Of the Fortune of Dignity [According to Egyptian Ptolemy]
last updated: 22/Sep/2021
Note: For references, I utilized the version of the cosmopolitan Tetrabiblos from the anthologist Ptolemy’s four books of the influence of the stars [or the Quadripartite Mathematical Treatise] translated from the Greek paraphrase of Proclus by j. m. Ashmand – more specifically I will refer this article to the Book IV; Chapter 3, pages 96-97 [London, Davis and Dickson; 1822].
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III. Of the Fortune of Dignity
Rather a continuation from Chapter II, this chapter of Fortune of Dignity, is not exactly pointing out the money sphere of life, but how a person’s position in the world [rank] influences resources, income, valuable assets etc. An important note to add is that this Chapter is not about “Planetary Dignities”, but the native’s pre-determined way to fortune through world’s position and vice-versa. Will a child have/be in his/her future the life of a “King”, of a wealthy and privileged person? Or an important civilian? Ptolemy seems to match money with happiness as well. Read it:
Dignity & Happiness: “It will be needful to determine the questions of dignity and happiness resulting there from the position of the luminaries and the familiarity to them of their attendant planets.”
Type | Investigate |
Kings and Queens | “…For if both the luminaries are in masculine signs and either both of them, or even one of the two, angular, and particularly if the luminary of the sect is also attended by the five planets, matutine to the [rises with the] Sun and vespertine to the Moon, the children will be kings.” [Does it also point out to governors and presidents? I must investigate such claim] |
World Rulers | “…And if the attendant planets are either themselves angular or bear an aspect to the superior angle, the children born will continue to be great, powerful, and world rulers, and they will be even more fortunate if the attendant planets are in dexter aspect to the superior angles.” [I think such configuration nowadays could also be applied to people of huge corporations as well] |
Generals | “…But if, while the others are in this position, the Sun alone is in a masculine sign, and the Moon is in a feminine one, and one of the luminaries is angular, they will merely be generals, with power of life and death.” |
Partial Dignities & Not of First Rank | “…If, however, besides this the attendant planets are neither angular nor witnessing to the angles, they will be merely great and will enjoy partial dignities, those which involve the wearing of chaplets, or those of superintendence or of military command, and not those of first rank.” |
The Important Civilian | “… But if the luminaries are not angular, and most of the attendant planets are either angular or in aspect with the angles, they will not attain the more conspicuous honors but rather civil leadership and moderate advancement in their careers.” |
Humble but Miserable in Fortune | “…If, however, the attendant planets are not associated with the angles, they are rendered obscure in their actions and without preferment, and they are entirely humble and miserable in their fortunes when neither of the luminaries is angular, or in a masculine sign, or attended by the beneficent planets.” |
It seems this chapter has quite a political texture along with traces of economical status, of course. The extension of the vocabulary nowadays and world’s position make astrologers re-think the dictionary with the old writings – we can add to the list others scenarios where a person exerts such power over people, while in return, richness or even wealthy may result of that. Also, it seems like the text is rather to be read by those in some form of responsibility or studious in that society Ptolemy was living, saying things such as “the children born will continue to be great”, giving us a sense that the person reading knows quite well, or is very conscious of their and peoples’ status before the world, someone with some kind of previous intellect.
Powerful Sun & Moon + Planets Rising Soon After the Sun: “…The general outline, then, of the investigation before us involves a gradation of dignities of this sort. Since there are very many conditions intermediate between these grades, one must estimate them from the specific qualities of the luminaries themselves, and the particular variations in the manner in which they are attended, and the government of the attendance.
Overall Quality | Investigate |
Independence & Secured Fortune | For if their attendance consists of planets of the same sect, or of the beneficent planets, greater independence and security will attend the dignities; |
Dependent & Uncertain Fortune | but if it involves the opposite sect, or the maleficent planets, there will be dependency and less security.” |
“The kind of future honour is to be divined from the quality of the attending planets”
Saturn | …for if Saturn governs the attendance, he brings about power based on wealth and the amassing of riches, |
Venus + Jupiter | …but Jupiter or Venus that which rests upon favors, gifts, honors, and magnanimity |
Mars | …Mars brings power founded on generalships, victories, and the fears of subordinates, |
Mercury | …and Mercury that which depends upon intelligence, education, and the care and management of affairs.” |
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References
Tetrabiblos Ptolemy’s four books of the influence of the stars [or the Quadripartite Mathematical Treatise] translated from the Greek paraphrase of Proclus by j. m. Ashmand – [London, Davis and Dickson; 1822]
Ptolemy. Tetrabiblos. Translated by F. E. Robbins. Loeb Classical Library 435. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1940.
Porphyry The Philosopher – Introduction To The Tetrabiblos & Serapio Of Alexandria; Astrological Definitions (Translated from the Greek by ] James Herschel Holden, M.A.)