“Rhetorius’s” instructions concerning how to interpret births

Original release: October 27, 2022

Latest revision: November 16, 2022

Introduction

“Rhetorius” devoted a chapter of his Explanation and Interpretation of All Astrology to his recommended method of interpreting births, which is the only known Hellenistic exposition of such a systemic approach. The chapter is now extant in three versions, which I call Recensions X, B, and B’.

Recension X seems to be the closest to the original Explanation. Its originality is demonstrated by cross-references, which now point to chapters surviving only in other recensions: in §2, to the treatment of the seven lots in the introductory section, by which the chapter now known only as Chapter 47 of Recension R must be meant; and in §3, to the previously mentioned method of finding the domicile-master of the birth, by which perhaps Chapter 16 of Recension B should be understood. In §§6–8, a lengthy quotation from Ptolemy (Tetrabiblos 2.9.3–4) is also found. Even so, Recension X is apparently incomplete, since the tablet, which should list the author’s suggestion on what sources to use for dealing with the various natal subjects, is missing at the end.

Recension B, made by an anonymous scholar working in Constantinople in 884 or 887, is a partly abridged, partly augmented revision of Recension X. It replaces the quotations and paraphrases of Ptolemy with references to Tetrabiblos but also adds other references to the Egyptians, Dorotheus, and Valens together with cross-references to other sections of Recension B. What is more, in §§15–16, it has some matter corresponding to the missing tablet of Recension X, even though it cuts short the list after the subject of fortune related to honors, and adds some more diagnostic and prognostic sections that may well derive from the original Explanation. Recension B’ is a later revision of this Recension B, but it provides some corrections to the extant text of its source, nevertheless.

Note (October 27, 2022). An outline of the method with the highlights will be added later.

Manuscripts, editions, and previous translations

Recension X is found in two primary manuscripts, on ff. 240v–241r of ms Vatican City, BAV, Vat. gr. 191 (X) and on f. 103rv of ms Paris, BNF, gr. 2507 (P). P was copied from an antigraph close to X by Isaac Argyrus around 1380, but as he had a general tendency to rewrite the texts in front of him, the testimony of P must be used cautiously; still, it sometimes preserves the right readings while X is in error.

Recension B is extant as Chapter 22 of ms Paris, BNF, gr. 2506 (B, ff. 22r–23r), as Chapter 22 in Book I of ms Paris, BNF, gr. 2424 (Z, f. 30rv), and as Chapter A113 of ms Venice, BNM, gr. Z. 335 (H, f. 112rv), to mention only the primary manuscripts. A second scribe of Z added some readings of Recension X as interlinear or marginal notes and even filled a lacuna from it; these readings are marked Z’. Curiously, Revision B’ reappears in the same manuscripts: as Chapter 218 in B (ff. 73v–74r), as Chapter 143 in Book II of Z (ff. 82v–83r), and as Chapter A229 of H (f. 170rv).

Recensions B and B’ were edited as parallel texts from BH by Franz Cumont in CCAG 8.1, 243–248; Robert Schmidt’s English translation (Hand–Schmidt, Companion 11–14) of Recension B’ and a few sections of Recension B—which latter is ascribed to Rhetorius there—is based on this edition.

Recension X is still unedited, and it has not been translated into any modern languages until now.

The present translation

For translating Recensions B and B’, I relied on Cumont’s edition but collated Z, and for Recension X, I made a collation of PXZ’.

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Translation

Recension X

Recension B

Recension B’

