Babylonian Astrology
History

Arising around 2000 BCE, Babylonian Astrology was the first organized system of Astrology. There is some speculation that some form of Astrology appeared in the Sumerian period around 3000 BCE but unfortunately, there is no tangible evidence to support that belief.

By the 1600 BCE, a simple omen-based Astrology had begun to become evident in the astrological writings of the time. A most important example of these documents was the Enuma Anu Enlil. Its contents consisted of 70 tablets of 7,000 recorded events representing public, common, famine, war, etc., and the celestial observations at the time they occured. Texts from this time also referred to an oral tradition. However, their origin and content can only be speculated upon.

During this time Babylonian Astrology was solely mundane, and, prior to 700 BCE, the practitioners' understanding of astronomy was quite rudimentary.

Because of their inability to accurately predict future celestial phenomena and planetary movement far in advance, interpretations were done as the phenomena occurred or slightly before. However, by 400 BCE, their expertise and mathematical methods had progressed sufficiently enough to calculate future planetary positions with reasonable accuracy. It was at this time extensive ephemerides began to appear.

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