Dorian Greenbaum - The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology(1)

Citation preview

The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology

Ancient Magic and Divination Editors Tzvi Abusch Ann K. Guinan Nils P. Heeßel Francesca Rochberg Frans A. M. Wiggermann

VOLUME 11

The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/amd

Roman coin, ca. 76 CE, reverse, depicting the Agathos Daimon wearing the double crown of Egypt, with caduceus (left) and wheat ear (right). From the authorʼs collection

The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology Origins and Influence By

Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum

LEIDEN | BOSTON

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Greenbaum, Dorian Gieseler.  The Daimon in Hellenistic astrology : origins and influence / by Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum.   pages cm. — (Ancient magic and divination, ISSN 1566-7952 ; volume 11)  Includes bibliographical references and index.  ISBN 978-90-04-30620-2 (hardback : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-30621-9 (e-book)  1.  Astrology—History. 2.  Hellenism. 3.  Devil. 4.  Demonology. 5.  Daimon (The Greek word)  I. Title.  BF1674.G74 2015  133.50938—dc23 2015028673

issn 1566-7952 isbn 978-90-04-30620-2 (hardback) isbn 978-90-04-30621-9 (e-book) Copyright 2016 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Hes & De Graaf, Brill Nijhoff, Brill Rodopi and Hotei Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill nv provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, ma 01923, usa. Fees are subject to change. This book is printed on acid-free paper.

In memoriam Josèphe-Henriette Abry (18 July 1944–5 November 2008) Giuseppe Bezza (21 September 1946–18 June 2014)

⸪

Contents Acknowledgements xi List of Figures xiv List of Tables xvi Abbreviations xvii Astrological Symbols xxiv Introduction 1 1 Why the Daimon and Astrology? 2 2 The Multivalent δαίμων 4 3 Astrology and the Daimon 5 4 The Plan of the Book 11

Part 1 Daimon and Fortune 1 Kindled Spirits: The Daimon, Plutarch and Vettius Valens 17 1 Plutarch and the Daimon 19 2 The Daimon, Fate, Providence and Astrology 28 3 Vettius Valens’ Daimon and Providence 33 2 Keeping in Good Spirits: The Places of Good Daimon and Fortune in Astrology 46 1 Why Tyche and Daimon? Some Cultural and Historical Background 47 2 The Astrological Places of Good Daimon and Good Fortune 50 3 Twists of Fate: Daimon, Fortune and Astrology in Egypt and the Near East 77 1 The Agathos Daimon and Agathe Tyche in Egypt (and Beyond) 77 2 Shai, the Agathos Daimon and Fate 95 3 Mesopotamian and Egyptian ‘Fate’ 108 4 Hie Thee to Hell: The Place of the Bad Daimon 116 1 A Brief History of Bad Daimons 116 2 The Places of Bad Daimon and Bad Fortune in Astrology 140

viii

contents

Part 2 Gods and Daimons 5 Divergent Paths: Daimons and Astrology in Gnosticism and Mithraism 159 1 Religious Dualism in the Air 160 2 Daimons and Astrology in Gnosticism 164 3 Daimons and Astrology in Mithraism 181 6 Ambivalent Daimons and Astrology 194 1 Daimons and Astrology in the Magical Papyri 195 2 Daimons and Astrology in the Hermetica 209 3 Decans and Daimons 213 4 Gods and Daimons in Astrological Decans 223 7 Porphyry, the Oikodespotēs and the Personal Daimon 236 1 Neo-Platonism and the Personal Daimon 237 2 The Astrological Personal Daimon 255 3 Porphyry’s Astrological Treatise 266

Part 3 Lots and the Daimon 8 Allotment, the Daimon and Astrology 279 1 Lots in Hellenistic Culture 280 2 Lot Doctrine in Astrology 286 3 Some Reflections 299 9 Endowment and Chance: The Lots of Fortune and Daimon 303 1 The Lots and their Lu