📖 WIPIVERSE

Petosiris

Petosiris (Ancient Greek: Πετοσιρις), also known as Padieset, was an Egyptian high priest of Thoth who lived in the late Persian or early Ptolemaic period (circa 4th century BCE). He is best known as the attributed author of several astrological and medical texts.

While little is definitively known about the historical Petosiris, he is believed to have been a priest in Hermopolis Magna. He is an important figure in the history of astrology because of the texts attributed to him, especially those in collaboration with Nechepso. These texts, known as the "Nechepso-Petosiris" corpus, were widely influential in the Hellenistic world and served as a foundation for later Western astrological traditions.

The Nechepso-Petosiris texts primarily focus on topics such as:

  • Astrological prognostication: Predicting future events based on the positions of celestial bodies at specific times, especially at birth (natal astrology).
  • Decans: The division of the zodiac into 36 segments of 10 degrees each, with each decan associated with particular deities and influences.
  • Terms (Bounds): Another system for subdividing the zodiac, assigning specific planets rulership over certain segments of each sign.
  • Elections: Choosing auspicious times for beginning important activities based on astrological conditions.

The writings attributed to Petosiris and Nechepso are generally considered pseudepigraphical, meaning they were written by later authors who attributed them to these earlier, respected figures to lend them authority. This practice was common in antiquity. Although their authorship is debated, the texts themselves are valuable historical sources, shedding light on the evolution of astrological beliefs and practices in the Hellenistic period and their relationship to Egyptian traditions. They reflect a syncretism of Egyptian and Babylonian influences on Greek astrology.

The influence of the Nechepso-Petosiris texts can be seen in the works of later astrologers such as Claudius Ptolemy and Vettius Valens. The concepts and techniques presented in these texts were foundational for the development of Western astrology and continue to be studied by historians of astrology today.