The remaining quadrant is the vast tract known by the general name of Libya. Its several parts, distinguished by the particular names of Numidia, Carthage, Africa,[78] Phazania, Nasamonitis, Garamantica, Mauritania, Getulia, and Metagonitis, are situated in the south-west of the entire earth, and have due familiarity with the south-west triplicity, composed of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces; their rulers therefore are Mars and Venus, in vespertine position. From this figuration of the planets it results that the dwellers in these regions are doubly governed by a man and a woman, who are both children of the same mother; the man rules the males, and the woman the females. They are extremely hot in constitution, and desirous of women; their marriages are usually made by violence, and in many districts the local princes first enjoy the brides of their subjects: in some places, however, the women are common to all. The influence of Venus causes the whole people to delight in personal ornaments, and in being arrayed in female attire: nevertheless, that of Mars renders them courageous, crafty, addicted to magic, and fearless of dangers.
Again, however, of the above-named countries, Numidia, Carthage, and Africa, are more particularly in familiarity with Cancer and the Moon: their inhabitants, consequently, live in community, attend to mercantile pursuits, and enjoy abundantly all the blessings of nature. The natives of Metagonitis, Mauritania, and Getulia, are influenced by Scorpio and Mars, and are consequently ferocious and pugnacious in the highest degree; eaters of human flesh, utterly indifferent to danger, and so regardless and prodigal of blood, as to slay each other without hesitation on the slightest cause. The people in Phazania, Nasamonitis, and Garamantica, are connected with Pisces and Jupiter, and are accordingly frank and simple in manners, fond of employment, well disposed, fond of the decencies of life, and, for the most part, free and unrestrained in their actions: they worship Jupiter by the name of Ammon.
The other parts of this quadrant, which lies near the middle of the entire earth, are Cyrenaica, Marmarica, Ægypt, Thebais, Oasis, Troglodytica, Arabia, Azania, and Middle Æthiopia. These countries, being situated in the north-east of their quadrant, have due familiarity with the north-east triplicity (consisting of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius), and are governed by Saturn and Jupiter, and also by Mercury. Their inhabitants, therefore, participate in the influence of all the five planets in vespertine figuration, and consequently cherish due love and reverence for the gods, and dedicate themselves to their service. They are addicted to sepulchral ceremonies; and, owing to the said vespertine position, they bury their dead in the earth,[79] and remove them from the public eye. They use various laws and customs, and worship divers gods. In a state of subjection, they are submissive, cowardly, abject, and most patient; but when they command, they are brave, generous, and high-minded. Polygamy is frequent among them, and practised by the women as well as the men: they are most licentious in sexual intercourse, and allow incestuous commerce between brothers and sisters. Both men and women are extraordinarily prolific, and correspond in this respect with the fecundity of their soil. Many of the men are, however, effeminate and debased in mind; in consequence of the figuration of the malefics, together with the vespertine position of Venus; and some of them mutilate their persons.[80]
Among these last-named countries, Cyrenaica, Marmarica, and particularly Lower Ægypt, are chiefly influenced by Gemini and Mercury: the natives are therefore highly intellectual and sensible, and gifted with capacity for every undertaking; above all, for the attainment of wisdom, and an insight into divine mysteries. They are also magicians, performing secret rites and ceremonies, and are in every respect calculated for the prosecution of all scientific inquiry.[81] The inhabitants of Thebais, Oasis, and Troglodytica, are connected with Libra and Venus; they are of warmer constitution, and more hasty disposition, and enjoy life in all its plentitude and abundance. The natives of Arabia, Azania, and Middle Æthiopia, have familiarity with Aquarius and Saturn; they consequently feed on flesh and fish indiscriminately, and live in a state of dispersion like wild beasts; they never unite in society, but lead a wandering and savage life.
Table Showing all the Countries
Belonging to Each Sign Respectively
| Signs. | Aries. | Taurus. | Gemini. | Cancer. | Leo | Virgo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triplicity. | North West. | South East. | North East. | South West. | North West. | South East. |
| Quadrant of the Countries. | North West. | South East. | North East. | South West. | North West. | South East. |
| Countries remote from the middle of the earth. | Britain Galatia Germany Barsania | Parthia Media Persia | Hyrcania Armenia Mantiana | Numidia Carthage Africa | Italy Apulia Sicily Gaul | Mesopotamia Babylonia Assyria |
| Quadrant of the Countries. | South East. | North West. | South West. | North East. | South East. | North West. |
| Countries near the middle of the earth. | Cælesyria Idumæa Judæa | Cyclades Cyprus Asia Minor | Cyrenaica Marmarica Lower Ægypt | Bithynia Phrygia Colchis | Phœnicia Chaldæa Orychnia | Hellas Achaia Crete |
| Signs. | Libra. | Scorpio. | Sagittarius. | Capricorn. | Aquarius. | Pisces. |
| Triplicity. | North East. | South West. | North West. | South East. | North East. | South West. |
| Quadrant of the Countries. | North East. | South West. | North West. | South East. | North East. | South West. |
| Countries remote from the middle of the earth. | Bactriana Casperia Serica | Metagonitis Mauritania Getulia | Tuscany Celtica Spain | India Arriana Gedrosia | Sauromatica Oxiana Sogdiana | Phazania Nasamonitis Garamantica |
| Quadrant of the Countries | South West. | North East. | South East. | North West. | South West. | North East. |
| Countries near the middle of the earth. | Thebais Oasis Troglodytica | Syria Commagene Cappadocia | Arabia Felix | Thrace Macedonia Illyria | Arabia Azania Middle | Lydia Cilicia Pamphylia |
| Æthiopia |
The familiarities exercised by the Planets, and by the Signs of the Zodiac, together with the manners, customs, and qualities, particular as well as general, which they produce, have now been concisely described; but in order to facilitate the knowledge and use of them, the subjoined table is inserted, to show, at one view, what countries are in connection with each sign, respectively, according to the mode above detailed.
CHAPTER IV
THE FAMILIARITY OF THE REGIONS OF
THE EARTH WITH THE FIXED STARS
In addition to the rules which have been already given, respecting the familiarity of the regions of the earth with the signs and planets, it must be observed, that all fixed stars which may be posited on any line, drawn from one zodiacal pole to the other, through such parts of the zodiac as may be connected with any particular country, are also in familiarity with that particular country.
And, with regard to metropolitan cities, it is necessary to state, that those points or degrees of the zodiac, over which the Sun and Moon were in transit, at the time when the construction of any such city was first undertaken and commenced, are to be considered as sympathizing with that city in an especial manner; and that, among the angles, the ascendant is principally in accordance with it. In certain cases, however, where the date of foundation of a metropolis cannot be ascertained, the mid-heaven in the nativity of the reigning king, or other actual chief magistrate, is to be substituted, and considered as that part of the zodiac with which it chiefly sympathizes.[82]