14 The Star of Bethlehem and Greco-Roman Astrology, Especially Astrological Geography

Stephan Heilen

Jump to Content

14 The Star of Bethlehem and Greco-Roman Astrology, Especially Astrological Geography

In: The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi

Author:

Stephan Heilen

Stephan Heilen
Search for other papers by Stephan Heilen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 297–357

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004308473_015

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to a central point of Michael R. Molnar’s thesis regarding the Star of Bethlehem: the association of the zodiacal sign of Aries with Judea. After a demonstration that the planetary alignment of 17 April 6 bce envisaged by Molnar could indeed have been interpreted as a royal birth by a Hellenistic astrologer, this contribution provides the first complete survey of extant Greco-Roman systems of astrological geography, with detailed information on their different characteristics and two special analyses devoted to the systems of Paul of Alexandria (including comparisons with Mesopotamian presursors and the Book of Acts) and Claudius Ptolemy. It is argued that Paul of Alexandria’s is the oldest Hellenistic system and that Ptolemy’s system must, in view of its extreme sophistication, be largely Ptolemy’s own invention. Various scholarly hypotheses regarding the development of Hellenistic astrological geography are discussed. Based on these premises, the plausibility of Molnar’s assumption that the magi associated Aries with Judea is evaluated, with negative results. In addition, a seemingly important argument adduced by Molnar in support of his theory, the horoscope of emperor Nero, is critically assessed. His entire theory on the Star of Bethlehem turns out to be problematic. The contribution ends with a philological appendix on Matt 2:1–12.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/edcoll/9789004308473/B9789004308473_015.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi

Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Experts on the Ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman World, and Modern Astronomy

Series: Themes in Biblical Narrative, Volume: 19

Cover The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004308473

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 01 Jan 2015

Subjects

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	3418	985	134
Full Text Views	188	3	0
PDF Views & Downloads	39	3	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

14 The Star of Bethlehem and Greco-Roman Astrology, Especially Astrological Geography

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi

Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Experts on the Ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman World, and Modern Astronomy

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics