Nativities
The early medical applications in nativities involved the following:- The general calculation of the length of life through the Apheta, a calcula-
tion that later become known as the hyleg. - The sign position of the Sun could indicate the nature of infirmities, or
even death if sufficiently afflicted. - Sickness could also be generally interpreted through the delineation of the
6th house. (This technique did not become typical until the Arabic period.
In the Hellenistic era, the 6th and the 12th houses were named after the
Bad Spirit, so bad things could happen here, but this would not have been
restricted specifically to illness.) - Bodily form and temperament could, to a certain extent, indicate particular
tendencies toward certain health conditions, as well as ideas for living a
more successfully healthy life. Because of the development of astrological
methods of computing temperaments, this interfaced to astrology. - The calculation of planetary periods of the life, which could have health
considerations as well as more general ones, such as riches, marriage, chil-
dren, etc.
In nativities, the signs were assigned to parts of the body, as shown in the
accompanying table.
Thus, for example, the Sun in Sagittarius could mean possible weakness of the
hips or the region of the hips.
PARTS OF THEBODYASSIGNED TO THESIGNS OF THEZODIAC
Zodiac Sign Body Part
Aries Head, face
Taurus Neck
Gemini Shoulders, arms and hands
Cancer Breasts and stomach
Leo Heart and back
Virgo Intestines
Libra Kidneys, small of the back, genitals
Scorpio Bladder, reproductive organs
Sagittarius Hips, thighs
Capricorn Bones, skin, knees, teeth
Aquarius Shins, ankles
Pisces Feet
The planets were also assigned parts of the body, as the accompanying table
shows. They generally overlapped with their traditional sign rulerships.
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [435]
Medical Astrology