3-Week SASA Reading Group: The Zodiac: Babylonian Astronomy and the Origins of Modern Astrology

Astrology has become a mainstay of modern conversations. This reading group will introduce you to the complex history of the zodiac — the 12 starry signs that form the basis of horoscopes and astrological conversation. While often derided as modern magic, the concept can be traced back to ancient Babylonia, where astronomers developed the idea to aid in scientific research and discovery. This course will dive into the origins of the zodiac, discussing its relationship to similarly complicated ideas like ancient science.

To investigate different forms and uses of the zodiac, we will lean on primary sources. Our reading group will begin with the appearance of zodiacal constellations “in the path of the moon” in the early astronomical compendium MUL.APIN and the popular compilation of omens Enūma Anu Enlil. We’ll move on to the use of the zodiac in first-millennium observational astronomy in the Astronomical Diaries. Finally, we’ll dive into…