An exposition of instructions concerning how to interpret births

Instructions concerning how to interpret nativities

On what one must investigate (in births)
(1) After you have ascertained the positions of the stars down toX1 their degrees, the natures of their signs, their bounds according to the Egyptians, their trigons and their participations,X2 exaltations and depressions, their decans and the faces of these, their individual degrees and bright degrees, their twelfth-parts, the latitudes in reference to the winds and their steps, their obliquities—that is, their distances from the ecliptic, just as from the meridianX3—their appearances,X4 their additions or subtractions or stations, and, those degree-wise co-risings of the fixed stars that are close to them with reference to their magnitudes, winds, and mixtures, then come to the Hour-Marker and the Midheaven, and the degree-wise pivots, succedents, and declines. (2) And when you have already ascertained the seven stars in respect of their places, cast the [seven] lots that are subjoined in the introduction of the book,X5 and (ascertain) the Moon’s appearances—that is to say, the prenatal Concourse or Full Moon—and the Moon’s third-day, seventh-day, and fortieth-day,X6 and her contact and effluence by longitude and latitude. (1) After you have ascertained the positions of the stars down to their degrees, the naturesB1 of their signs, their bounds according to the Egyptians and Ptolemy, their trigons and the participations,B2 their exaltations and dejections, the decans and the faces of these, the individual degrees, the bright degrees, the twelfth-parts, the latitudes of the winds, the steps, the obliquities,B3 the appearances, the stations, and those degree-wise co-risings of the fixed stars that are close to them together with their mixtures, then come to the Hour-Marker, the Midheaven, and the degree-wise pivots of the twelve places as you learned in Chapter 15,B4 then to the seven lots, and the Moon’s appearances—that is, to the prenatal Concourse or Full Moon—and her third-day, seventh-day, and fortieth-day, and her contact and effluence by longitude and latitude. (1) After you have set out the Hour-Marker and the remaining places of the chart, fixed the stars in these places—that is, in the signs—where they are making their journey, and written down their longitudinal positions, you must examine their domiciles, trigons, exaltations, and bounds—that is, which of the stars is on his own throne, is exalted, is in his or a benefic’s bounds, is additive, or is out of the beams; or the opposite, which of them is in a foreign domicile, exaltation, or trigon, or is contrary to his own domicile—that is, himself—or is depressed, or whether he will be under the beams and subtractive. (2) Then (examine) their decans—that is, their faces—participations,B’1 individual degrees, bright degrees, twelfth-parts, the latitudes of the winds and the steps, their appearances and stations, and those degree-wise co-risings of the fixed stars that are close to them together with their mixtures, the familiarities and antipathies—that is, belonging to the governing and the oppositional parties—and then the Moon’s appearances—that is, the prenatal Concourse or Full Moon—and her third-day, seventh-day, and fortieth-day, and her contact and effluence by longitude and latitude.
(3) Then, investigate the domicile-master of the birth according to the aforementioned methodsX7 after ascertaining the general fixity of the birth and the degree-wise pivots, succedents, and declines. (4) Then, after examining the conceptive birth,X8 calculate and cast the degree-wise leading and following trigonal, tetragonal, and hexagonal sides of all the stars. Note them down separately and keep them at hand in order that when, during the interpretation of the courses of the stars, we are making the adherences, we should take not only the sign-wise trigonal, tetragonal, and hexagonal sides but also the degree-wise ones; for they are more compelling, especially in the signs of short and long ascension.X9 (5) After noting down all these said sides, investigate the lifetime from the domicile-master of the selected releaser, but when you are making the courses of all the stars, do not forget that the adherences of the stars, of the Hour-Marker, {of the hour,}X10 of the Midheaven, and of the lot[s] occurring with the fixed stars have great influence in accordance with their mixtures, especially if both of them have the same wind. (2) Then investigate the domicile-master of the birth and then examine the conceptive birthB5 based on the (writings) of ValensB6 as we will teach you after these (instructions).B7 (3) Then examine the degree-wise trigonal, [tetragonal,] and hexagonal sides as you learned them in Chapter 16,B8 both the right-hand and left-hand ones. (4) Keep these after noting them down separately in order that when, during the interpretation of the courses of the stars, you are making the adherences, you should take not only the sign-wise and place-wise sides but also the degree-wise ones; for