Ten Treatises on Astronomy (Book of Astronomy)

Taurus and Gemini: namely, that any sign ascends in two equal hours. Those that are direct Signs of "direct" or "long" ascension take longer than two hours to rise over the horizon. ascend in more than two hours; those that are crooked Signs of "crooked" or "short" ascension take less than two hours to rise. in less than two hours. Regarding what is called obedience: Alchabitius Al-Qabisi (died 967), a famous Arab astrologer whose work was a standard textbook in medieval Europe. said that those signs ascending crookedly "obey" those ascending directly. That is, two signs that are the same distance from the Head of Cancer original: "capite cancri"; this refers to the Summer Solstice.: the one that ascends crookedly obeys the one that ascends directly. For example, Gemini obeys Cancer, because the end of Gemini is as far from the equator as the beginning of Cancer is from the end of Cancer—and the same is true for the beginning of Gemini. By the same logic, Taurus is said to obey Leo, Aries to Virgo, Pisces to Libra, Aquarius to Scorpio, and Capricorn to Sagittarius. And the same philosopher said that two signs that are the same distance from the Head of Aries original: "capite arietis"; this refers to the Spring Equinox. are said to be concordant in their journey, such as Aries and Pisces. For the end of Aries is as far from the equator as the beginning of Pisces; Taurus as far as Aquarius; Gemini as far as Capricorn; Cancer as far as Sagittarius; Leo as far as Scorpio; and Virgo as far as Libra. ¶ There is also another way of dividing the journey of the signs' ascensions, namely into two halves of the circle of signs. Some signs are called greater than those opposite them—not because one sign is physically larger or longer than another in its circle, but because they all take more time in ascending than their opposites, and they set in less time. These begin from Leo, which is the house of the Sun, and this is called the greater half. It is also called the half of the Sun, from the beginning of Leo to the end of Capricorn, because the Sun has such power in that entire half that he possesses the other five planets within his bounds. The remaining half—namely, that which is from the beginning of Aquarius to the end of Cancer—is called the lesser half. This is not because it is smaller than the other, but because these signs ascend in less time than their opposites and set in more time, according to the variation of climates and regions. This is called the half of the Moon, because the Moon has such power in that entire half as the other five planets have in their bounds, on account of the many impressions and effects she has upon us, more than the other planets have. This was the reason why terms original: "termini"; specific degrees within a sign assigned to a planet's influence. were not assigned to the Sun or the Moon in the signs, as they were assigned to the other five planets, as will be said below when I speak of the terms of the planets. And that half of the circle which is from the beginning of Aries to the end of Virgo is called the hot half. The other half—namely, that which is from the beginning of Libra to the end of Pisces—is called the cold half. And that fourth part of the circle from the beginning of Aries to the end of Gemini is called the hot, moist, vernal, youthful, and sanguine quarter; it signifies the age of childhood until youth. The next quarter, from the beginning of Cancer to the end of Virgo, is called the hot, dry, summery, choleric, and juvenile quarter; it signifies youth until its completion, that is, the beginning of middle age. The next quarter, from the beginning of Libra to the end of Sagittarius, is called the cold, dry, autumnal, and melancholic quarter; it signifies middle age until the beginning of old age. Finally, the remaining quarter from the beginning of Capricorn to the end of Pisces is called the cold, moist, wintery, phlegmatic, elderly, and declining quarter; it signifies old age and extreme age until the end of natural life.

Chapter Four: Concerning the order of the circles of the seven planets, the disposition of the seven planets themselves, and the times in which their courses are completed.

In this chapter, I shall tell you what the philosophers have said; and it is the truth regarding the order of the circles of the seven planets. The first and highest and most superior, and closest to the sphere of the signs The fixed stars or Zodiac., is the circle of Saturn. Then the second is the circle of Jupiter; the third is the circle of Mars; the fourth is the circle of the Sun; the fifth is the circle of Venus; the sixth

is the circle of Mercury; the seventh is the circle of the Moon, which is the lowest and closer to the Earth than all the others. Of all seven planets, the highest and most superior in its course is Saturn, which is the slowest and completes its median course in approximately 30 years. Next is Jupiter, which completes its course in approximately 12 years. Then Mars, which completes its course in approximately 2 years. Then the Sun, which completes its course in one year. Then Venus, which completes its course in one year, just like the Sun. Then Mercury, which likewise completes its course in one year. Finally, the Moon, which is swifter and lower than all the others and closer to the Earth, completes its course in approximately 27 days and one-third of a day. There are also, besides the planets, two theoretical points in the heavens within the circle of signs: one is called the Head of the Dragon original: "caput draconis"; the North Node of the Moon., and the other the Tail of the Dragon original: "cauda draconis"; the South Node of the Moon.. These are two opposite points of crossing where the circle of the Moon passes through the circle of the Sun; they signify certain things that will be discussed later when we treat the Head and the Tail.

Chapter Five: What powers the planets have within the signs.

Each of the planets has powers within the signs, some of which are by nature and some by accident. Those by nature are: House, Exaltation, Term, Triplicity, and Face. Those by accident are: the joys of the planets; their existence in strong places and houses; and when they are received original: "recepti"; reception occurs when a planet is in a sign ruled by another planet with which it is in aspect.—that is, when one receives another—as well as other strengths that will be mentioned in their proper place and time.

Chapter Six: Concerning the houses of the planets.

As has been shown, there are twelve signs, and they are assigned as houses for the seven planets. As the philosophers testify: Leo is the house of the Sun; Cancer is the house of the Moon; Gemini and Virgo are the houses of Mercury; Taurus and Libra are the houses of Venus; Aries and Scorpio are the houses of Mars; Pisces and Sagittarius are the houses of Jupiter; and Aquarius and Capricorn are the houses of Saturn. Now, you might ask: why were the houses of the planets ordered this way? Why did the Sun and Moon each have only a single house while the other planets each have two? After all, the "lights" The Sun and Moon. should seem to have two houses more than the others because of their strength and for many other reasons that could be assigned—especially since Albumasar Abu Ma'shar (787–886), one of the most influential Persian astrologers in the Latin West. says the Sun and Moon are greater and stronger in fortune than the other fortunes. To this it can be answered: among the ancients, there was diversity in the ordering of the planetary houses. Some began from the houses of the lights; some from the houses of Saturn; some from the houses of Mars; some from the houses of Jupiter; some from the houses of Mercury; and some from the houses of Venus. Each assigned his own reason according to how it appeared to him. However, I do not make much of their differences, for many reasons could be assigned, yet I do not wish to assign them all nor recite all the opinions of the ancients, for it would be very long and of no use to you; instead, I will assign one reason to you, and let it suffice for now. One reason why Leo was assigned to the Sun as its house and no other sign is this: because the Sun is the greater light and is a diurnal belonging to the day light, and is judged to be hot and dry, and its heat is intense. The power of its heat appears more strongly when it is in Leo than when it is in any other sign, and the nature of summer appears more strongly then than at other times. The Sun is a masculine, diurnal planet and signifies heat and dryness by its nature; and Leo is a masculine, fiery, hot, and dry sign. When the Sun is in it, that is the peak of summer and the completion of growth...