Tetrabiblos, Section 04

4. Of the Power of the Planets.
The active power of the sun's essential nature is found to be heating and, to a certain degree, drying. This is
made more easily perceptible in the case of the sun than any other heavenly body by its size and by the
obviousness of its seasonal changes, for the closer it approaches to the zenith the more it affects us in this way.
Most of the moon's power consists of humidifying, clearly because it is close to the earth and because of the moist
exhalations therefrom. Its action therefore is precisely this, to soften and cause putrefaction in bodies for the most
part, but it shares moderately also in heating power because of the light which it receives from the sun.

It is Saturn's quality chiefly to cool and, moderately, to dry, probably because he is furthest removed both from the
sun's heat and the moist exhalations about the earth. Both in Saturn's case and in that of the other planets there
are powers, too, which arise through the observation of their aspects to the sun and the moon, for some of them
appear to modify conditions in the ambient in one way, some in another, by increase or by decrease.


The nature of Mars is chiefly to dry and to burn, in conformity with his fiery color and by reason of his nearness to
the sun, for the sun's sphere lies just below him.


Jupiter has a temperate active force because his movement takes place between the cooling influence of Saturn
and the burning power of Mars. He both heats and humidifies; and because his heating power is the greater by
reason of the underlying spheres, he produces fertilizing winds.


Venus has the same powers and tempered nature as Jupiter, but acts in the opposite way; for she warms
moderately because of her nearness to the sun, but chiefly humidifies, like the moon, because of the amount of
her own light and because she appropriates the exhalations from the moist atmosphere surrounding the earth.


Mercury in general is found at certain times alike to be drying and absorptive of moisture, because he never is far
removed in longitude from the heat of the sun; and again humidifying, because he is next above the sphere of the
moon, which is closest to the earth; and to change quickly from one to the other, inspired as it were by the speed
of his motion in the neighborhood of the sun itself.


Section 05

5. Of Beneficent and Maleficent Planets.


Since the foregoing is the case, because two of the four humours are fertile and active, the hot and the moist (for
all things are brought together and in­creased by them), and two are destructive and passive, the dry and the
cold, through which all things, again, are separated and destroyed, the ancients accepted two of the planets,
Jupiter and Venus, together with the moon, as beneficent because of their tempered nature and because they
abound in the hot and the moist, and Saturn and Mars as producing effects of the opposite nature, one because
of his excessive cold and the other for his excessive dryness; the sun and Mercury, however, they thought to have
both powers, because they, have a common nature, and to join their influences with those of the other planets,
with whichever of them they are associated.

Section 06

6. Of Masculine and Feminine Planets.
Again, since there are two primary kinds of natures, male and female, and of the forces already mentioned that of
the moist is especially feminine -- for as a general thing this element is present to a greater degree in all females,
and the others rather in males­with good reason the view has been handed down to us that the moon and Venus
are feminine, because they share more largely in the moist, and that the sun, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are
masculine, and Mercury common to both genders, inasmuch as he produces the dry and the moist alike. They say
too that the stars become masculine or feminine according to their aspects to the sun, for when they are morning
stars and precede the sun they be­come masculine, and feminine when they are evening stars and follow the sun.
Furthermore this happens also according to their positions with respect to the horizon; for when they are in
positions from the orient to mid-heaven, or again from the occident to lower mid-heaven, they become masculine
because they are eastern, but in the other two quadrants, as western stars, they become feminine.


Section 07

7. Of Diurnal and Nocturnal Planets.
imilarly, since of the two most obvious intervals of those which make up time, the day is more masculine because
of its heat and active force, and night more feminine because of its moisture and its gift of rest, the tradition has
consequently been handed down that the moon and Venus are nocturnal, the sun and Jupiter diurnal, and
Mercury common as before, diurnal when it is a morning star and nocturnal as an evening star. They also
assigned to each of the sects the two destructive stars, not however in this instance on the principle of similar
natures, but of just the opposite; for when stars of the same kind are joined with those of the good temperament
their beneficial influence -- is increased, but if dissimilar stars are associated with the destructive onesthe greatest
part of their injurious power is broken. Thus they assigned, Saturn, which is cold, to the warmth of day, and Mars,
which is dry, to the moisture of night, for in this way each of them -- attains good proportion through admixture and
becomes a proper member of its sect, which provides moderation.