they are more compelling, especially in the signs of short and long ascension. (5) Then investigate the matters concerning the times of life based on the (writings) of Ptolemy and Valens;B9 (6) in the courses of the starsB10, the adherences of the stars, of the Hour-Marker, of the Midheaven, and of the lots occurring with the fixed stars have great influence in accordance with their mixtures as long as they have the same latitude. (3) Also, (examine) the Hour-Marker of the conception following the ancient Egyptians, the domicile-master of the birth, and the degree-wise trigonal, tetragonal, and hexagonal sides, both the right-hand and left-hand ones. (4) Keep all these after noting them down separately in order that when, during the interpretation of the courses of the stars, you are making the adherences, you should take not only sign-wise and place-wise sides but also the degree-wise ones; for they are more compelling, especially in the signs of short and long ascension; (5) for in the courses of the stars, the adherences of the stars, of the Hour-Marker, of the Midheaven, and of the lots occurring with the fixed stars have great influence in accordance with their mixtures as long as they have the same latitude.
(6) Ptolemy says about this subject,X11 “We will begin with the peculiar productive characteristics of each wandering star, but first we make the following general statement as a summary reminder. (7) When we say something general about the five stars, the mixture and productive power of the nature equivalent (with that of the star) must be understood, no matter (the star) himself in the condition appropriate to him or one of the fixed stars or the places of the zodiacX12 is observed in accordance with its peculiar mixture—as if the appellations (normally used to wandering stars) refer to natures and their productive powers and not to stars. (8) Moreover, in the commixtures, not only the mutual combination of the wandering stars must be examined but also the combination with those who share the same nature—that is, with fixed stars or places of the zodiac—in line with their familiarities with the wandering stars, which has alreadyX13 been shown.”
(9) After investigating (the subject of) times of life—even if a domicile-master has not been found beside the releaser—investigate the course of the Hour-Marker, of the Midheaven,X14 of the Lot of Fortune, of the Sun, of the Moon, and of the five stars. (10) For the course of the Hour-Marker signifies the reckoning about life and the psychical ailments, and the course of the Midheaven signifies the reckoning about activity, reputation, livelihood, and children. (11) The Sun’s course signifies the reckoning about reputation, honor, and high rank, as well as fathers, rulers, higher positions, and even older brothers. (12) The Moon’s course signifies the ailments of the body, companionships, mothers, mistresses, and older sisters. (13) The (course of the) Lot of Fortune signifies good luck and honor or loss and penalty resulting from acquisitions, and the ailments of the body.X15
(14) Kronos’s course signifies destructions of things, injuries, ailments, [misfortune,] grandfathers or fathers, older brothers, gains or losses from inheritances, and dangers related to water. (15) Zeus’s course signifies indicates honors, gains, acquaintance with people of high rank, patronages, and beneficial acquisitions. (16) Ares’s course signifies military services, public affairs, temerity, punishments, confusions, unexpected conflicts, ardent affections, and wounds caused by iron or fallingX16. (17) Aphrodite’s course signifies marriage, friendships, erotic love, intercourses, prosperity, gains or losses from women, mothers, and younger sisters. (18) And Hermes’s course signifies younger brothers, communication, education, commerce, servants, and freedmen. (7) Kronos’s course signifies destructions of things, injuries, ailments, misfortune, grandfathers or fathers, older brothers, gains or losses from inheritances, and dangers related to water. (8) Zeus’s (course) signifies honors, gains,B11 acquaintance with people of high rank, patronages, and beneficial acquisitions. (9) Ares’s (course signifies) military services, public affairs, temerity, punishments, confusions, unexpected conflicts, ardent affections, and wounds caused by iron or falling. (10) Aphrodite’s (course signifies) marriage, friendships, erotic love, intercourses, prosperity, gains or losses from women, mothers, and younger sisters.B12 (11) And Hermes’s (course) signifies [younger] brothers, communication, education, commerce, servants, and freedmen. (12) Regarding the courses of the Sun, the Moon, the Hour-Marker, the Midheaven, and the Lot of Fortune, what each of them signifies was exposed by Ptolemy.B13
