sition rather favorable to astrological theory.[1] The sun is the mind and soul of the whole world and the chief governor of nature.[2] The planets affect each other. A cold star renders another approaching it pale; a hot star causes its neighbor to redden; a windy planet gives those near it a lowering aspect.[3] Saturn is cold and rigid; Mars a flaming fire; Jupiter, located between them, is temperate and salubrious.[4] When the planets reach a certain point in their orbits, they are deflected from their regular course by the rays of the sun.[5]
Besides effects upon each other the planets exert especial influence upon the earth. "Potentia autem ad terram magnopere eorum pertinens."[6] They govern, each according to its nature, the weather on our globe.[7] The planets also have great influence upon diseases and on animal and plant life in general, although Pliny does not dwell upon this point at any length.[8] The moon, a feminine and nocturnal star, stirs up humors on earth and is powerful in producing
- ↑ Bk. ii, ch. 1. "Mundum . . . numen esse credi par est. Sacer est, aeternus, inmensus, totus in toto, immo vero ipse totum."
- ↑ Bk. ii, ch. 4. "Hunc esse mundi totius animum ac planius mentem, hunc principale naturae regimen ac numen credere decet opera eius aestimantes."
- ↑ Bk. ii, ch. 16.
- ↑ Bk. ii, ch. 6.
- ↑ Bk. ii, ch. 13.
- ↑ Bk ii, ch. 6. See also bk. ii, ch. 39. "Ut solis ergo natura temperando intellegitur anno sic reliquorum quoque siderum propria est quibusque vis et ad suam cuique naturam fertilis."
- ↑ Bk. ii, ch. 39. For the general physical interaction of earth and stars as conceived by Pliny see bk. ii, ch. 38. "Terrena in caelum tendentia deprimit siderum vis, eademque quae sponte non subeant ad se trahit. Decidunt imbres, nebulae subeunt, siccantur amnes, ruunt grandines, torrent radii et terram in medio mundi undique inpellunt, iidem infracti resiliunt et quae potuere auferunt secum. Vapor ex alto cadit rursumque in altum redit. Venti ingruunt inanes iidemque cum rapina remeant. Tot animalium haustus spiritum e sublimi trahit, at ille contra nititur, tellusque ut inani caelo spiritum fundit."
- ↑ Bk. ii, ch. 41.
