Who Invented Astrology?

The Age of the Early Babylonians
If you would check out the historical records of astrology, you would probably see that the people who invented astrology are the Babylonians.

This belief is supported by earliest pieces of astrological documents such as the Enuma Anu Enlil. This particular document is said to have been written during the early 1600 B.C., and holds an enumeration of astronomical omens and the respective interpretations for each.

Babylonian Astrology was used mainly for prediction of certain events like famine, war, o meteorological circumstances. Aside from that, a main concern was also about the king’s fate. Thus, those who know astrology during that time would be employed by the king, and act as personal advisers.

Another piece of history during that time points to around 400 B.C. when this group of people was believed to have started calculating and making a mathematical means to be used in astronomical prediction.

Later, this early system, which was recorded on clay tablets, was disseminated to India and the whole of Middle East. The system proved helpful for the Babylonians in their attempts to read natal horoscopes and make their predictions.

The Era of Greek Astrology
If we are going to talk of the original creators of horoscopic astrology, what would come to mind would be the work of the Greeks. According to history, they get the credit for creating horoscopic astrology that was greatly used for natal horoscopes of people, and for providing answers to certain questions or appropriate actions to take.

With the early system introduced by the Babylonians, the Greeks added their own various ideas and concepts. This includes the concepts of various signs in the horoscope as being male or female in nature, and the concept of a sect.

About 100 B.C., the Romans adopted the system made by the Greeks, but did not add their own innovations. Although this is so, they were known to have documented the system as supported by the comprehensive work of the poet Marcus Manilius who wrote the Astronomica where various aspects of astrology were covered.

Other documented works include that of Dorotheus of Sidon who made a handbook written in poetic verses about astrology. Another work is made by Claudius Ptolemy with the famous book entitled, Tetrabiblos. This summarizes the whole of Greek astrology. And Astrologer Vettius Valens who contributed to Ptolemy’s work and included more than a hundred data on horoscopes. Valens wrote the book, Anthology.

Medieval Times
During the medieval times, astrology work was contributed more by the Arabs.

Persian Zoroastrian Naubakht was a famous astrologer in those times, and had been known to use horoscope for the founding of Baghdad.

Muslim regions and India both were thriving on the use of the astrology system.

Other famous astrologers during this period included Arabian astrologer, Masha’allah who wrote numerous books and taught other astrologers such as Abu Ali al-Khayyat (who wrote a natal astrology book). Another – deemed to be the most prolific – was Abu Ma’shar.

The Renaissance Era
Astrology had evolved further during the Renaissance period where a combination of the ancient astrology system, which included the mathematical system and horoscopic interpretations, were both used. But instead of being known as astrologers, people who used astrology were called as mathematicians and astronomers.

The Modern Times
While astrology became more a practice of psychological interpretation, there are still some who continue to practice the traditional way of reading astrology as it was done in ancient times by the Babylonians who invented astrology.