Section 08

8. Of the Power of the Aspects to the Sun.
Now, mark you, likewise, according to their aspects to the sun, the moon and three of the planets experience
increase and decrease in their own powers. For in its waxing from new moon to first quarter the moon is more
productive of moisture; in its passage from first quarter to full, of heat; from full to last quarter; of dryness, and
from last quarter to occultation, of cold. The planets, in oriental aspects only, are more productive of moisture from
rising to their first station, of heat from first station to evening rising, of dryness from evening rising to the second
station, of cold from second station to setting; and it is clear that when they are associated with one another they
produce very many variations of quality in our ambient, the proper force of each one for the most part persisting,
but being changed in quantity by the force of the stars that share the configuration.


Section 09

9. Of the Power of the Fixed Stars.
As it is next in order to recount the natures of the fixed stars with reference to their special powers, we shall set
forth their observed characters in an exposition like that of the natures of the planets, and in the first place those
of the ones that occupy the figures in the zodiac itself.

The stars in the head of Aries, then, have an effect like the power of Mars and Saturn, mingled; those in the mouth
like Mercury's power and moderately like Saturn's; those in the hind foot like that of Mars, and those in the tail like
that of Venus.

Of those in Taurus, the stars along the line where it is cut off have a temperature like that of Venus and in a
measure like that of Saturn; those in the Pleiades, like those of the moon and Jupiter; of the stars in the head, the
one of the Hyades that is bright and somewhat reddish, called the Torch, has a temperature like that of Mars; the
others, like that of Saturn and moderately, like that of Mercury; those in the tips of the horns, like that of Mars.

Of the stars in Gemini, those in the feet share the same quality as Mercury and, to a less degree, as Venus; the
bright stars in the thighs, the same as Saturn; of the two bright stars in the heads, the one in the head in advance
the same as Mercury; it is also called the star of Apollo; the one in the head that follows, the same as Mars; it is
also called the star of Hercules.

Of the stars in Cancer, the two in the eyes produce the same effect as Mercury, and, to a less degree, as Mars;
those in the claws, the same as Saturn and Mercury; the cloud-like cluster in the breast, called the Manger, the
same as Mars and the moon; and the two on either side of it, which are called Asses, the same as Mars and the
sun.

Of those in Leo, the two in the head act in the same way as Saturn and, to a less degree, as Mars; the three in the
throat, the same as Saturn and, to a less degree, as Mercury; the bright star upon the heart, called Regulus, the
same as Mars and Jupiter; those in the hip and the bright star in the tail, the same as Saturn and Venus; and
those in the thighs, the same as Venus and, to a less degree, Mercury.

Of the stars in Virgo, those in the head and the one upon the tip of the southern wing have an effect like that of
Mercury and, in less degree, of Mars; the other bright stars of the wing and those on the girdles like that of
Mercury and, in a measure, of Venus; the bright star in the northern wing, called Vindemiator, like those of Saturn
and Mercury; the so-called Spica, like that of Venus and, in a less degree, that of Mars; those in the tips of the feet
and the train like that of Mercury and, in a less degree, Mars.

Of those in the Claws of the Scorpion, the onesat their very extremities exercise the same influence as do Jupiter
and Mercury; those in the middle parts the same as do Saturn and, to a less degree, Mars.

Of the stars in the body of Scorpio, the bright stars on the forehead act in the same way as does Mars and in
some degree as does Saturn; the three in the body, the middle one of which is tawny and rather bright and is
called Antares, the same as Mars and, in some degree, Jupiter; those in the joints, the same as Saturn and, in
some degree, Venus; those in the sting, the same as Mercury and Mars; and the so-called cloud-like cluster, the
same as Mars and the moon.

Of the stars in Sagittarius, those in the point of his arrow have an effect like that of Mars and the moon; those in
the bow and the grip of his hand, like that of Jupiter and Mars; the cluster in his forehead, like that of the sun and
Mars; those in the cloak and his back, like that of Jupiter and, to a less degree, of Mercury; those in his feet, like
that of Jupiter and Saturn; the quadrangle upon the tail, like that of Venus and, to a less degree, of Saturn.

