Of Marriage [According to Egyptian Ptolemy]
last updated: 24/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 5, pages 100-103 [London, Davis and Dickson; 1822].
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V. Of Marriage
Will the native marry young or at much older age? Or, will the person have a controlling wife or a husband of action? What the future holds for me in matters of marriage? The ancients had the same concern and genuine curiosity. Through astrology one should be able to begin to speculate to then later make great claims over the sphere of important relationships. Again, this is not about a “house topic”, or, as you would imagine, the 7th house/place is not even cited but when either men or women marriage late or a much older person. Read the text below and conclude the Marriage in Astrology by yourself:
“As the subject of marriage comes next in order to these matters, the following is the method whereby the lawful association of man and wife must be investigated.”
MARRIAGE OF MEN “For men it is necessary to observe the position of the Moon in their genitures.”
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Type of Marriage | Investigate |
Young Marriage | “…For, in the first place, if she [Moon] chances to be in the eastern [1st & 4th] quadrants [Eastern Half], she makes men marry young or marry women younger than themselves; [Moon in 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 12th, 11th or 10th place] |
Late Marriage | but if she [Moon] is in the western [2nd & 3rd] quadrants [Western Half] they marry late or marry older women. [Moon in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th place] |
No Marriage at | And if she [Moon] is under the rays of the Sun and in aspect with Saturn, they do not marry at all. [ex. new moon in genetlhiacal chart + Saturn] |
Single Marriage | Then again, if the Moon is in a sign of a single figure, or is applying to one of the planets [ex. Moon applying a conjuncton to Mars], she makes them men of one marriage; |
More than Once | but if she is in a bicorporeal [mutable] or multiform sign, or applies to several planets in the same sign [ex. let the Moon in Virgo trine Stellium in Capricorn], she makes them marry more than once. |
The Good Wife | And if the planets to which she applies, either by propinquity, or by testimony, are beneficent, the men get good wives; [ex. let the Moon in Virgo trine Venus-Jupiter-Sun in Capricorn] |
The Bad Wife | but if they are maleficent planets, the opposite. [ex. let the Moon in Virgo square Mars-Saturnin Gemini] |
The Hardworking | If she applies to Saturn, he makes the wives hardworking and stern; [ex. Moon-Saturn applying conjunction] |
The Manager Wife | Jupiter, dignified and good managers; [ex. Moon-Jupiter applying trine] |
The Bold Wife | Mars, bold and unruly; [ex. Moon-Mars applying opposition] |
The Charming Wife | Venus, cheerful, beautiful, and charming; [ex. Moon-Venus applying sextile] |
The Smart Wife | Mercury, intelligent and keen, [ex. Moon-Mercury applying conjunction] |
The Affectionate | Further, Venus with Jupiter, Saturn, or Mercury makes them thrifty and affectionate to their husbands and children, |
The Unstable Wife | but [Venus, Jupiter, Mercury] with Mars, easily roused to wrath, unstable, and unfeeling.” |
MARRIAGE OF WOMEN “In the case of the wives one must observe the Sun in their genitures”
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Type of Marriage | Investigate |
Young Marriage or Younger Husband | “…for if he [Sun], again, chances to be in the eastern [1st & 4th] quadrants [Eastern Half], he makes those who have him in this position in their genitures either marry young or marry men younger than themselves; [Sun in 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 12th, 11th or 10th place] |
Late Marriage or Much Older Husbands | but in the western [2nd & 3rd] quadrants [Western Half], he [Sun] makes them marry late or marry husbands older than themselves, [Sun in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th place] |
Single Marriage in Life | And if the Sun is in a sign of a single figure, or applies to one of the oriental planets [planets visiable before dawn – or planets before the Sun in degrees, ex. let the Sun be in Cancer in aspect to Mars in Cancer, Taurus, Aries or Pisces], he makes them marry but once; |
More than Once | but, again, if he [Sun] is in a Bicorporeal [mutable] or multiform Sign, or in aspect with several planets in the east [1st place] they marry more than once. |
Industrious Husband | If Saturn is similarly in aspect with the Sun, they marry sedate, useful, industrious husbands; [ex. let the Sun be in Cancer in aspect to Saturn in Cancer, Taurus, Aries and Pisces] |
Dignified Husband | if Jupiter is in aspect [Sun], dignified and magnanimous; [ex. let the Sun be in Cancer in aspect to Jupiter in Cancer, Taurus, Aries and Pisces] |
1. Husband of Action 2. Handsome and Neat | 1. Mars [+ Sun], men of action, lacking in affection, and unruly; [ex. let the Sun be in Cancer in aspect to Mars in Cancer, Taurus, Aries and Pisces] – 2. Venus, neat and handsome; [ex. Venus conjunct Sun] |
Practical Husband | Mercury, thrifty and practical; [ex. let Mercury rise before the Sun, or, Mercury before the Sun in degrees] |
Sexually Weak Husband | Venus with Saturn, sluggish and rather weak in sexual relations |
Ardent Husband | Venus with Mars, ardent, impetuous, and adulterous; |
Gay Husband? | Venus with Mercury, infatuated with boys. |
1. Sun & Women’s Marriage 2. Moon & Men’s Marriage | …In this connection we mean by eastern [1st & 4th] quadrants [Eastern Half], [in 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 12th, 11th or 10th place] – 1. in the case of the Sun, the signs which precede the rising sign of the zodiac, and those which precede the setting sign; – 2. with reference to the Moon, the signs from new and full moon to the quarters; and by western [2nd & 3rd] quadrants [Western Half] the signs opposite these.” [in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th place] |
Ptolemy keeps going with the Chapter writing configurations of the Luminaries which could result from long lasting marriages to divorces and adultery. He also writes about marriages of extreme cases of incest, marriages based on/of violence and abuse, profitable marriages, and even the loss of Penis or a sterile women. Read the text which I separated as a practical list:
Long Lasting Marriages: “Marriages for the most part are lasting when in both the genitures the luminaries happen to be in harmonious aspect [ex. let one have Sun-Moon trine and the other Sun-Moon sextile in their own natal charts plus better yet in their synastry they also look good at each, read below], that is, in trine or in sextile with one another,
Sun/Moon Synastry: and particularly when this comes about by exchange; and even more when the husband’s Moon is in such aspect with the wife’s Sun.”
