Heliodora, the first known female astrologer and an inspiration 2,000 years later
One of my favourite aspects of Hellenistic astrology is the connection to the past and ancient practices. I have always had a reverence for ancient wisdom; and being able to use the same techniques as the Hellenistic astrologers did two thousand years ago is extremely special. Chris Brennan and Demetra George drew my attention last month to the very exciting news that a female astrologer, called Heliodora, who had lived in the 2nd-3rd century CE had been discovered through the finding of her funerary stele. Both Chris and Demetra referenced the article written by Bagnall RS et al, 2019-2020 which describes the funerary stele of Heliodora that was found at Terenouthius (on the western edge of the Nile Delta). It was a very significant find as there are unique aspects of the stele that are both fascinating and provide important evidence of Heliodora being an astrologer in the Hellenistic era. This is the first known instance of a woman being identified as an astrologer in the Greco-Roman world (Bagnall RS et al, 2019-2020). Women did not traditionally receive the same education as men in that era and thus all of the astrologers known in the Hellenistic tradition were men. Chris Brennan did discuss some evidence for female practitioners of astrology c.100CE in his book Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune. Chris also wrote about the first woman (at the time of publication in 2017), known by name who was thought to have had some training in astrology. She was the philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria who lived in the late fourth and early fifth century. Now we have evidence to support Heliodora’s practice of astrology prior to this time which is not only so interesting, but inspiring. It is amazing to be looking at a natal chart and imagining back to the time when Heliodora was doing the same thing. I wonder what challenges she faced as a woman in such a male dominated tradition?
Credit: Bagnall RS et al. (2019-2020) The Funerary Stele of Heliodora, Astrologer. MVSE; 53 & 54: 28-45
Above is the photo of Heliodora’s funerary stele which has many fascinating aspects to it. The authors detail the translation of the Greek inscription which includes the term Mathematike. Mathematike was a well-established term for astrologer in the Roman period and so the authors are confident that Heliodora was skilled in astrology. (Bagnall RS et al, 2019-2020) In the ancient practice of astrology mathematics was a big part of the tradition, as charts had to be calculated by hand by means of tables of astronomical data, and thus this is where the term Mathematike for a person practicing astrology comes from. It always intrigues me to think of these skilled ancient practitioners and what they achieved without any of the technology we have today. We don’t know how Heliodora was educated in astrology; she may have belonged to a family of astrologers with the knowledge being passed down the generations, or she may have become skilled in her craft through an entirely different path. It doesn’t matter, either way knowing that she was practicing Hellenistic astrology at that time, in that world, is very special.
Bagnall RS et al noted that it was unusual for a Greek inscription on a funerary stele to have so many descriptive words and to indicate the profession of the deceased person. When I read this, I feel she must have been special in her time. She is definitely special to us as an astrology community now. It is always important to think of those who carved a path for us today; the knowledge holders who have passed their wisdom on. In this case, it is even more inspiring thinking of a woman in those times being skilled in astrology and this skill being recognised and recorded. Now, 2,000 years later this record has been found, we are thinking about her and I am writing this blog. This is one of the parts of studying and practicing ancient astrology I love the most. I love being able to step back in time and absorb the knowledge from so long ago which is still so relevant for the current time. Reading the translations of the ancient texts and then adapting this sacred knowledge for modern times is incredibly fulfilling and definitely makes my heart sing. Being able to study and practice the ancient tradition of astrology is an honour and a privilege and I am so thankful to the brilliant astrologers of the past whose knowledge I use today.
*If you would like to find out what the ancient astrology that astrologers like Heliodora practiced says about your life please email hello@emmalucy.com.au and book a consultation today!
References:
Bagnall RS et al. (2019-2020) The Funerary Stele of Heliodora, Astrologer. MVSE; 53 & 54: 28-45
Brennan C (2017) Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune. Amor Fati Publications, Denver CO. pp 117-119
Demetra George www.demetra-george.com