Discover how ancient Mesopotamians pioneered predictive science by recording eclipses, planetary cycles, and omens. Learn how their blend of astronomy and astrology shaped both modern science and horoscopes.
In ancient Mesopotamia, the sky was not just a backdrop — it was a message board from the gods. Kings depended on astrologers to interpret eclipses, comets, and planetary alignments before deciding on wars, harvests, or state rituals. Far from being superstition, this fusion of astronomy and divination became a system of statecraft that legitimized rulers and shaped empires. Babylonian astrology later influenced Persia, Greece, and Rome, making Mesopotamia the birthplace of the political use of the stars.
