[split] Zodiac Terminology discussion

[davidjackson]

Properly speaking, in astrology there is no such thing as "a zodiac". There is only "the zodiac" (singular), which is the narrow belt of the heavens above the ecliptic. The Zodiac is divided into twelve divisions or signs. The Zodiac of the planets refers to the intersection of the planet with the Zodiac.

When we see a "zodiac" in a manuscript, we are usually looking at a zodiac wheel. If they are on different pages, then we most likely are no longer looking at a zodiac wheel, but instead some sort of calendar or other daily life association of horoscopy (ie medicine).

This is what we see with Zodiac man. He is a practical use of astrology within medicine. Different traditions gave different interpretations to the "rules", but he established a framework within which the doctor could practice medicine. It was codified enough so that a doctor who ignored the "rules" could later be prosecuted if the "operation" went bad for malpractice. (I imagine that the rules developed for the opposite case - a doctor who stuck to the astrology rules would be immune from malpractice claims).

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As a side note, I looked up the etymology of the word today. Turns out it comes from a Greek phrase meaning "the circle of little animals", an allusion to the animals in the sky. 


Here's the extract for Piscis from Amsterdam University Special Collections Library MS XXIII A 8 (translator Irene Meekes van Toer). It's from the Solar Zodiologium – prognostications when the sun is in each of the signs of the zodiac. In the manuscript we see different zodiac signs spread over different pages with general advice for each date:

Piscis belongs to the north, and is good for a lot of things. One can build new houses, and move into them. One can sow, plant, and have intercourse. One can do all things that have to do with water, such as building dikes and building watermills to take and to give away. But one should not take medicine for one’s feet, and one should not do anything that has to do with fire. One can battle and fight, and hold court days, buy or sell land, horses and other things. And it is good nor bad to let blood from the arms.