Hellenistic Track Translations

Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos Book I

(Greek Track Volume V)

Table of Contents

Introduction to Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos by Robert Hand .............................................................. i

Translator's Preface by Robert Schmidt ................................................................................... vii
          General Note .................................................................................................................. x
          Oikeiosis & Sunoikeiosis & corresponding verbal forms ................................................... x
          Schematismos ................................................................................................................ xi

The Tetrabiblos, Book I ............................................................................................................. 1
          1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1
          2. That the Knowledge Through Astronomy Is Attainable, and to What Extent ............. 3
          3. That It Is Also Beneficial ............................................................................................. 9
          4. Concerning the Power of the Wandering Stars ......................................................... 14
          5. Concerning Benefic and Malefic Planets ..................................................................... 16
          6. Concerning Masculine and Feminine Planets .............................................................. 16
          7. Concerning Diurnal and Nocturnal Planets ................................................................. 17
          8. Concerning the Power of the Figurations Relative to the Sun .................................... 18
          9. Concerning the Power of the Fixed Stars ................................................................... 20
                    Concerning the Formations farther north than the Zodiac ................................... 22
                    Concerning the Formations farther south than the Zodiac ................................... 23
          10. Concerning the Seasons of the Year ........................................................................ 24
          11. Concerning the Power of the Four Angles ................................................................ 25
          12. Concerning Tropical, Equipartite, Solid, and Bicorporeal Zoidia ................................ 27
          13. Concerning Masculine and Feminine Zoidia .............................................................. 28
          14. Concerning the Twelfth-Parts that Are Configured ................................................... 29
          15. Concerning Zoidia that Command and in Like Manner Obey .................................... 30
          16. Concerning Zoidia that See and Are Equipollent to Each Other ................................ 31
          17. Concerning Unconnected Zoidia ............................................................................... 31
          18. Concerning the Houses of Each Star ........................................................................ 32
          19. Concerning Trigons .................................................................................................. 33
          20. Concerning Exaltations ............................................................................................ 37
          21. Concerning the Disposition of the Boundaries ......................................................... 38
          22. Concerning Places and Degrees of Each Zoidion ..................................................... 45
          23. Concerning Faces, Chariots, and the Like ................................................................ 46
          24. Concerning Applications and Separations and the Other Powers ............................ 48

Appendix I
Ptolemy's Hypotheses of the Planets
Book II ........................................................................................................................... 50

Appendix II
Translation Conventions ................................................................................................ 58

Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos Book III

(Greek Track Volume XII)

Table of Contents

Introduction to Book III of the Tetrabiblos by Robert Hand ....................................................... i

Translator's Preface by Robert Schmidt ................................................................................... vi
          House Division, Planetary Strength, and Cusps in Hellenistic Astrology ....................... viii
          The Early Tradition of House Division ............................................................................ viii
          Whole-Sign Houses in Valens, with Two Exceptions ...................................................... ix
          Ptolemy's Equal House System ...................................................................................... xii
          Equal and Mundane Divisions in the Later Commentators ............................................ xiv
          Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... xv
          General Note -- Update on Oikeiosis & Sunoikeiosis & Related Verb Forms ................... xvi

The Tetrabiblos, Book III ............................................................................................................ i
          1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1
          2. Concerning Conception and Birth ................................................................................. 3
          3. Concerning the Degree Marking the Hour .................................................................... 8
          4. The Dividing Up of Natal Theory ................................................................................... 9
          5. Concerning Parents ................................................................................................... 13
          6. Concerning Siblings .................................................................................................... 19
          7. Concerning Males and Females .................................................................................. 21
          8. Concerning Twins ....................................................................................................... 22
          9. Concerning Monsters ................................................................................................. 23
          10. Concerning Those Who Go Unnourished ................................................................. 26
          11. Concerning the Years of Life ................................................................................... 29
          12. Concerning Bodily Form and Mixture ....................................................................... 47
          13. Concerning Bodily Injuries and Ailments ................................................................. 50
          14. Concerning Quality of Soul ...................................................................................... 56
          15. Concerning Ailments of the Soul ............................................................................. 64

Appendix on Ptolemy's Primary Direction Technique by Robert Hand ...................................... 68

Glossary .................................................................................................................................. 75

Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos Book IV

(Greek Track Volume XIV)

Table of Contents

Translator's Preface .................................................................................................................. i
          Update on SECT.............................................................................................................. iv
          Concepts Defined Relative to the Sun .......................................................................... xiii
          Remarks on Rulership and Predomination .................................................................. xxiii

Prooemium ............................................................................................................................... 1

Concerning Fortune Pertaining to Possessions ........................................................................ 1

Concerning Fortune Pertaining to Rank .................................................................................... 3
An Example Nativity ........................................................................................................ 6

Concerning the Quality of Action .............................................................................................. 9
How Ptolemy Rationalized the Tradition ....................................................................... 15

Concerning Sexual Union ........................................................................................................ 19

Concerning Children ................................................................................................................ 26

Concerning Friends and Enemies ............................................................................................ 28

Concerning Travel Abroad ....................................................................................................... 34

Concerning the Quality of Death ............................................................................................. 36

Concerning the Division of the Times ...................................................................................... 41
Ptolemy's Time-Lord Procedure ..................................................................................... 51
Division of the Times according to Ptolemy.................................................................... 66

Hellenistic Track Translations

Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos Book I

Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos Book III

Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos Book IV

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