Hyleg. The Giver of Life. Said of a planet so located as to have influence upon the longevity
of the native. It is one of the most complex and controversial subjects in the field of
astrology, but which has fallen more or less in disfavor as the result of the concept that any
attempt to predict the time of death is now generally considered unethical. The strongest
planet that occupied one of the Aphetic places became Hyleg, and was deemed to be the
Apheta, the giver of life. When it had progressed to an aspect to the place of the Anareta, the
taker-away of life, the native was presumed to have run his span and death ensued.
The Aphetic places were from the 25th degree of the Eighth House to the 25th degree of the
Eleventh House; from the 25th degree of the Twelfth House to the 25th degree of the First
House; and from the 25th degree of the Sixth House to the 25th degree of the Seventh House.
If the Sun occupied any of these arcs, it became Hyleg. If not, the Moon was the next choice.
Lacking either, the planet which had the most dignities at the moment of the Lunation next
preceding birth. Otherwise in a Day birth the Ascendant, or in a Night birth Fortuna, became
Hyleg. The Anaretic places were those occupied by Mars or Saturn, or by Sun, Moon, or
Mercury if aspected by Mars or Saturn. Otherwise the Descending degree. Wilson's
Dictionary gives several pages of rules and exceptions, and then characterizes the whole
subject as so much rubbish. It merely amounts to a consideration of aspects formed by
progressed or transitory planets to birth positions and aspects, with special attention to a
prognosis of death - an application of astrological analysis that is generally frowned upon by
modern astrologers.
A planet conjoined to Caput Algol, if joined to the Hyleg, was in earlier days deemed to
threaten beheading; the modern equivalent is perhaps defeat at the polls.
Hylegiacal Places. v. Principal Places.
Hypogeon. Under the Earth. An all-embracing Greek term generalizing the lower heaven:
including the Nadir, the Immum Coeli, and the Fourth House.