for instance, that one born in Leo will be brave; and that one born in Virgo will have long straight hair,[1] be of a fair complexion, childless, modest. These statements, however, and others similar to them, are rather deserving of laughter than serious consideration. For, according to them, it is possible for no Æthiopian to be born in Virgo; otherwise he would allow that such a one is white, with long straight hair and the rest. But I am rather of opinion,[2] that the ancients imposed the names of received animals upon certain specified stars, for the purpose of knowing them better, not from any similarity of nature; for what have the seven stars, distant one from another, in common with a bear, or the five stars with the head of a dragon?—in regard of which Aratus[3] says:
"But two his temples, and two his eyes, and one beneath
Reaches the end of the huge monster's jaw."
Chapter vii.
Practical Absurdity of the Chaldaic Art—Development of the Art.
In this manner also, that these points are not deserving so much labour, is evident to those who prefer to think correctly, and do not attend to the bombast of the Chaldæans, who consign monarchs to utter obscurity, by perfecting
- ↑ Sextus adds, "bright-eyed."
- ↑ Hippolytus here follows Sextus.
- ↑ Aratus, from whom Hippolytus quotes so frequently in this chapter, was a poet and astronomer of antiquity, born at Soli in Cilicia. He afterwards became physician to Gonatus, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes, king of Macedon, at whose court he rose high into favour. The work alluded to by Hippolytus is Aratus' Phænomena,—a versified account of the motions of the stars, and of sidereal influence over men. This work seems to have been a great favourite with scholars, if we are to judge from the many excellent annotated editions of it that have appeared. Two of these deserve notice, viz. Grotius' Leyden edition, 1600, in Greek and Latin; and Buhle's edition, Leipsic 1803. See also
having become almost extinct, was revived by the Arabians at the verge of the middle ages. For the history of astrology one must consult the writings of Manilius, Julius Firmicus, and Ptolemy. Its greatest mediæval apologist is Cardan, the famous physician of Pavia (see his work, De Astron. Judic. lib. vi.–ix. tom. v. of his collected works).
