Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, or Quadripartite: being four books of the influence of the stars / Newly translated from the Greek paraphrase of Proclus. With a preface, explanatory notes, and an appendix, containing extracts from the Almagest of Ptolemy and the whole of his Centiloquy; together with a short notice of Mr. Ranger's Zodiacal planisphere, and an explanatory plate. By J. M. Ashmand.

  • Ptolemy, active 2nd century.
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, or Quadripartite: being four books of the influence of the stars / Newly translated from the Greek paraphrase of Proclus. With a preface, explanatory notes, and an appendix, containing extracts from the Almagest of Ptolemy and the whole of his Centiloquy; together with a short notice of Mr. Ranger's Zodiacal planisphere, and an explanatory plate. By J. M. Ashmand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ΦΒΙΒΦΔΦΒ» OF all sciences, whether true or false, which have at any time engaged the attention of the world, there is not one of which the real or assumed principles are less generally known, in the present age, than those of As¬ trology. The whole doctrine of this science is com¬ monly understood to have been completely overturned; and, of late, people seem to have satisfied themselves with merely knowing the import of its name. Such con¬ tented ignorance, in persons, too, sufficiently informed in other respects, is the more extraordinary, since Astro¬ logy has sustained a most conspicuous part throughout the history of the world, even until days comparatively recent. In the East, where it first arose, at a period of very remote antiquity*, and whence it came to subjugate the intellect of Europe, it still even now holds sway. In * Sir Isaac Newton has the following remarks in regard to the origin of Astrology:—“After the study of Astronomy was set on “ foot for the use of navigation, and the ^Egyptians, by the heliacal “ risings and settings of the stars, had determined the length of the “ solar year of 365 days, and by other observations had fixed the “ solstices, and formed the fixed stars into astcrisms, all which was “ done in the reigns of Ammon, Sesac, Orus, and Memnon,” (about 1000 years before Christ), “ it may be presumed that they continued “ to observe the motions of the planets, for they called them after the “ names of their gods; and Nechcpsos, or Nicepsos, King of Sais,” [772 Tt. C ] “ by the assistance of Petosiris, a priest of ./Egypt, in- a