Stars and Senate: The History of Astrology in Ancient Rome

“It is written in the stars…” — but did the Romans believe it?

Astrology in Ancient Rome wasn’t just about horoscopes — it was a blend of science, religion, politics, and personal fate, woven into the empire’s very fabric. While often controversial, astrology played a surprisingly powerful role in Roman life.

Origins: Imported from the East

Astrology arrived in Rome via Greece and Babylon. As Rome expanded eastward in the 2nd century BCE, it absorbed the Hellenistic astrological systems developed in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and especially Alexandria, where astronomy and astrology were closely linked.

By the late Republic, Greek astrologers were in high demand in Roman society, offering advice on everything from love to war.

Astrology and the Republic: Suspicion and Fascination

In the early days of the Republic, astrology (often lumped together with other forms of divination) was viewed with suspicion. Roman officials occasionally expelled astrologers and soothsayers, fearing they could undermine political stability.

In 139 BCE, the Roman Senate issued the first known decree against Chaldeans (Babylonian astrologers), concerned that their predictions could influence public opinion or incite unrest.

Yet despite these crackdowns, astrology grew in popularity, especially among the elite.

Imperial Rome: From Banned to Beloved

By the time of Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE), astrology had become entangled with imperial propaganda. Augustus cleverly used astrology to legitimize his rule, promoting the idea that he was born under the sign of Capricorn, a symbol of stability and rebirth.

The emperor Tiberius was an avid believer in astrology and consulted the astrologer Thrasyllus, who became one of his closest advisors.
Domitian, despite persecuting astrologers, secretly consulted them.
Vespasian and Hadrian also took astrology seriously.

Astrology offered emperors a divine veneer and a tool to forecast threats — but also a source of anxiety. Predicting a successor’s rise could be seen as predicting the current ruler’s fall.

Personal Horoscopes and Daily Life

Astrology wasn’t just for emperors. By the 1st century CE, natal charts (personal birth horoscopes) became fashionable among Roman citizens. Many turned to astrologers for guidance on marriage, business, travel, and childbearing.

Graffiti in Pompeii shows that even common people were curious about the stars. Astrological symbols appear in mosaics, rings, and art across the empire.

Key Figures in Roman Astrology

Manilius, a 1st-century poet, authored Astronomica, the first known Latin astrological treatise — blending Roman ideals with Greek celestial lore.
Ptolemy, though based in Egypt, influenced Roman astrology through his Tetrabiblos, a foundational text for astrology in the Roman (and later Islamic and medieval Christian) world.

Faith and Fear: Astrology’s Dual Role

Astrology in Rome lived in tension:

It was both banned and embraced.
Revered as a science and reviled as sorcery.
Used to justify divine rule and accuse rivals of sedition.

Because of its predictive power, it was considered both sacred and politically dangerous.

Legacy

Astrology’s deep roots in Roman culture helped ensure its survival long after the fall of the Western Empire. It passed into the Byzantine world, was preserved and expanded by Islamic scholars, and later re-emerged in Renaissance Europe.

So the next time someone checks their star sign, remember: Rome looked to the heavens too — with hope, strategy, and sometimes fear.