Xenocrates of Delphi, The Astronomer/Astrologer (193 – 254 CE) Xenocrates was born in Delphi during the exact moment of a solar eclipse. Stirred by this unusual time of birth, the citizens knew he would have a remarkable destiny, and when he later grew to be an Astronomer and Horary* Astrologer, they devotedly accepted his word. At the birth of each new citizen in Delphi, Xenocrates would predict the exact time and location of the child's death. That date and location was recorded by Xenocrates onto a small scroll and placed in a vial around the child's neck. While living, neither the child nor his family, were to know this time or location, as it was believed that this knowledge could alter the future of the city state. Upon death, the vial was broken and scroll was placed in the child's right hand at burial. The citizens of Delphi accepted Xenocrates' predictions as unalterable. It is said that he was never wrong. Xenocrates died in his sleep in 254 CE. Beside his death bed was a lengthy list of predictions which included the fall of the Roman Empire and the existence of undiscovered planets. A small group of citizens, later called Xenocratites, joined together to continue his study of astronomy and astrology. Mirroring his interpretation of the movement of the moon's path through celestial bodies, they continued to predict deaths until the art was lost the late 4th century. *Horary astrology is a method for predicting the outcome to a particular question. It is based primarily on the position and aspect of the moon as it moves along its ecliptic. |