Divorces: “…Divorces on slight pretexts and complete alienations occur when the aforesaid positions of the luminaries are in disjunct signs, or in opposition or in quartile. [ex. let my Moon be in Cancer and my partner in Libra, also my Sun in Aries and my partner Sun in Taurus]
Profitable & Pleasant Marriages: And if the beneficent planets regard the luminaries when the latter are in harmonious aspect, they keep the marriage pleasant, agreeable, and profitable, [ex. let Venus-Jupiter enter the configuration of luminaries which already look good at each]
Quarrels & Unpleasant Marriage: but if the maleficent planets so regard the luminaries, the marriage will be quarrelsome, unpleasant, and unprofitable. [ex. let Mars-Saturn enter the configuration of luminaries which already look horribly at each]
Marriages from the Ashes: Similarly, when the luminaries are in inharmonious positions, the beneficent planets testifying to the luminaries do not completely terminate the marriages, but bring about renewals and recollections, which preserve kindness and affection; [ex. let my Moon be in Gemini and my partner Sun-Moon in Sagittarius but Venus-Jupiter look good at them in both charts and in relation to each]
Abuse & Violence: but the maleficent planets cause divorces with abuse and violence. [ex. let my Moon be in Scorpio and my partner Sun-Moon in Taurus and Mars-Saturn look terribly at them in both charts and in relation to each]
The Notorious & Talked Marriage: If Mercury alone is with them, they are involved in notoriety and recriminations; [ex. let Mercury be close (conjunction) and same sign of both nativities and their trine, sextile or conjunction each in/as synastry]
Adultery in Marriage: and along with Venus, in adultery, poisonings, and the like.” [Ptolemy won’t specify if trine or sextile or looking as square or inconjunction and opposition – look if Venus is involved somehow in the configuration whatsoever]
Venus, Mars, Saturn & Marriage: “…Marriages which come about in any other manner whatsoever must be judged by looking to Venus, Mars, and Saturn. [A fresh new “signification” is giving as result of these planets]
With the Moon/Sun & Lawful Relationship: For if they are with the luminaries in familiarity, we must decide that the marriages also will be domestic and the relationship lawful.
Same Age Partners: For the marriage relationship will follow the relation which Venus holds to each of the planets mentioned, toward Mars, that of persons of the same age, since they have their exaltations in signs that are in trine to one another;
Partners of Disparate Ages: …toward Saturn, that of the older person, since again they have their houses in signs which are in trine to each other.”
Amorous and Notorious Marriage: “Therefore Venus, with Mars, produces merely amorous dispositions, but if Mercury is present, notoriety also;
Incest? in the common and familiar signs, Capricorn and Pisces, unions with brethren or kindred.
Polygamy in Men: If in the case of men Venus is with the Moon. She makes them unite with two sisters or kinsfolk.
Polygamy in Women: And if in the case of women Venus is with Jupiter. With two brothers or kinsfolk.”
Beneficial, Pleasant & Firm Partners: “Again, if Venus happens to be with Saturn, she produces merely pleasant and firm unions, but if Mercury is present. They are also beneficial.
Unstable & Jealously Partnership: But if Mars also is present the marriage will be unstable, harmful and full of jealousy.
Same Age Partners: And if she is in the same aspect to them, she brings about marriages with equals in age;
Partners of Disparate Ages: but if she is further to the east than they, marriages with younger men or women, and if she is further to the west, with older women or men.
Marriages of Kin: But if Venus and Saturn are also in the common signs; that is, in Capricorn or Libra, they portend marriages of kin.
