david starling
Well-known member
“The zodiac of twelve signs of equal 30-degree length had its origin in Babylonia sometime during the fifth century B.C, the period of development of scientific mathematical astronomy, and was invented for use in astronomical computation, not divination. It provides a standard reference system for measuring the daily (or monthly) progress of the sun and the planets with respect to the twelve equal 30-degree segments. ” F.Rochberg
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Tropical zoidac also was invented (*Hipparchus) for use in astronomical computation.
What is important to us as astrologers is the interpretation of signs, their meanings
The correspondences between the seasonal and ritual activities for each month in the Nippurian calendar, and the name of the zodiac constellation that rises heliacally during that month. Thanks to Prof. Emelianov work we can surely say that, the characteristics of the rituals and activities that took place in ancient Sumer 2000 years B.C., played a significant role in naming the zodiac constellations (Aries, Taurus, etc.).
The events that took place on earth were dictated by the position of the Sun and its characteristics during each season. These events then shaped the features and qualities that were given to the zodiac constellations, and not vice versa, as many people think.
The claws of the Scorpion were separated in order to create a 12th constellation. This was around 2200 B.C., in ancient Babylonia. I totally agree that the first fully recorded zodiacal imagery was tropically based, using heliacal observation. Those same basic images (with some Hellenistic alterations) were affixed to the constellations. During the time of Hipparchus, those same constellations were able to be encompassed in the tropical zodiac without the use of heliacal observation, due to the precessional shift.