In episode 401, Dr. Benjamin Dykes joins the podcast to talk about a new translation of the astrological work of the 4th century astrologer Firmicus Maternus.
Firmicus was a 4th-century jurist and astrologer who wrote one of the longest surviving texts on astrology from antiquity. Mathematics.
Firmicus’s work is unique in that it was written in Latin and contains much material that has not survived from earlier Greek sources such as the works of Asclepius or Nexepso and Petosiris.
The text also includes a large amount of marginal material in which Firmicus explains how to interpret various positions in a person’s birth chart.
During the interview, we discuss Firmick’s life and work, Ben’s motivation for translating this book, and some of its interesting features. Mathematics.
You can get a copy of Ben’s new translation of Firmicus here:
The Mathematics of Firmicus Maternus
This episode is available in audio and video versions below.
Time signs
- 00:00:00 A new translation of mathematics
- 00:09:52 The Life and Dating of Firmicus Maternus
- 00:19:50 Firmic’s philosophy and religious views
- 00:30:40 Later conversion to Christianity
- 00:37:00 Mathematics as the first comprehensive astrological text in Latin
- 00:57:00 Extenuating circumstances
- 01:10:00 Fixed views about destiny
- 01:31:28 Thema Mundi
- 01:38:33 Firmicus uses whole sign and equal houses together
- 01:49:29 Emphasis on the Moon by Firmicus
- 01:55:47 Synthesis of apotelesmata and diagram
- 01:59:35 Lots like houses/places
- 02:08:08 Fixed stars
- 02:13:32 The popularity of Firmicus in later traditions
- 02:17:53 Ben’s upcoming projects
- 02:19:14 Sponsors and sponsors
Watch the video version of this episode
Watch a video version of this episode on Firmicus Maternus on YouTube:
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Transcription
Here is the full transcript of this episode: Section 401 Transcript
Listen to the audio version of this episode
Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it in MP3 format:
Podcast: Play in a new window | Download it (Duration: 2:22:22 — 130.8MB)
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