, 429-431).

141 Barton, Anc.

4f., 7,

40 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

Dorotheus, longer plained extant

the second

of Ptolemy.

The

planetary

sequence

in the last (left) according

column,

no ex

in the Beinecke

papyrus,

is reconstructed

to the principle

below.

Title
If preserved, Demotic the horizontal heading at the top of this need D the papyrus not require 521 there would have yielded the definition of the Terms. been each However, any unknown is no special technical collective ibd 12

nomenclature name for

to have the zodiac,

lost, for in O. StraBburg constellation being

designated

as a siw and

the total

"the twelve months." Based on this and other texts (pCairo 31221 and pBerlin 8345),
which begin with [pi wn] the formulaic ni] heading sw.w(l) which ''ni shny.w [cnh.wl n X", reconstruct the influences The ni s[hny.w nty sr nil] (among) might ibd n rn[-f]... the specified one tentatively "the list of

of the living

planets

are distributed

months".

first preserved

ink149. The
vation.

in red, the remainder of signs done in black group of signs is written reser last visible I have read with extreme group, over the second column,

Column 1 (right)
The text begins in the orthodox of manner signs with with Aries, the sign of the Spring charts equinox. by the writings Comparing one gets: Neugebauer150, Aries: The spelling the four the palaeolgraphic provided

with

animal-hide

determinative

is most

similar

to that found

in

pCarlsberg 9 col. I, 11 and O StraBburg D 521, line 7 (which deletes the animal-hide
determinative). Taurus: stroke151 The orthography phonetic appears more is surely is unique, complement serpentine intended written phonetically instead with upraised-arms steer ki and sign. The in Aries,

(with added

'aleph) than

of the standard

determinative though this

the animal-hide below).

determinative

is what

(see Saturn

Gemini: The full writing is most similar to two Medinet Habu ostraca, O. Strassburg (line 7) and O. Thompson I/O. Strassburg (line 20). The htre sign in CtYBR has two
parallel col. horizontal strokes, a feature found in the symbol used in Stobart Table C2 rev., I, 5.

149 siw is clear. The vertical sign after this word could be the plural -w ending or the beginning
of cnh.

sign

150 in: JAOS 63, 1943, pi. 1, 3, and 4. Neugebauer, 151 W. Erichsen, Demotisches Glossar, 1954, 554 right-hand column, bottom

left.

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

41

\pi wn] ni s[hny.w ni] sw.w(l) [ti nt ith/one who draws]

[cnh.wl nty sr nil] pi me/the

ibd n rn[=f] isw/ihe ram

lion pi

(1)12? [* Jupiter
(2)5? (3)4? [Venus [Mercury

?/l]
?/?] ?/?]

(1)6?
(2)5? (3)7?

Jupiter
Venus Saturn

[7]/[l]
13/8 19/[14]

(1)6?
(2)6? (3)8?

7/1 Jupiter
Venus Mercury 12/8 18/13

(5)4? (4)5?

[Mars [Saturn

26/2]4 30]/27

(5)6? Mars (4)6? Mercury

ti rpilthe maiden

[2]4/[20] 30/25
pi kilthz

(4)5? (5)5?

*c Mars l Saturn
bull

24/19 30/25

[pi hr cnhlthe goat face]

(3)8?
(4)4?

Venus] ["
[^Saturn]

] 6/1
111]

(2)10?
(5)2?

iuVenus
Saturn

6/1
[12orl3]/7

(1)8?
(4)5?

*cn Venus
Saturn

7/1
12/8

(1)7? (2)7? (5)4?

[Mercury] [l Jupiter] [TMars]

111] 111] 30/?]

(4)7? Mars [18/130rl4] (3)4? Jupiter [25]/19 To 30/26 (1)7? Mercury

ti ihi/the horizon pi

(2)6? Mercury (3)8? Jupiter (5)3? Mars

pair

18/13 24/19 30/25

[pi mw/thc water]

htrelthe

(1)7? (4)5? (3)7? (2)6? (5)5?