Of the stars in Capricorn, those in the horns act in the same way as Venus and, in same degree, as Mars; those in
the mouth, as Saturn and, in same degree, as Venus; those in the feet and the belly, as Mars and Mercury; and
those in the tail, as Saturn and Jupiter.

Of the stars in Aquarius, those in the shoulders exert an influence like that of Saturn and Mercury, together with
those in the left arm and the cloak; those in the thighs, like that of Mercury in a greater degree and like that of
Saturn in a lesser degree; those in the stream of water, like that of Saturn and, in same degree, like that of Jupiter.

Of the stars in Pisces, those in the head of the southern Fish act in the same way as Mercury and somewhat as
does Saturn; those in the body, as do Jupiter and Mercury; those in the tail and the southern cord, as do Saturn
and, in some degree, Mercury; those in the body and backbone of the northern Fish, as do Jupiter and, in some
degree, Venus; those in the northern part of the cord, as do Saturn and Jupiter; and the bright star on the bond,
as do Mars and, in some degree, Mercury.

Of the stars in the configurations north of the zodiac, the bright stars in Ursa Minor have a similar quality to that of
Saturn and, to a less degree, to that of Venus; those in Ursa Major, to that of Mars; and the cluster of the Coma
Berenices beneath the Bear's tail, to that of the moon and Venus; the bright stars in Draco, to that of Saturn,
Mars, and Jupiter; those of Cepheus, to that of Saturn and Jupiter: those in Bootes, to that of Mercury and Saturn;
the bright, tawny star, to that of Jupiter and Mars, the star called Arcturus; the star in Corona Septentrionalis, to
that of Venus and Mercury; those in Geniculator, to that of Mercury; those in Lyra, to that of Venus and Mercury;
and likewise those in Cygnus. The stars in Cassiopeia have the effect of Saturn and Venus; those in Perseus, of
Jupiter and Saturn; the cluster in the hilt of the sword, of Mars and Mercury; the bright stars in Auriga, of Mars and
Mercury; those in Ophiuchus, of Saturn and, to some degree, of Venus; those in his serpent, of Saturn and Mars;
those in Sagitta, of Mars and, to some degree, of Venus; those in Aquila, of Mars and Jupiter; those in Delphinus,
of Saturn and Mars; the bright stars in the Horse, of Mars and Mercury; those in Andromeda, of Venus; those in
Triangulum, of Mercury.


Of the stars in the formations south of the zodiac the bright star in the mouth of Piscis Australis has an influence
similar to that of Venus and Mercury; those in Cetus, similar to that of Saturn; of those in Orion, the stars on his
shoulders similar to that of Mars and Mercury, and the other bright stars similar to that of Jupiter and Saturn; of the
stars in Eridanus the last bright one has an influence like that of Jupiter and the others like that of Saturn; the star
in Lepus, like that of Saturn and Mercury; of those in Canis, the others like that of Venus, and the bright star in the
mouth, like that of Jupiter and, to a less degree, of Mars; the bright star Procyon, like that of Mercury. and, in a
less degree, that of Mars; the bright stars in Hydra, like that of Saturn and Venus; those in Crater, like that of
Venus and, in a less degree, of Mercury; those in Corvus, like that of Mars and Saturn; the bright stars of Argo,
like that of Saturn and Jupiter; of those in Centaurus, the onesin the human body, like that of Venus and Mercury,
and the bright stars in the equine body like that of Venus and Jupiter; the bright stars in Lupus, like that of Saturn
and, in less degree, of Mars; those in Are, like that of Venus and, to a lesser degree, of Mercury; and the bright
stars in Corona Australis, like that of Saturn and Mercury.

Such, then, are the observations of the effects of the stars themselves as made by our predecessors.

Section 10

10. Of the Effect of the Seasons and of the Four Angles.
Of the four seasons of the year, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, spring exceeds in moisture on account of its
diffusion after the cold has passed and warmth is setting in; the summer, in heat, because of the nearness of the
sun to the zenith; autumn more in dryness, because of the sucking up of the moisture during the hot season just
past; and winter exceeds in cold, because the sun is farthest away from the zenith. For this reason, although there
is no natural beginning of the zodiac, since it is a circle, they assume that the sign which begins with the vernal
equinox, that of Aries, is the starting point of them all, making the excessive moisture of the spring the first part of
the zodiac as though it were a living creature, and taking next in order the remaining seasons, because in all
creatures the earliest ages, like the spring, have a larger share of moisture and are tender and still delicate. The
second age, up to the prime of life, exceeds in heat, like summer; the third, which is now past the prime and on the
verge of decline, has an excess of dryness, like autumn; and the last, which approaches dissolution, exceeds in its
coldness, like winter.

Similarly, too, of the four regions and angles of the horizon, from which originate the winds from the cardinal
points, the eastern one likewise excels in dryness because, when the sun is in that region, whatever has been
moistened by the night then first begins to be dried; and the winds which blow from it, which we call in general
Apeliotes, are without moisture and drying in effect. The region to the south is hottest because of the fiery heat of
the sun's passages through mid-heaven and because these passages, on account of the inclination of our
inhabited world, diverge more to the south; and the winds which blow thence and are called by the general name
Notus are hot and rarefying. The region to the west is itself moist, because when the sun is therein the things dried
out during the day then first begin to become moistened; likewise the winds which blow from this part, which we call
by the general name Zephyrus, are fresh and moist. The region to the north is the coldest, because through our
inhabited world's inclination it is too far removed from the causes of heat arising from the sun's culmination, as it is
also when the sun is at its lower culmination; and the winds which blow thence, which are called by the general
name Boreas, are cold and condensing in effect.

The knowledge of these facts is useful to enable one to form a complete judgement of temperatures in individual
instances. For it is easily recognizable that, together with such conditions as these, of seasons, ages, or angles,
there is a corresponding variation in the potency of the stars' faculties, and that in the conditions akin to them their
quality is purer and their effectiveness stronger, those that are heating by nature, for instance, in heat, and those
that are moistening in the moist, while under opposite conditions their power is adulterated and weaker. Thus the
heating stars in the cold periods and the moistening stars in the dry periods are weaker, and similarly in the other
cases, according to the quality produced by the mixture.

Section 11

11. Of Solstitial, Equinoctial, Solid, and Bicorporeal Signs.

After the explanation of these matters the next subject to be added would be the natural characters of the zodiacal
signs themselves, as they have been handed down by tradition. For although their more general temperaments
are each analogous to the seasons that take place in them, certain peculiar qualities of theirs arise from their
kinship to the sun, moon, and planets, as we shall relate in what follows, putting first the unmingled powers of the
signs themselves alone, regarded both absolutely and relatively to one another.

The first distinctions, then, are of the so-called solstitial, equinoctial, solid, and bicorporeal signs. For there are two
solstitial signs, the first interval of 30° from the summer solstice, the sign of Cancer, and the first from the winter
solstice, Capricorn; and they have received their name from what takes place in them. For the sun turns when he
is at the beginning of these signs and reverses his latitudinal progress, causing summer in Cancer and winter in
Capricorn. Two signs are called equinoctial, the One which is first from the spring equinox, Aries, and the one
which begins with the autumnal equinox, Libra; and they too again are named from what happens there, because
when the sun is at the beginning of these signs he makes the nights exactly equal to the days.

Of the remaining eight signs four are called solid and four bicorporeal. The solid signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and
Aquarius, are those which follow the solstitial and equinoctial signs; and they are so called because when the sun
is in them the moisture, heat, dryness, and cold of the seasons that begin in the preceding signs touch us more
firmly, not that the weather is naturally any more intemperate at that time, but that we are by then inured to them
and for that reason are more sensible of their power.

The bicorporeal signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces, are those which follow the solid signs, and are so
called because they are between the solid and the solstitial and equinoctial signs and share, as it were, at end and
beginning, the natural properties of the two states of weather.
Astrology by Joseph
Cladius Ptolemy


home page