(19) You must judgeX17 each of the stars by their peculiarities and according to their adherences to both the wandering and the fixed stars and to the Ascending and Descending Node and according to the influences of the bounds [and] give a description of the effects of each. (20) After this subject, do the ascensions of the signs in accordance with the zone proper to each (birth) and the revolutions of the stars according to their greatest, mean, and least years, first by making days, then months, and finally years. (13) You must judge each of the stars according to their adherences to both the wandering and the fixed stars and to the Ascending [and Descending] Node and according to the influences of the bounds, and so must you foretell the future. (14) You must take the ascensions of the signs for Ptolemy’s methods according to the Handy Table, for the methods of the Egyptians according to the Egyptian (table), and for Valens’s methods according to Valens’s (table).B14 (6) You must judge each of the stars [according to] their adherences to both the wandering and the fixed stars and to the Ascending and Descending Node and according to the influences of the bounds, and so must you [fore]tell the future. (7) You must take the ascensions of the signs for Ptolemy’s methods according to the Handy Table, for the methods of the Egyptians according to the Egyptian (method), and for Valens’s methods according to Valens’s (methods).
(21) And then, after this subject, investigate the reckoning about conception, childbirth, and the rest as they are given below in the tablet.X18 (15) Then investigate (the subject of) parents following the methods of Ptolemy, [Valens,]B15 and DorotheusB16 and, following other ancients, from the lots of the parents; then (investigate the subject of) siblings [following Ptolemy]B17 and from the third place and the lots of siblings; (16) then (investigate the subjects of bodily) form and the quality of the soul following Ptolemy, (the subjects of) injuries and ailments following Ptolemy and the others as we have expounded,B18 (the subject of) fortune related to honors following Ptolemy and the others,B19 and then (investigate the subjects of) marriage, children, and being abroad. (17) Then investigate the effects (recorded) on the table of the twelve-turning as it was written in Chapter 5,B20 then the effects of the contacts and effluences in the manner I will teach after these (instructions),B21 and the decanic indications of the Hour-Marker, of the Sun, of the Moon, of the five stars, and of the lots following Teucer of Babylon. (18) Then (investigate) the effects of the trigons, tetragons, diameters, hexagons[, and concourses]B22 of the stars following DorotheusB23 and the others, the local differences of the stars and their bounds,B24 then the effects of the Ascending and the Descending Node as (you learned) in Chapter 5,B25 then the quality of the death following Ptolemy, Dorotheus, and Valens,B26 and finally the division of the times. (8) Then investigate (the subject of) parents following the methods of Ptolemy, Valens, and DorotheusB’2 and from the lots of the parents; then (investigate the subject of) siblings following PtolemyB’3 and from the third place and the lots of siblings; (9) then, in this order, (investigate the subjects of) the birth, the times of life, the bodily form, disfigurement, injuries, the quality of the soul and the psychical ailments, acquired fortune and fortune related to honors, livelihood, activity, marriage, children, friends, slaves, being abroad, but conjoin with them the effects (recorded) on the table of the twelve-turning; also, the effects of the contacts and effluences of the Sun, of the Moon, and of the remaining stars, and those of the Hour-Marker and of the lots following Teucer of Babylon.B’4 (10) Then (investigate) the effects of the trigons, tetragons, diameters, hexagons, and concourses of the stars following DorotheusB’5 and the others, the local differences of the stars and their bounds, and the effects of the Ascending and the Descending Node, then the quality of the death following Ptolemy, Dorotheus, and Valens,B’6 and finally the division of the times.
(19) Before all, therefore, investigate the year-ruler and his placement and all his witnessing, and whether he sees his domicile, and how he was situated in the birth. (20) Then investigate the Hour-Marker of the year based on the degree of the Sun’s return—that is, from the exact hour of the birth-substitute—the (stars) regarding the Hour-Marker, and its lord. (21) Then do the distributions of Fortune and Fate in the manner of Valens, the transmissions and acquisitions of the stars as Valens does,B27 and then do the decennials as the Egyptians do; and after these, do the distribution of the year.B28 (11) Before all, therefore, investigate the year-ruler and his placement and all his witnessing, and whether he sees his domicile, and how he was situated in the birth, and whether he observed the same figure as in the birth, and (investigate) the Hour-Marker of the year based on the degree of the Sun’s return—that is, from the exact hour of the birth-substitute—the (stars) regarding the Hour-Marker, and its lord. (12) Then do the distributions of Fortune and Fate in the manner of Valens, the transmissions and acquisitions of the stars as he does,B’7 and then do the decennials as the Egyptians do.