111] 111] 111] [Jupiter [Venus 111] 30/?] f?c Saturn Mercury [* [Mars

* Saturn (1)6? (5)472?Mars (3)877? Jupiter * (4)7? *Venus (2)578? Mercury

ti dlilthe scorpion

7/1 13/8 19/[14] 25/[20] 30/2[6]

pi

*c * (1)6? Mercury 12/7 (4)7? Mars 18/13 (2)6? Jupiter (3)5? Venus (5)6? Saturn
crab

6/1

24/19 30/25

[ni tbtelthe two fish]

knhdlthc

(4)9? [?Mars (2)4? [*c Jupiter (1)12? [ntVenus

(5)2? (3)3? * [Saturn [l Mercury

?/l] ?/?] ?/?]

?/?] 30/?]

** Mars (1)7? (4)675? Jupiter H Venus (2)4?

(3)8? (5)6? Mercury Saturn

6/1 12/7 18/13

24/19 25/30

(1)7? (4)7? (2)6?

(5)4? (3)6?

0i Mars 6/1 T Jupiter H Venus

Saturn Mercury

13/7 19/14
25/20 30/26

c H *?

= ruler of the solar house = exaltations; signs in which planets are influential = depression = ruler of the lunar house = ruler of triplicity: day/night/both

Fig.

1: P. CtYBR

inv. 1132(B).

42 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

Cancer: The orthography is akin to O. Strassburg O D521

Habu ostracon O Strassburg CtYBR col. D 270 (line 2). Whereas of the crab, these determinative, Table A obv., includes the symbol otherwise

(line 8) and theMedinet

have alone area only a star used in Stobart

examples

I, 12. An

the crab sign, designating the crab sign to precede before being

is the dark feature of CtYBR surrounding interesting was expunged an erasure. Either the star determinative to allow sign had initially been drawn unsatisfactorily and

it, or the crab redrawn.

then erased

Planets

(all columns) and col.

is usually (swgi): The name of the planet spelled skb(w). Neugebauer Parker list swgi as a "rare Demotic variant"152. This spelling appears in pCairo 50143 8345 col. IV, 6. I, 3 and as swg in pBerlin Mercury Venus pronunciation determinative Mars determinative attribution in pBerlin determinative determinative table C, rev. (pi ntr tiy): Written of dwi. after (Hr-t?y): The phonetically except with the demonstrative here tfy-sign to reflect

the

spelling,

for the presence table C, rev.

of the Horus-standard

ntr,

is that of Stobart the Red" (dSr),

II, 26.

"Horns

denoting

the sanguine to Ares,

of the red planet 8279 II, 6,

the knife "Bloody" considering nature of the god, an aspect present in the Greek the god of war. Mars is written with the knife alone Madi other ostraca153, examples orthography and with are written Hr-tS the knife without is Hr-t$e and star

or perhaps

the three Medinet 31222, line 8. All The

in pCairo except I, 4,

the knife in Stobart

for pCtYBR.

standard to pCtYBR.

the example

closest

Jupiter after which

As the case with Mars, the name of Jupiter is spelled (Hr-piSti): are the signs often used as shorthand to designate the planet (e.g., the names

out fully, in pBerlin

8279 IX, 20 and XXI, 9).

Saturn with actly (Hr-pi-ki): Like for Mars and Jupiter, that of Saturn for bull commences is spelled ex a the Horus sign and Horus-standard (see above); here determinative. the animal-hide The word sign

as that for Aries

is clearly

that and not

serpent.

Column 2 (middle)
Leo: diagonal Unlike variant, after all extant the others examples, having the mi-sickle the horizontal strokes following commencing sign with mi. followed. the word vertical slash. for lion is the is The word instructive

not preserved to know

the two vertical and what type

It would

have

been

whether

of determinative

152 153

Neugebauer/Parker, Egyptian astronomical texts III, 180. Four examples: O. Firenze 1154, 1060a and b, and 1066.

