Prayer to the Gods of Night: The Near-Eastern Roots of Astrology

In this episode of The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast, Earl Fontainelle explores the Near Eastern roots of astrology, particularly in ancient Babylonia. The episode discusses how the Babylonians developed astronomy in service of astrology, viewing the stars as divine entities whose movements held omens for earthly events, especially those concerning the state and the royal house. Fontainelle traces the development of Babylonian astronomy and astrology from around 2000 BCE through the Persian and Hellenistic periods, highlighting key texts like "Prayer to the Gods of Night," Mul'Apin, and Enuma Anu Enlil. The discussion also touches on the contributions of the Egyptians, specifically their calendar and the concept of dekans, and concludes by pondering the deterministic implications of an astrological worldview and the concept of eternal recurrence.