The earliest evidence for the existence of astrology reveals it at an already advanced stage of development. The zodiac was probably developed in ancient Egypt and adopted by the Babylonians sometime after 1000 B.C. The earliest known horoscope incorporating the principles of astrology dates from 409 B.C. Astrology spread from Babylon to Greece and then to Rome. It is not possible to state when astrology assumed its present form, but it can be stated that the Greeks took over a body of knowledge about the nature of the planets and their relationships to earth and mankind, and organized it into something resembling the astrology of today. Ancient Greek and Roman astrology attributed the same qualities to the planets and the same associations between planets and the human personality as modern astrology does today. Interest in astrology declined in Europe with the arrival of Christianity, as people began to look to the church for guidance. However, in the 12th century, astrology experienced a resurgence in Western Europe. Then, by the 17th century, with the advent of the scientific theories propounded by Copernicus, Galileo and Depler, interest in and practise of astrology once again declined.
Contemporary Perspectives
Astrology has recently regained some of its popularity and there have been attempts to re-establish a firm theoretical basis for it. For example, French psychologist Michel Gauquelin, who began with the intention of disproving astrology, ended up rediscovering it in his own terms. His findings, which were based on birth charts, showed a distinct correlation between professions and the positions of particular planets. Some supporters of astrology believe that, although it cannot be supported scientifically, astrology is a powerful set of symbols that can provide a deep understanding of human behavior. 1960s culture witnessed a resurgence of interest in astrology, particularly among well-educated young people. During this time, the public perception of astrology changed, and it acquired a degree of respectibility.
