Ptolemy’s Four Books on the Influence of the Stars (1822)

S$492.00

Ptolemy’s Four Books on the Influence of the Stars (1822)

S$492.00

Title: Tetrabiblos / Quadripartitum / Four Books on the Influence of the Stars
Author: Claudius Ptolemy, JM Ashmand (trans)
Publisher: Davis and Dickson, 1822. First edition. First English translation. Very rare.
Condition: Hardcover, full leather. Other than cracked hinges, in great condition. Some foxing of the interior, looks unread.

The first English edition of the greatest ancient text on Astrology.

About the book (from wikipedia):

Tetrabiblos (Τετράβιβλος) ‘four books’, also known in Greek as Apotelesmatiká (Ἀποτελεσματικά) “Effects”, and in Latin as Quadripartitum “Four Parts”, is a text on the philosophy and practice of astrology, written in the 2nd century AD by the Alexandrian scholar Claudius Ptolemy (c. AD 90–c. AD 168).

Ptolemy’s Almagest was an authoritative text on astronomy for more than a thousand years, and the Tetrabiblos, its companion volume, was equally influential in astrology, the study of the effects of astronomical cycles on earthly matters. But whilst the Almagest as an astronomical authority was superseded by acceptance of the heliocentric model of the solar system, the Tetrabiblos remains an important theoretical work for astrology. It is described as “indispensable” for serious students of astrology.

Besides outlining the techniques of astrological practice, Ptolemy’s philosophical defense of the subject as a natural, beneficial study helped secure theological tolerance towards astrology in Western Europe during the Medieval era. This allowed Ptolemaic teachings on astrology to be included in universities during the Renaissance, which brought an associated impact upon medical studies and literary works.

The historical importance of the Tetrabiblos is seen by the many ancient, Medieval and Renaissance commentaries that have been published about it. It was copied, commented on, paraphrased, abridged, and translated into many languages.

Full title:

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BOOK I

CHAP.

I.

PROEM

II.

KNOWLEDGE MAY BE ACQUIRED BY ASTRONOMY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT

III.

THAT PRESCIENCE IS USEFUL

IV.

THE INFLUENCES OF THE PLANETARY ORBS

V.

BENEFICS AND MALEFICS

VI.

MASCULINE AND FEMININE

VII.

DIURNAL AND NOCTURNAL

VIII.

THE INFLUENCE OF POSITION WITH REGARD TO THE SUN

IX.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE FIXED STARS

X.

CONSTELLATIONS NORTH OF THE ZODIAC

XI.

CONSTELLATIONS SOUTH OF THE ZODIAC

XII.

THE ANNUAL SEASONS

XIII.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE FOUR ANGLES

XIV.

TROPICAL, EQUINOCTIAL, FIXED, AND BICORPOREAL SIGNS

XV.

MASCULINE AND FEMININE SIGNS

XVI.

MUTUAL CONFIGURATIONS OF THE SIGNS

XVII.

SIGNS COMMANDING AND OBEYING

XVIII.

SIGNS BEHOLDING EACH OTHER, AND OF EQUAL POWER

XIX.

SIGNS INCONJUNCT

XX.

HOUSES OF THE PLANETS

XXI.

THE TRIPLICITIES

XXII.

EXALTATIONS

XXIII.

THE DISPOSITION OF THE TERMS

XXIV.

THE TERMS (ACCORDING TO PTOLEMY)

XXV.

THE PLACES AND DEGREES OF EVERY PLANET

XXVI.

FACES, CHARIOTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES OF THE PLANETS

XXVII.

APPLICATION, SEPARATION, AND OTHER FACULTIES

BOOK II

I.

GENERAL DIVISION OF THE SUBJECT

II.

PECULIARITIES OBSERVABLE THROUGHOUT EVERY ENTIRE CLIMATE

III.

THE FAMILIARITY OF THE REGIONS OF THE EARTH WITH THE TRIPLICITIES AND THE PLANETS

IV.

THE FAMILIARITY OF THE REGIONS OF THE EARTH WITH THE FIXED STARS

V.

MODE OF PARTICULAR PREDICTION IN ECLIPSES

VI.

THE REGIONS OR COUNTRIES TO BE CONSIDERED AS LIABLE TO BE COMPREHENDED IN THE EVENT

VII.

THE TIME AND PERIOD OF THE EVENT

VIII.

THE GENUS, CLASS, OR KIND, LIABLE TO BE AFFECTED

IX.

THE QUALITY AND NATURE OF THE EFFECT

X.

COLOURS IN ECLIPSES, COMETS, AND SIMILAR PHENOMENA

p. x

CHAP.

XI.

THE NEW MOON OF THE YEAR

XII.

THE PARTICULAR NATURES OF THE SIGNS BY WHICH THE DIFFERENT CONSTITUTIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE ARE PRODUCED

XIII.

MODE OF CONSIDERATION FOR PARTICULAR CONSTITUTIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

XIV.

THE SIGNIFICATION OF METEORS

BOOK III

I.

PROEM

II.

THE CONCEPTION, AND THE PARTURITION, OR BIRTH; BY WHICH LATTER EVENT THE ANIMAL QUITS THE WOMB, AND ASSUMES ANOTHER STATE OF EXISTENCE

III.

THE DEGREE ASCENDING

IV.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE DOCTRINE OF NATIVITIES

V.

THE PARENTS

VI.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

VII.

MALE OR FEMALE

VIII.

TWINS

IX.

MONSTROUS OR DEFECTIVE BIRTHS

X.

CHILDREN NOT REARED

XI.

THE DURATION OF LIFE

XII.

THE PROROGATORY PLACES

XIII.

THE NUMBER OF PROROGATORS, AND ALSO THE PART OF FORTUNE

XIV.

NUMBER OF THE MODES OF PROROGATION

XV.

EXEMPLIFICATION

XVI.

THE FORM AND TEMPERAMENT OF THE BODY

XVII.

THE HURTS, INJURIES, AND DISEASES OF THE BODY

XVIII.

THE QUALITY OF THE MIND

XIX.

THE DISEASES OF THE MIND

BOOK IV

I.

PROEM

II.

THE FORTUNE OF WEALTH

III.

THE FORTUNE OF RANK

IV.

THE QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT

V.

MARRIAGE

VI.

CHILDREN

VII.

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

VIII.

TRAVELLING

IX.

THE KIND OF DEATH

X.

THE PERIODICAL DIVISIONS OF TIME

NO.

APPENDIX

I.

ALMAGEST, BOOK VIII, CHAP. 4

II.

EXTRACT FROM THE ALMAGEST, BOOK II, CHAP. 9
TABLE OF LATITUDES, FROM THE ALMAGEST
EXTRACT FROM THE TABLE OF ASCENSIONS, IN THE ALMAGEST

III.

PTOLEMY’S CENTILOQUY

IV.

THE ZODIACAL PLANISPHERE, AND PLATE