BİRİNCİ FEN · İKİNCİ BÂB · İKİNCİ FASIL · İkinci Madde
The Second Article
Describes the names, shapes, and natures of the constellations (burçlar) determined by observing fixed stars (kevâkib-i mersûde).
Esteemed one! It is known that astronomers (ehl-i hey’et) have said that in each of the twelve signs (burûc-i isnâ aşer), for example, like the middle of each section of a melon shape – meaning the middle section of the eighth sphere's twelve divisions – the collective appearances of the fixed stars (kevâkib-i mersûde) resemble a form, and this appearance is considered the reason for naming the constellations. For instance, the sign of Aries (burc-ı hamel); in the domain of the eighth sphere, it resembles a slice such that if the observed stars within it were connected by lines, the shape of a ram would appear. Similarly, the names of the other signs have been derived.
It is conceived that from the countless stellar spheres completely filling the emptiness of the eighth sphere, according to the observations of ancient philosophers, there exist one thousand two hundred luminous stars (kevâkib-i münîr) and forty-eight forms resembling various living creatures and other things. Twelve of these forms, containing three hundred forty-six observed stars, have given names to the twelve well-known signs.
Twenty-one of these forms are north of the ecliptic (mıntıka), with three hundred sixty-six stars observed in them. The remaining fifteen of the forty-eight forms are south of the ecliptic, and three hundred sixteen stars observed in that region have been determined. In this manner, the aforementioned one thousand two hundred twelve stars are completely identified.
(Addendum/Zeyl)
It is known that the late author Ibrahim Hakkı Effendi stated that the stars are divided into two categories: fixed stars and planets.
The reason some stars are called "fixed" is that their distances from each other remain constant, as they never increase or decrease in distance; thus, they have acquired this name. These are the fixed spheres mentioned in this section.
As for those designated as “planets,” it is because these planets move and travel differently, sometimes being near and sometimes far from one another. All of them are seven planets, each residing on a separate sphere. These planets occasionally gather together into clusters and appear opposite each other on the horizon circle.
Regarding the number of fixed stars, according to later philosophers, there are one thousand one hundred twelve; evidence has been presented to prove that they are luminous bodies.
Since it is not possible to distinguish them individually and give each a separate name, scholars [specialists in this field] have divided them into groups of sixty, and given names to each group based on a particular shape.
In this naming process, the names of famous philosophers from antiquity were initially preferred. Then, names of animals, plants, and instruments were used.
As can be seen from the spherical representation illustrating the spheres [mentioned in the preceding article], each of the eighty forms consists essentially of several stars and an assumed aggregation; twelve of these are located on the ecliptic belt. The following are the names of the twelve signs containing three hundred forty-six observed stars:
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.
North of the ecliptic belt, three hundred sixty stars have been observed, and only twenty-one of them have been likened to various forms: Little Bear, Great Bear, Tinîn, Keykavus, Avâh, Câî, Sülbük, Bird, Throne Holder, Bersâvuş, Mümessik, Hevâ, Life of the Soul, Arrow, Akâb, Eagle, Dolphin, First Mare, Second Mare, Mirror of Triangles, Northern Triangle.
As for the four hundred sixty stars south of the ecliptic; twenty-seven of them have also been likened to various forms: Kaytas, Jabar, River, Rabbit, Great Dog, Little Dog, Ship, Shuja’, Batya, Crow, Keytoros, Seb’ (Siba’), Muhammere, Garland, Northern Fish, Anka, Garnavuk, Indian Servant, Peacock, Date Palm, Southern Triangle, Sea Dog, Grub, Winged Fish, Dragon, Crow, Noah's Dove.
According to this arrangement, the stars whose names we have listed above total sixty; it is calculated that one thousand one hundred twelve stars exist in these forms. However, these are only those that can be seen; it remains unknown whether the reason some stars appear larger and others smaller is due to their distances from the earth’s surface, considering that the number of stars in the Milky Way has not been determined. The truth is known only by Allah Almighty. (The Addendum ends here.)
The names of the stars resembling certain forms and located on the ecliptic belt [in groups of three according to their relation to the climates] are as follows: Aries (hamel), Taurus (sevr; bull, taurus), and Gemini (twins; gemini). The latter is also called the Twins sign. Cancer (seretân), Leo (esed), and Virgo (sünbüle). The latter is also called Azrâ (Virgo). Libra (mîzân), Scorpio, and Sagittarius (kavs). The latter is also called Atan or Archer (râmi). Capricorn (Cedy), Aquarius (delv), and Pisces (hût). The latter is also called Semektân.
Six of these signs are north of the equatorial circle (daire-i mu’addelü’n-nehâr) and are called the northern signs (burûc-i şimâliyye). The other six are located in the southern hemisphere, and they are called the southern signs.
The changing signs (burūʿ-i munkalibe); Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are called the changing ones because in them time passes from one season to another. For when the Sun is in Aries, time turns from winter to spring, when it enters Cancer, time turns from spring to summer, when it enters Libra, time has turned from summer to autumn, and when it enters Capricorn, time returns from autumn to winter. Thus, the beginning of Aries is called the vernal equinox (iʿtidāl-i rabīʿ), the beginning of Cancer, the summer solstice (inkılāb-ı sayfī), the beginning of Libra, the autumnal equinox (iʿtidāl-i harīfī), and the beginning of Capricorn, the winter solstice (inkılāb-ı shītāwī).
The fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. They are called the fixed ones because they do not change like the changing ones nor are they in a mixed state like the body-manifesting ones.
The body-manifesting signs (mütecesside) are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces; they are called body-manifesting because when the Sun is parallel to each of these signs, time within them is mingled with another condition. For example, when in Gemini, time is spring while turning into summer and mixed with summer. When in Virgo, time is summer while mixing with autumn. When in Sagittarius, it is autumn while mixing with winter. And when in Pisces, it is winter while mixing with springtime.
According to later philosophers, the twelve signs along with the seven planets are like the four essential elements (earth, fire, water, and air), each having different qualities; they discover three signs among them of a different quality and call this the triplicity of signs (musallasat al-burūʿ). For example, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are called the fiery triplicity (musallasa-i nāriyya), and each of these has a nature of warmth and dryness. Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are called the earthy triplicity (musallasa-i turābiyya), and each of their natures is coldness and dryness. Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are called the airy triplicity (musallasat al-hawā’iyya), and each of them has a nature of warmth and humidity. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are called the watery triplicity (musallasa-i mā’iyya), and each of their natures is humidity and coldness. Thus they classified the twelve signs as fiery signs, earthy signs, airy signs, and watery signs.
Another matter is that some of the twelve signs are masculine (müzakkar) and some feminine (mu’annas), and some are attributed to daytime and others to nighttime. Six of the signs are masculine, and six are feminine. The masculine signs are Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. These are single signs (burūʿ-i mufrada).
The feminine signs are Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces. These are double signs (burūʿ-i muzawwaja). Counting in order from Aries, each sign is accepted as masculine or feminine. The masculinity and femininity of the twelve signs is determined by this method. Thus, the fiery triplicity and the airy triplicity are also masculine signs, while the earthy and watery triplicities are feminine signs; and the masculine signs are attributed to daytime, and the feminine signs to nighttime.