The logic of planetary combination in Vettius Valens
Claire Hall, Liam P. Shaw

TL;DR
This paper analyzes Vettius Valens' second-century astrological text to uncover a consistent internal logic in planetary combinations, revealing a systematic, iterative combinatorial reasoning underlying practical astrology.
Contribution
It demonstrates that Valens' descriptions of planetary effects follow a logical sentiment-based pattern, highlighting a methodological approach in ancient astrology often overlooked.
Findings
Planetary combinations' sentiment correlates with component parts.
Three-planet combinations show iterative combinatorial logic.
Astrological lore is more consistent than previously assumed.
Abstract
The Anthologies of the second-century astrologer Vettius Valens (120-c.175 CE) is the most extensive surviving practical astrological text from the period. Despite this, the theoretical underpinnings of the Anthologies have been understudied; in general, the work has been overshadowed by Ptolemy's contemporaneous Tetrabiblos. While the Tetrabiblos explicitly aims to present a systematic account of astrology, Valens' work is often characterised as a miscellaneous collection, of interest to historians only for the evidence it preserves about the practical methods used in casting horoscopes. In this article, we argue that the Anthologies is also an invaluable resource for engagement with the conceptual basis of astrology. As a case study, we take a section of Anthologies Book 1 which lists the possible astrological effects of planets, both alone and in 'combinations' of two and three. We…
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Taxonomy
TopicsHistorical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · Ancient Near East History · Historical and Linguistic Studies