X1 Reading κατὰ with Recension B for καὶ, “and,” of PX.
X2 This should be a reference to the three trigon-rulers.
X3 Reading ἀπὸ τοῦ διὰ μέσων τῶν ζῳδίων for the corrupt τῶν διὰ μέσου τῶν ζῳδίων of XZ’ and ἀπὸ τοῦ Διὸς μεσώντων ζῳδίων of P. However, instead of the ecliptic, the horizon should be understood; see Pancharius’s commentary on Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 3.11.18–19 preserved in Hephaestio 2.11.83–86.
X4 Reading φάσεις with Recension B for φύσεις, “natures,” of XZ’. P omits this word with the previous ones from “just as.”
X5 A reference to a chapter that is now found as Chapter 47 of Recension R.
X6 Reading τεσσαρακοσταίαν with Recension B for the wrong resolution of μʹ, “40th,” as μηνιαίαν, “monthly(-day),” in XZ’ and the erroneous δεκαταίαν, “tenth-day,” of P.
X7 Perhaps referring to the original of what is now Chapter 16 of Recension B.
X8 Evidently, the conceptive chart is meant.
X9 P omits the signs of short rising.
X10 I delete this as it seems to be a gloss.
X11 This is a verbatim quotation from Tetrabiblos 2.9.3–4.
X12 By ‘places of the zodiac’, the areas belonging to different constellations are meant; these are described by using the names of the wandering stars in Tetrabiblos 1.9.
X13 Ptolemy’s own reference to Tetrabiblos 1.9.
X14 P adds: “and the remaining pivots.”
X15 P writes, “accidental ailments.”
X16 P adds, “from height.”
X17 Reading κρίνειν with Cumont and Z’ for κινεῖν, “move,” of PX.
X18 This tablet is missing in both PX; perhaps in Recension B, its abbreviated form is read.
B1 Reading φύσεις with Recension X and Z’ for φάσεις, “appearances,” of BHZ.
B2 This should be a reference to the three trigon-rulers.
B3 This “obliquity” (loxōsis) is probably a reference to the star’s position relative to the horizon and the meridian; see Pancharius’s commentary on Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 3.11.18–19 preserved in Hephaestio 2.11.83–86.
B4 It is now Chapter 12 above. The scribe of H also notes the difference, noting on the margin, erroneously, “find this not in Chapter 15 but where he writes about how to find the six hours by which the Hour-Marker is distant.”
B5 Evidently, the conceptive chart is meant.
B6 Find Valens’s treatments in 1.21–22 and 3.10.
B7 A reference to the following Chapter 23, which is not based on Valens’s account, though.
B8 It is now Chapter 14 above.
B9 See Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 3.11 and most of Valens’s Book III.
B10 Reading ἀστέρων with Recensions XB’ for ζῳδίων, “signs,” of BHZ.
B11 Reading ὠφελείας with Recension X for φιλίας, “friendships,” of BHZ.
B12 Reading καὶ μητέρας καὶ μικροτέρας ἀδελφὰς with Recension X for καὶ μητρὸς καὶ ἀπὸ θηλειῶν ἀδελφῶν, “(gains or losses from women,) also those of the mother, and from female siblings” of BHZ.
B13 See Tetrabiblos 4.10.14.
B14 See Valens 1.6.
B15 Adding with Recension B’.
B16 See Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 3.5, Valens 2.32, and the Arabic Dorotheus 1.13–18 Dykes = 1.12.15–16 Pingree with the related fragments.
B17 Adding with Recension B’. This subject is treated in Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 3.6.
B18 In Chapter 4 of Recension B, which corresponds Chapters 61–62 of Recension R.
B19 All these subjects are treated in Tetrabiblos 3.12–15 and 4.3.
B20 Now Chapter 1 of Recension B, corresponding to Chapter 57 of Recension R.
B21 This chapter is now lost, but perhaps a chapter preserved as Chapter 138 of “Balchus,” possibly authored by the Anonymous of 379, served as its source.
B22 Adding with Recension B’.
B23 Arabic Dorotheus 2.14–23 Dykes = 2.14–19 Pingree and the related fragments.
B24 The “local differences” (topikai diakriseis) are the descriptions of what the seven stars in each other’s domiciles and bounds indicate.
B25 See the note to reference to the same chapter in §17 above.
B26 See Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 4.9, the Arabic Dorotheus 4.3 Dykes = 4.1.143–184 Pingree with the related fragments, and Valens 2.41.
B27 These both are treated in Valens’s Book IV.
B28 Here a rearranged and partly unintelligible version of §§12–13 of Chapter 21 of Recension B follows, which I do not include.
B’1 See the corresponding §1 of Recensions X and B, where “participations” seem to refer to the trigon-rulers.
B’2 See Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 3.5, Valens 2.32, and the Arabic Dorotheus 1.13–18 Dykes = 1.12.15–16 Pingree with the related fragments.
B’3 See Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 3.6.
B’4 The text is slightly corrupt here compared to the corresponding §17 of Recension B.
B’5 Arabic Dorotheus 2.14–23 Dykes = 2.14–19 Pingree and the related fragments.
B’6 See Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos 4.9, the Arabic Dorotheus 4.3 Dykes = 4.1.143–184 Pingree with the related fragments, and Valens 2.41.
B’7 These both are treated in Valens’s Book IV.