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

43

Virgo: writing

The

feminine

article

and star determinative

are lost. Otherwise,

this is a fuller

than all other The traces 50143

Libra: similar most

examples. seem to indicate I, 4. In pCtYBR, table A

a unique

rendering

of

the

sign,

to pCairo similar

the determinative obv. I, 3.

preceding

perhaps most the star sign seems

to that in Stobart

Scorpio: The
attestations. determinative; pCarlsberg The

spelling
remains of CtYBR

includes
a large, was

the final
elegant

'aleph of dli,
are

not written
before

in other
the star in

perhaps 9 I, 8.

written

scorpion the same way

present

as that partially

preserved

The

spellings

for all planets

and preserved which texts

signs

of every

the zodiac case

are consistently the "sigla" 31222,

charac otherwise the ostraca that

by full phonetic as shorthand employed Medinet Madi,

terized

writings in other

in nearly (especially

include

pBerlin tables). One

8279,

pCairo

and sometimes

in the Stobart

is left with

the impression

pCtYBR inv. 1132(B) represents an inclusive methodological

systems those attests for designating astrological been not signs. Further, the spellings and region. (and said to have papyri a common method is correct "consists which derived from Thebes

nexus between the two

show similarities in which with case it

the Fayum,

Depuydt only variation

noting

tied to any particular that across columns in position He

thus within a malefic out

of switches is ambiguous."

between points

the triplicities) the or Saturn Mars, planet, of degrees

and Mercury,

further

that the number

attributed to each planet in the first two columns is indeed 6?, deviating only by having
one instance preliminary The arc being of one planet's can be developed analysis papyrus, is the same 5? and another further. 7? to compensate154. However, this

is not randomly of though unique, arranged. The sequence as that of the In Taurus and Gemini, the planets system. Egyptian malefic has been moved from fourth position to second, in Scorpio it is the benefic has been moved. in Virgo, both systems Also, (Jupiter) which except respectively give to the same planet. Obviously, first position are related. the two systems in Aries The third column also shares a relationship with the 7toa6Tr|<; (the number of degrees

Beinecke

assigned to each planet) in theEgyptian system, which gives an imposing 12? to the first planet in Sagittarius and Pisces (Jupiter and Venus respectively). Breaking the 6? ? 1?
rule of the first two columns, the traces corresponding to Sagittarius assign 3? and 4? res

154

Depuydt,

in: Enchoria

21, 1994, 8.

44 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

pectively correct planets. But numbers chart

to the (see fig.

of the planetary two planets155. If the reconstruction sequence to the maleficent have been assigned these degrees would 2 below) last

is

is there an underlying logic so that Jupiter = 1, Venus for the first eight with

to these alterations? = 2, Mercury = 3,

Assigning = Mars signs

the sequence 4, and Saturn generates

in Aries = 5, the

constructed apparent

(preserved) Leo,

zodiacal

an echeloned forward point one

sequence,

beginning

in which

the planet signs,

has moved at which

in the zodiacal till it heads the planetary sequence position back to the fourth position and moves forward once more. the destroyed of the triplicity. planets. Columns section Note I-IV of the papyrus, that column share V a sequence remains

it reverts into

Extrapolating

this pattern

can be suggested the domain

for the third members and malefic

of the ambivalent or just

the repeating 1254. 1254/1234 sequence as not Such echeloned sequences system of Terms. However, aspects of the Egyptian are sun (but not the moon) the basis which included the Critodemus' and of system, they a 5? arc within each of these six "planets" each sign156. always assigned the system there are now at least seven Including employed by Indian astrologers variations of the disposition of the Terms157. In his withering attack upon fatalistic

known

prognostication
of the Terms, And which, these

the Pyrrhonic Sextus Empiricus (fl. AD 175-200) criticized the doctrines

noting: of the Stars, as they call portion, them, in each Sign are those within power; too158. on "the great horoscopes to "unexplained before the and about

the "boundaries" from a certain is no

portion

to a certain

they possess in their have

most tables

there

little disagreement

amongst

them and

Modern number (including features" 2nd of

scholars

such as Neugebauer between Coptic) and

and Van Hoesen the data on

remarked or ostraca

discrepancies" the one in Old

the papyrus doctrine", knowledge

the "orthodox current

leading

which

they attribute

to incomplete

of astrology

century

AD159.