Extreme Cases of Incestuous Relationship (Part I): If the Moon is present with this aforesaid combination when it is at the horoscope [Asc] or at mid-heaven, she makes men wed their mothers, or with their mother’s sisters, or their stepmothers, and women wed their sons, their brothers’ sons, or their daughters’ husbands.
Extreme Cases of Incestuous Relationship (Part II):The Sun, particularly if the planets are setting, makes men wed their daughters, daughters’ sisters, or sons’ wives, and the women wed their fathers, fathers’ brothers, or stepfathers.
Depraved & Utterly Obscene Top/Bottom Individuals: But if the aforesaid aspects chance not to be composed of signs of the same gender, but are in feminine places, thus they produce depraved individuals, ready in every way for both active and passive participation, and in same formations utterly obscene, as for instance in the forward and hinder parts of Aries, the Hyades, and the Pitcher, and the hind parts of Leo, and the face of Capricorn.
The Public Sees it: But if the configuration is angular, on the first two angles, the eastern and mid-heaven, they make a complete display [porn stars as well? because of the fearless display of having sex on camera where the public will have access to?] of their abnormalities and bring them forward even in public places;
Sterile Women & Effeminate Men: on the last two, that is, the western and northern, they produce spades and eunuchs or sterile women and those without passages;
Penis Loss: if Mars is present, men who have lost their genitals, or the so-called tribades.”
It is quite common to hear astrologers saying to look out for Venus in Men’s chart to know about the women in their lives and Mars in Women’s chart to predict conditions and dispositions in matters of love, or that love can only be seen through Venus’ eyes – This was not exactly the way Ptolemy had read the ancient texts. The antagonist did his long search based on strong and plausible defenses – There is a filter and planets can express differently once a human has so many degrees and depth of genre and sexuality. Learn the Ptolemy’ way on how planetary combination of planets related to the Significators Mars (in Men’s chart) and Venus (in Women’s chart) express their qualities through love:
MEN IN/AND LOVE “In general we shall, in the case of men, investigate through Mars what will be their | |
Disposition of Love | Investigate |
Ordinarly Clean & Decorous | “…For if Mars is separated from Venus and Saturn, but has the testimony of Jupiter, he produces men who are cleanly and decorous in love and who aim only at its natural use [sex as procreation?]. |
Frigid & | But if he [Mars] is accompanied by Saturn alone, he produces men cautious, hesitant, and frigid. |
Easily Roused Passionate | If Venus and Jupiter are in aspect with him [Mars], he will produce men easily roused and passionate, who are, however, continent, hold themselves in check, and avoid unseemliness. |
Don Juan DeMarco | With Venus alone [but with Mars], or if Jupiter also is with her, but Saturn is not present, he produces lustful, careless men, who seek their pleasures from every quarter; |
Bisexual | and if one of the planets [Venus & Mars] is an evening and the other a morning star, men who have relations with both males and females, but no more than moderately inclined to either. |
Straight Guy | But if both [Venus & Mars] are evening stars, they will be inclined toward the females alone, |
Bottom | and if the signs of the zodiac are feminine, they themselves will be pathics. |
Gay Teen | If both are morning stars, they will be infected only with love of boys, |
Not a Picker | and if the signs of the zodiac are masculine, with males of any age. |
Foreigner Partner | If Venus is further to the west, they will have to do with women of low degree, slaves, or foreigners; |
Love with Married | if Mars is further west, with superiors, or married women, or ladies of high station.” |
WOMEN IN/AND LOVE “In the genitures of women one must examine Venus…” | |
Disposition of Love | Investigate |
Pure in Love | “…For if Venus is in aspect with Jupiter or likewise with Mercury, she makes them temperate and pure in love. |
Full of Desire but Hesitant | If Saturn is not present, but she is associated with Mercury, she makes them easily aroused and full of desire, but generally cautious, hesitant, and avoiding turpitude. |
Lustful | But if Venus is together with Mars only, or is in some aspect to him, she makes them lustful and depraved and more heedless. |
Foreigner Partner | If Jupiter too is present with them, and if Mars is under the Sun’s rays, they have commerce with slaves, men of lower classes, or foreigners; |
Mistresses | but if Venus is in this position, they consort with men of superior rank, or masters, playing the part of mistresses or adulteresses; |
Submission | if the planets are made feminine by their places or aspects, they are inclined only to take the passive part, |
Lesbianism | but if the, planets are made masculine they are so depraved as actively to have commerce with women. |
Licentiousness | However, when Saturn is brought into association with the aforesaid configurations, if he is himself made feminine, he is by himself the cause of licentiousness, |
Lovers & Censure | but if he is rising and is in a masculine position, he makes them the objects of censure or lovers of such; |
Unsafe | but combination with Jupiter, again, always gives a more seemly appearance to these faults, and with Mercury makes them more notorious and unsafe.” |
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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.)