Editing Astrology (section)

=== Greece and Rome ===

The conquest of [[Asia]] by [[Alexander the Great]] exposed the Greeks to ideas from [[Syria]], Babylon, Persia and central Asia.<ref>{{cite book | last=Campion | first=Nicholas | title=A History of Western Astrology |volume=I: The Ancient World | place=London |publisher=Continuum | year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4411-2737-2 |p=173}}</ref> Around 280 BCE, [[Berossus]], a priest of [[Marduk|Bel]] from Babylon, moved to the Greek island of [[Kos]], teaching astrology and Babylonian culture.{{sfn|Campion|2008|p=84}} By the 1st century BCE, there were two varieties of astrology, one using [[horoscope]]s to describe the past, present and future; the other, [[theurgic]], emphasising the [[soul|soul's]] ascent to the stars.{{sfn|Campion|2008|pp=173–174}} Greek influence played a crucial role in the transmission of astrological theory to [[Ancient Rome|Rome]].{{sfn|Barton|1994|p=32}}

The first definite reference to astrology in Rome comes from the orator [[Cato the Elder|Cato]], who in 160 BCE warned farm overseers against consulting with Chaldeans,{{sfn|Barton|1994|p=32–33}} who were described as Babylonian 'star-gazers'.{{sfn|Campion|2008|pp=227–228}} Among both Greeks and [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], Babylonia (also known as [[Chaldea]]) became so identified with astrology that 'Chaldean wisdom' became [[synonym]]ous with [[divination]] using planets and stars.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Parker |first1=Derek |last2=Parker |first2=Julia |title=A History of Astrology | year=1983 |publisher=Deutsch |isbn=978-0-233-97576-4 |page=16}}</ref> The 2nd-century Roman poet and satirist [[Juvenal]] complains about the pervasive influence of Chaldeans, saying, "Still more trusted are the Chaldaeans; every word uttered by the astrologer they will believe has come from [[Jupiter (mythology)|Hammon's]] fountain."<ref>{{cite wikisource |author = Juvenal |author-link = Juvenal |translator-last = Ramsay |translator-first = George Gilbert |translator-link = George Gilbert Ramsay |title = Satire VI: The Ways of Women |wslink = Juvenal and Persius/The Satires of Juvenal/Satire 6 |date = c. 100 |publisher = [[G. P. Putnam's Sons]] |publication-date = 1918}}</ref>

One of the first astrologers to bring [[Hermetic astrology]] to Rome was [[Thrasyllus of Mendes|Thrasyllus]], astrologer to the [[emperor]] [[Tiberius]],{{sfn|Barton|1994|p=32}} the first emperor to have had a court astrologer,{{sfn|Barton|1994|p=43}} though his predecessor [[Augustus]] had used astrology to help legitimise his [[Imperialism|Imperial]] rights.{{sfn|Barton|1994|p=63}}