Terms or bounds 4275485 140706346 2007-06-26T09:20:50Z Astrologist 4723205 Category In [[astrology]], the '''terms''' or '''bounds''' refer to an [[essential dignity]] in which unequal segments of every [[astrological sign]] have internal [[ruling planet|rulerships]] which affect the power and integrity of each planet in a [[natal chart]]. Each sign is divided into five different segments which have their own ''term'' or ''bound'' rulers. This [[essential dignity|dignity]] is in addition to the more familiar dignities of [[domicile (astrology)|rulership]], [[exaltation (astrology)|exaltation]] and [[triplicity]]. {| class="wikitable" |+'''"EGYPTIAN" Terms (or Bounds) Rulerships'''{{ref|Paulus}} * |- ! Sign ! First Term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Second Term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Third Term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Fourth term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Fifth term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree |- | [[Aries (astrology)|Aries]] | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 6 | 11.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 12 | 19.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 20 | 24.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 25 | 30 |- | [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 0 | 7.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 8 | 13.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 14 | 21.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 22 | 26.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 27 | 30 |- | [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 6 | 11.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 12 | 16.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 17 | 23.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 24 | 30 |- | [[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]] | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 0 | 6.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 7 | 12.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 13 | 18.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 19 | 25.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 26 | 30 |- | [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 6 | 10.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 11 | 17.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 18 | 23.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 24 | 30 |- | [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]] | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 0 | 6.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 7 | 16.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 17 | 20.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 21 | 27.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 28 | 30 |- | [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]] | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 6 | 13.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 14 | 20.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 21 | 27.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 28 | 30 |- | [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]] | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 0 | 6.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 7 | 10.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 11 | 18.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 19 | 23.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 24 | 30 |- | [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 0 | 11.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 12 | 16.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 17 | 20.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 21 | 25.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 26 | 30 |- | [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 0 | 6.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 7 | 13.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 14 | 21.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 22 | 25.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 26 | 30 |- | [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]] | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 0 | 6.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 7 | 12.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 13 | 19.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 20 | 24.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 25 | 30 |- | [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]] | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 0 | 11.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 12 | 15.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 16 | 18.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 19 | 27.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 28 | 30 |- |} <small> * NOTE: This table presents the so-called ''Egyptian'' bounds, which differ somewhat from those preferred by [[Ptolemy]] in his [[Tetrabiblos]]. The terms given were also those used by [[Dorotheus of Sidon]] and [[Vettius Valens]]. [[Paulus Alexandrinus|Paulus]] says these were the bounds the "Egyptian sages determined,"{{ref|sages}} most likely referring to the lost work of [[Nechepso/Osiris]].</small> Not all astrologers of the period agreed about the exact details of these rulerships. For example, [[Vettius Valens]]{{ref|valens}} varies the bound rulers according to [[astrology of sect|sect]], using different rulers for [[Diurnal sign|diurnal]] and for [[nocturnal]] nativities. For [[Hellenistic]] astrologers, such [[Claudius Ptolemy]], [[Dorotheus of Sidon]], [[Vettius Valens]] and [[Paulus Alexandrinus]], this dignity had an equal footing with [[domicile (astrology)|rulership]] and [[exaltation (astrology)|exaltation]] and was accorded the same weight in the delineation of a [[natal chart]], particularly for vitality. [[Paulus Alexandrinus|Paulus]] says, "from this Rulership is drawn conclusions about length of life."{{ref|longevity}} According to [[Paulus Alexandrinus|Paulus]], the way in which longevity was determined by the ''bounds'' had to do with the ''number of degrees'' in the table which were ruled by each planet. Adding up these degrees, the following totals are determined, which Paulus calls the "final years of life:"{{ref|final}} *Saturn: 57 years [= 57 degrees ruled by Saturn] *Jupiter: 79 years [= 79 degrees ruled by Jupiter] *Mars: 66 years [= 66 degrees ruled by Mars] *Venus: 82 years [= 82 degrees ruled by Venus] *Mercury 76 years [= 76 years ruled by Mercury] (The total number of years/degrees equal 360, for all the degrees in the [[zodiac]].) A later [[scholia|scholium]] explains (paraphrasing [[Porphyry]]): "Whenever the Ruler of the nativity{{ref|oikodespotes}} may be well-situated, then it gives the years of life."