155

Depuydt, in: Enchoria 21, 1994, 3 read "24" for the initial degree of the last planet, but the vertical line is really the divider (or preposition r), not part of the number, which is clearly the sign for 7. The curved line above this sign can only be the numeral 4, part of the number 24.
Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 212.

156

157

Ibid., 211-216. 158 Sextus Empiricus, Against the professors V.37-38, trans. R.G. Bury, 1949, 338f. For more on the life of Sextus, see Yavanajataka, ed. Pingree, 442 and Cramer, ARLP, 203-207. 159 Hoesen, Greek horoscopes, 35. Earlier in the present century Bouche-Leclercq Neugebauer/Van lamented that there had yet to be any interest in ascertaining whether the inhabitants of the Nile always followed Dorotheus'
in cast horoscopes.

Egyptian

system of Terms, especially

in light of specific discrepancies

1996

Astrology

in light of Papyrus CtYBR inv. 1132(B)

45

II
Aries

I
2
3

I II
12

I III I IV I V
3 5 4

Taurus
Gemini Cancer

5
4 4 ^^^\

3
\<^ ls^\

J^|
^^^ J>^^\

4
^ 3

Leo

J^^ ^^^

^^^

^^^

Virgo
Libra

|T^^
^<^* ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^

Scorpio
Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius

^^^
l^i
_t__^^\_-H_

^^^
\^^l 3 5 ^^^\ \?^ 4

^^^
45 3

\ ^^
^ $ ^^^

l^z

Pisces
Fig. 2: Sequence of planets struction of missing data.

4 A?^\
in preserved section of P. CtYBR

2t^\
inv. 1132(B)

5 3
and postulated recon

Commenting features Instead, not

on the two authors' because

concerns,

Barton

states

that the discrepancies astrology the view scope

and odd

appear

the idea of orthodox "the peculiarity of

doctrine

in early supports

to this author

the methods theory,

is too rigid160. that there was for individual over time.

so much on

a linear development themes,"161 fluid

of astrological systems in vogue

but rather

variations

concurrently

and mutable

While pCtYBR fits into such a description of pre-2nd century AD astrology, it is far
from Demotic being a random sequence of planets logical and blend attribution of degrees. Instead, system this of list of Terms is a noteworthy of the Nechepso-Petosiris

Egyptian Terms modified

by the turn of the Era system codified by the Egyptian

160 Barton, Power and knowledge, 89. 161 note (L'astrologie grecque, 213, note 2) Barton, Anc. astrol., 132. Also, see Bouche-Leclercq's remark that each of several astrologers' concerning Demophile's systems of Terms was in the others'. with disagreement

46 B. Bohleke

SAK 23

Critodemus162. of the poet's

But why? mnemonic

Dorotheus' verse

Terms

had become which verse would

the successful have been

standard known

because

in Greek,

to a small

segment

list of Terms Therefore employed

not have been helpful when of the Egyptian This would the population. was recorded or an Egyptian a in Demotic native astrologer only speaker. some other device, must that of Critodemus instead of be oral, being graphic to serve the same mnemonic purpose. two early Egyptian system of Terms out methods around united to increase the likelihood floruit. it was The not of success in

In this way as the standard

the time of Critodemus' experiment because

system as flexible without

ultimately pCtYBR as a system 1) which the need to compose

turned could

to be a failed

be perpetuated graphs; empire, among a much

orally and,

by the vast 2) which was

illiterate

population

echeloned

in Greek, easily

the medium beyond provincial

of

communication boundaries

in the Eastern and popularized

where

it could wider

be spread

audience.

162 This makes

pCtYBR possibly

the earliest attestation of both the Egyptian

and Critodemus

systems.

SAK 23 B. Bohleke

Tafel 1

*tfsfti

^^i

SBk

.*oI6hI

Papyras CtYBR inv. 1132(B)