(DEVELOPMENT OF THE CIRCLES [continued(5)])[2nd April 1987]

[Redbook3:90-91][19870402:2106e](DEVELOPMENT OF THE CIRCLES [continued(5)])[2nd April 1987]

19870402:2106

[continued]

But curiosity on this score* led me to guess: if the Zodiacal Constellations had significance in these terms (and it is curious how both Zodiac and Tarots are now used – degenerately? – for personal fortune-telling), might the non-Zodiacal Constellations also fit the pattern?

It was not until we reached [The Round House]** that I had a chance to work on this. The Star map as a whole had revealed no pattern that I could see; but I reasoned that some of the Constellations might be modern or at least [relatively] recent. With the aid of a most useful book*** (American in origin I think – the best are likely to be) I filled in on a Circles chart (with the Zodiac and the Tarots) only those Constellations**** originating from before the naming activities of the Mediaeval astronomers, together with the salient points of the attached legends (a wonderful book it is!). I was rather pleased to see what appeared to be a number of the ancient Constellations – in fact, pretty well all of them – appearing in positions that could arguably describe points on, and progress along, at least the Outer Circle, with aspects of the Inner Circle as well.

This tends to support the view that as the Constellations resemble very little what they are called, they must have been called their names for some other reason: probably to fix what they are called, and the relationships between what they are called, in the minds of those who could probably not read, nor afford pictures nor emblems, but who commonly observed the Stars. (The time {?/true?} significance of the Zodiac itself in Astrology is indicated by the fact that the Zodiacal Constellations have stayed with their times, not moved with precession of the Stars.)

*[See last previous entry]

**[[Redbook3:23-26][19870326:1543b]{The Round House}[26^th March 1987]]

***(Chartrand III: 'Pocket Skyguide')

****{For the record, the surviving ancient Constellations seem to be:- [There follow two marginal columns headed 'Name' and 'Nearest Zodiacal Const[ellation]' respectively, comprising 53 names (or thereabouts) under each heading, making a list (pp 90-91) too long to post here at this time.]}

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