History of Western Astrology: The Ancient and Classical Worlds (Volume I) [Paperback]

Nicholas Campion (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1441127372 | ISBN-13: 978-1441127372 | Publication Date: June 16, 2009

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It shines light on the heaven for scholars and amateurs alike; its narrative is dense but rich, readable and suggestive." Literary Review

'Campion leaves few stones unturned and the large section of notes and the ample bibliography make these two volumes [History of Western Astrology Volume I and II] an excellent starting point for those who wish to dig deeper.' - The Observatory

About the Author

Nicholas Campion is senior lecturer in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Wales, Lampeter. He is director of the University's Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture, where he teaches the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology. He is also on the faculty of Kepler College, Seattle.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (June 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441127372
• ISBN-13: 978-1441127372
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a good book, September 7, 2010

By 

Stuart Schulz (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: History of Western Astrology: The Ancient and Classical Worlds (Volume I) (Hardcover)

The first reviewer of this book is perfectly correct in giving this book a five star-rating and calling it a must read. But she doesnt go far enough! This book, and its sequel, Volume Two, are masterpieces of good history and good writing. I review both books under Volume Two but feel compelled to repeat my analysis here as well, and I am not even an astrologer, nor actually believe in it with any certainty. Having completed Volume One, and now, finally, Volume Two after an entire summer of reading, I stand in awe at this man's ability to wade through an ocean of conflicting and confusing history, involving philosophy, religion and social upheavals, and somehow never lose cite of his central thesis--the ebb and flow of astrological beliefs. And all in very readable prose, carefully documented, and largely unbiased. Of course, with such a broad overview, and with so many influences and trends to dissect and analyze, there is no doubt that experts in individual fields may quibble about certain points and generalizations. After all, this is controversial material concerning a movement embraced by some, but reviled by many powerful forces. But that doesn't detract from the value of this encyclopedic work. Whether you believe in Astrology or not, noone can deny that it has played a major role in the intellectual and psychological life of Man since the beginning of time, and a respectful interest in its development is certainly warranted by anyone, whether academic or not. And noone does this with such clarity and insightful prose through the jungle of intellectual ideas than Campion, in two massive volumes of scholarship. I should know...I am a college writing teacher, and can professionally declare that this is great writing, not just great scholarship. I only regret that having read the complete work through once, I will probably have to do it several times over again, before I retain even a tiny portion of the information presented in these dense but fascinating texts.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dawn of Astrology Volume, September 23, 2009

By 

Peggy Schick (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: History of Western Astrology: The Ancient and Classical Worlds (Volume I) (Paperback)

this is a must read for everyone. you do not have to be an astrologer to appreciate the historical sequence of reglion and the sciences. astrology was the first science and without it we would not have medicine, mathematics, astronomy or any of the knowledge we have today. The Dawn of Astrology clearly outlines the rise and fall of oldest science, astrology.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best history of ancient astrology out there, September 10, 2010

By 

N. Grossman (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: History of Western Astrology: The Ancient and Classical Worlds (Volume I) (Paperback)

Campion's history of ancient astrology does what other such histories do not: it places astrology in the context of the societies in which it developed. So Campion's book describes the religious practices and beliefs of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and the British Isles and shows why and how they spawned astrology. This method is far preferable to that used by other histories, which often treat astrology as a subject unto itself without fully explaining its connection to the societies that gave it birth. Campion relies on both primary and secondary sources -- the bibiliography is staggering in its size and scope -- as well as on his own insights. Highly readable for a work of this type (which can easily suffer from dryness), comprehensive and thorough, The Dawn of Astrology is simply the best treatment of its subject I have yet encountered. Highly recommended.