{{ref|scholium}} To give the full measure of a planet's final years, the planet would have to be excellently situated and dignified, with no afflictions in motion, [[combust|combustion]] or [[astrology of sect|sect]]. Paulus further says that the "final years" given by the [[Sun (astrology)|Sun]] is 120 years and the "final years" given by the [[Moon (astrology)|Moon]] is 108 years, even though, as can be seen, neither of the [[luminary|luminaries]] is allotted any term dignity. Presumably these "final years" are given for situations when the Sun or Moon are the ''oikodespotes''{{ref|oiko2}} of a chart, despite the lack of bounds rulerships. By the [[Medieval]] era in the [[history of astrology]], this dignity had been devalued to the status of a ''minor dignity.'' It was still used for defining longevity and probably for determining physical characteristics that were likely to manifest in a person, but it no longer was considered as important as [[domicile]] dignity (rulership) or exaltation. (Medieval astrologers such as the [[Arab]]s and [[Guido Bonatti]] and [[William Lilly]] also used a hierarchical scale of dignities, where rulership was the most important, exaltation was slightly less important, triplicity was next in importance, and ''terms or bounds'' were ranked fourth in weight. The least important dignity--and considered a very minor one indeed--was that of [[face (astrology)|face]] or [[decan]].) Below are the terms or bounds according to [[Ptolemy]], a later variant of the older "Egyptian" bounds: {| class="wikitable" |+'''Terms (or Bounds) Rulerships acc. to [[Claudius Ptolemy|PTOLEMY]]'''{{ref|Ptolemy}} * |- ! Sign ! First Term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Second Term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Third Term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Fourth term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree ! Fifth term ruler ! Begin Degree ! End Degree |- | [[Aries (astrology)|Aries]] | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 6 | 13.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 14 | 20.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 21 | 25.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 26 | 30 |- | [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 0 | 7.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 8 | 14.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 15 | 21.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 22 | 25.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 26 | 30 |- | [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 0 | 6.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 7 | 13.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 14 | 20.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 21 | 25.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 26 | 30 |- | [[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]] | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 6 | 12.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 13 | 19.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 20 | 26.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 27 | 30 |- | [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 6 | 12.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 13 | 18.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 19 | 24.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 25 | 30 |- | [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]] | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 0 | 6.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 7 | 12.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 13 | 17.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 18 | 23.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 24 | 30 |- | [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]] | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 6 | 10.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 11 | 18.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 19 | 23.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 24 | 30 |- | [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]] | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 6 | 13.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 14 | 20.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 21 | 26.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 27 | 30 |- | [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 0 | 7.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 8 | 13.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 14 | 18.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 19 | 24.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 25 | 30 |- | [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 6 | 11.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 12 | 18.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 19 | 24.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 25 | 30 |- | [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]] | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 0 | 5.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 6 | 11.999 | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 12 | 19.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 20 | 24.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 25 | 30 |- | [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]] | [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]] | 0 | 7.999 | [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] | 8 | 13.999 | [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]] | 14 | 19.999 | [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]] | 20 | 25.999 | [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]] | 26 | 30 |- |} <small> * NOTE: This second table presents the terms or bounds according to [[Claudius Ptolemy]]. in ''[[Tetrabiblos]].'' Ptolemy modified the "Egyptian" bounds for reasons that are not clear, but probably having to do with astronomical measurements. Ptolemy's table was adopted by [[medieval]] [[History of astrology|astrologer]]s and is still in use in modern times. </small> ==Footnotes== # {{note|Paulus}}As given in: [[Paulus Alexandrinus]]. ''Introductory Matters.'' (378 A.D.) in ''Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olympiodorus,'' a translation by Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum. ARHAT (Archive for Retrieval of Historical Astrological Texts) (Reston, VA; 2001.) # {{note|longevity}}Ibid., p. 6. # {{note|valens}}Vettius Valens. ''The Anthology.'' Book III. [translated by Robert Schmidt and edited by Robert Hand.] Project Hindsight, Greek Track, Vol. VIII (The Golden Hind Press, Berkeley Springs, WV, 1994), p. 52-53. # {{note|sages}}Paulus, op. cit. # {{note|final}}Ibid., p. 7. # {{note|oikodespotes}}According to Dorian Greenbaum, the "ruler of the nativity" here is the ''[[oikodespotes]]'' of the chart. The ''oikodespotes'' is generally the planet with the most [[essential dignity]] in all the planetary positions of a chart, as well as the [[Ascendant]]. All dignities in the ancient system were of equal weight, in contrast to the later [[Medieval]] model. # {{note|scholium}}Paulus, op. cit., p. 8. # {{note|oiko2}}See note 6. # {{note|Ptolemy}}As given in: J. Lee Lehman. ''Essential Dignities.'' Whitford Press. (West Chester, PA, 1989.) The same table may be found in [[William Lilly|Lilly]]'s ''Christian Astrology'' (London, 1647), p. 104. [[Category:Technical factors of astrology]]