Anonymous of 379: The Treatise on the Bright Fixed Stars (Project Hindsight: Greek Track Volume II-A)

In the year 379 CE an unknown astrologer wrote a treatise on the fixed stars in the city of Rome. He is generally referred to as Anonymous of 379, Anonymus anni 379, or the Astrologer of the Year 379.

His text is important because it provides one of the earliest and longest sets of delineations in Greek for how the fixed stars are used and interpreted within the context of natal astrology.

Anonymous’ stated goal was to outline the astrological meaning of 30 bright fixed fixed stars of the 1st and 2nd magnitude, although only 29 are referred to in the extant text. Each star represents a “mixture” or “combination” (κρᾶσις) of the nature of two planets. For example, Spica is said to be a mixture of Venus and Mercury (CCAG 5, 1, p. 198: 12-25). He then provides delineations for each star when it becomes prominent in a nativity, either by being close to an angle, or by being closely conjunct the Moon. Many of the delineations are altered based on where certain planets are in the chart.