Considerations

In this chapter, Ptolemy teaches us the famous Triplicities among the Zodiac signs; also Ptolemy made sure to distribute the triplicities’ rulers while explaining why. 

Simultaneously, Ptolemy discerns the 2 planets ruler of each triangle (except the Water Triplicity), even when the triangle is, obviously, made of 3 signs, but he explains why that is. For example, altough Mars rules the Diurnal Aries, the planet won’t co-rule such Fiery Triangle because it discords with the Sun’s Diurnal Sect etc. Thus, Sun  & Jupiter becomes the only co-regents of this particular Triplicity.

This chapter also orients us the Directions of the elementary triangles – the water Triplicity rules things coming primarily from the north, but secondary from south-western parts of the globe and so forth.

Of the Triangles

Distribution of the Signs as Equilateral Triangle:  The Trines of the Zodiac signs are the peaceful and harmonious Aspect in/of the wheel, and not only the Signs share the same Sex in such Equilateral Triangular Aspect, but their Elements is also overlooked: the fire, earth, air and water triplicities. Thus, the 12 Zodiac Signs shall be distributed in/as 4 Equilateral Triangles.

Note: Altough Opposition is an Aspect  because the sign is actually looking at something else (aka. end point of its own axis), it is actually from the #3 that a perfect polygon can really begin. You can’t actually predict from a circle, again, it has no beginning and no end. In order then to apply systematically something to the wheel, astronomers/astrologers needed interposition based on polygons [math mediation]. Read more on the Aspectual Polygons

Ptolemy begins the chapter saying the Triplicities of the Zodiac “preserves accordance” with that what is triangular and equal in parts distributed among, and thus, as each Triplicity has 3 signs in each of the 4 elements, the Zodiac’s ‘ Orbit’ is also defined by these 3 circles: from the Equinox as well as from Cancer and Capricorn, the two astronomical tropics. For example, in the Fire Triplicity, Aries resides in the Equinox circle, Leo in the summer & Sagitarius in the winter circle and so on with the other triplicities. 

Read it:

“The familiarity by triangles is as follows. Inasmuch as the triangular and equilateral form is most harmonious with itself, the zodiac also is bounded by three [3] circles, the equinoctial and the two tropics, and its twelve parts are [thus] divided into four equilateral triangles.”

Fire Trinity: “The first of these, which passes through Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, is composed of three masculine signs and includes the houses of the Sun, of Mars, and of Jupiter. This triangle was assigned to the Sun and Jupiter, since Mars is not of the Solar Sect. The Sun assumes first governance of it by day and Jupiter by night. Also, Aries is close to the equinoctial circle, Leo to the summer solstice and Sagittarius to the winter solstice. This triangle is preeminently northern because of Jupiter’s share in its government, since Jupiter is fecund and windy, similarly to the winds from the north. However, because of the house of Mars it suffers an admixture of the south-west wind and is constituted Borrolibycon, because Mars causes such winds and also because of the sect of the Moon and the feminine quality of the occident.”

In the Fire Triplicity, Mars won’t rule the triangle once he operates better in/from the Sect of the Moon, then such triangle would be better off without him, while only (co-regents) heater Sun & fruitful Jupiter would govern the fiery harmonious connection of the Zodiac Signs, the first by Day and the second by Night. And again, in the Fire Triplicity, Aries resides in the Equinox circle, Leo in the summer & Sagittarius in the winter circle and so on with the other triplicities. 

Earth Trinity: “The second triangle, which is the One drawn through Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, is composed of three feminine signs, and consequently was assigned to the moon and Venus; the Moon governs it by night and Venus by day. Taurus lies toward the summer tropic, Virgo toward the equinox, and Capricorn toward the winter tropic. This triangle is made preeminently southern because of the dominance of Venus, since this star through the heat and moisture of its power produces similar winds; but as it receives an admixture of Apeliotes [Dry Wind] because the house of Saturn, Capricornus, is included within it, it is constituted Notapeliotes in contrast to the filet [fire] triangle, since Saturn produces winds of this kind and is related to the cast through sharing in the sect of the Sun.”

In the feminine Earth Triplicity, Saturn won’t rule the triangle once he is masculine, then such triangle would be better off without him, while only both feminine Moon and Venus would govern the earthy harmonious connection of the Zodiac Signs. In the Earth Triplicity, Taurus performs inside the summer circle, Virgo on the Equinox and Capricorn circuiting the Winter circle.

Air Trinity: “The third triangle is the One drawn through Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, composed of three masculine signs, and having no relation to Mars but rather to Saturn and Mercury because of their houses. It was assigned in turn to these, with Saturn governing during the day on account of his sect and Mercury by night. The sign of Gemini lies toward the summer tropic, Libra toward the equinox, and Aquarius toward the winter tropic. This triangle also is primarily of eastern constitution, because of Saturn, but by admixture north-eastern, because the sect of Jupiter has familiarity with Saturn, inasmuch as it is diurnal.”

In the masculine Air Triplicity, Venus won’t rule the triangle once she is feminine, then such triangle would be better off without her, while only Saturn and Mercury would govern the airy harmonious connection of the Zodiac Signs. In the Air Triplicity, Gemini performs inside the summer circle,  Libra on the Equinox and Aquarius circuiting the Winter circle.

Water Trinity: “The fourth triangle, which is the one drawn through Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, was left to the only remaining planet, Mars, which is related to it through his house, Scorpio; and along with him, on account of the Sect and the femininity of the signs, the Moon by night and Venus by day are co-rulers. Cancer is near the summer circle, Scorpio lies close to the winter one, and Pisces to the equinox. This triangle is constituted preeminently western, because it is dominated by Mars and the Moon; but by admixture it becomes south-western through the domination of Venus.”

In the feminine Water Triplicity, Mars was left and thus rules the water Triplicity once the water house only begins 4 signs later Aries where all the majority and elements were already distributed. Due to the femininity of the triangle and the Moon Sect [Cancer is in the triangle], the Moon and Venus are also added to the Triplicity simultaneously, or better, are co-rulers of the watery trinity. In the Water Triplicity, Cancer performs the summer circle,  Scorpio on the winter and Pisces circuiting the Equinox circle.

Conclusion

We can conclude that the triangular forms of the wheel are harmonious Aspects where Zodiac signs look at another from their own regions contributed by their own modalities and elements, and the ancients thought these elementary triangles to have planetary rulerships despite each sign already having a ruler. 

For that reason, signs can be modulated to accord to planets even when the same could be detriment to a planet, for example the sign of Cancer, Mars is well debilitated in such Zodiacal sign, but at night, it kind of “agrees” with the sign once it rules the water triplicity which Cancer if found at, not to mention that Mars is the first term-ruler of Cancer.

Read more about the directions [Of the Effect of the Seasons & of the Four Angles].

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References

Go back to Ptolemy’s Way and read the references