ROMAN EMPERORS AND ASTROLOGY
History of the development of astrology in the Roman Empire is almost identical to the history of Rome itself. Emperor Numa was initiated into all kinds of magical arts. “Mark Antony never traveled without an astrologer recommended to him by Cleopatra” (see: H.P. Blavatsky. The Secret Doctrine). Before ascending the throne, Caesar Augustus went to the astrologer Theogenes, who fell to his knees before the young man and predicted his rise to power. Augustus was so impressed that he published his horoscope and minted the sign of Capricorn, under which he was born, on one side of a silver coin.
Astrologers Thrasyllus the Elder and Thrasyllus the Younger constantly advised Emperors Tiberius and Nero. “Tiberius, who believed in nothing except the Thunderer, trusted the Chaldeans (astrologers) without bounds. He studied astrology under the guidance of Thrasyllus, whom he subjected to a rigorous test. Tiberius himself reached the heights of mastery in this science and predicted that one day Galba would ascend the throne, and in his last days he predicted the rise of Galba, and in his last time Galba would ascend” (see: Granger. Worship of the Romans). According to Seneca, “when Paul set out for war against the Persians, a meteor the size of the Moon appeared in the sky; a similar sign marked the death of Augustus, the execution of Sejanus, and forewarned of the death of Germanicus.”
The astrologer and mathematician Sulla, while interpreting the horoscope of Caligula, revealed to Caesar the time and conditions under which Caligula would die. The same emperor was warned by Sortes Antineus that “he should beware of Cassius”; and he died in a conspiracy, stabbed by a sword belonging to a man who bore that name. Otho, whom Ptolemy assured would outlive Nero and become ruler of the Romans, surrounded himself with seers and astrologers and sought their advice. Nero himself also studied astrology. Vitellius, trying to expel astrologers from Rome — that is, all except his own — was cornered. These “Chaldeans” outsmarted him by spreading the statement that the day the decree of expulsion would come into force would also be the day of the emperor’s death. Vitellius was so frightened by this prediction that he left them alone.
Vespasian, who consulted the stars daily, heeded the warnings of Selena. Vespasian, Titus, and Nerva admired the advice of Apollonius, the magician-astrologer of Tyana, and turned to him, while Nero and Domitian, who feared his wisdom and power, trembled before him. Domitian did not make any important decision without consulting Apollonius and his stars. Hadrian, who also studied astrology, kept a diary of his life based on the stars, foretelling even the hour of his own death; he knew about all events long before they happened. Septimius Severus commissioned his horoscope to be placed on the roof of the palace, predicting that he would not return from his expedition to Britain. He died in York in accordance with his own prophecy.
We have already noted that Constantine the Great believed in the stars, and the astrologer Heliodorus was an advisor to Emperor Valens. Julius, one of the most educated Roman emperors, wrote that in his youth he studied astrology. The historian Ammianus Marcellinus also confirms that Julius was fond of the occult sciences. (Manly P. Hall Astrology. The Keys to Understanding. Trans. from English. – M.: Sfera, 2002. p. 68)
