Byzantine Astrology: Science Between Orthodoxy and Magic

Astrology — the ancient science of celestial bodies and their influence on all living things on Earth. It originated on the banks of the Euphrates, from where it later spread to Egypt, Asia Minor, and Greece. For people in the Antiquity era, astrology, along with magic, was a way of understanding the surrounding world, predicting the future, and subjugating the forces of nature. However, during the late Roman Empire, with the spread of Christianity, the attitude toward ancient teachings changed to one of disdain, and predictive practice was banned at the legislative level. Nevertheless, in Byzantium from the 7th to the 14th centuries, interest in astral divination did not fade: apologists of the ancient teaching sought to present it as legitimate and in accordance with Christian doctrine. The idea was that if the study of celestial bodies could help decipher their significance for people, such work should be regarded as pious and glorifying the Creator through the exploration of His creation. Through the testimonies of anonymous scholars, secular intellectuals, monks, and emperors, the author attempts to trace how the science of stars, along with astronomy and mathematics, sought justification for its existence in the new Christian society.