Decan


The decans are 36 groups of stars used in the ancient Egyptian astronomy. They rose consecutively on the horizon throughout each earth rotation. The rising of each decan marked the beginning of a new decanal "hour" of the night for the ancient Egyptians, and they were used as a sidereal star clock beginning by at least the 9th or 10th Dynasty.
Because a new decan also appears heliacally every ten days, the ancient Greeks called them dekanoi or "tenths".
Decans continued to be used throughout the Renaissance in astrology and in magic, but modern astrologers almost entirely ignore them.

Ancient Egyptian origins

Decans first appeared in the 10th Dynasty on coffin lids. The sequence of these star patterns began with Sothis, and each decan contained a set of stars and corresponding divinities. As measures of time, the rising and setting of decans marked 'hours' and groups of 10 days which comprised an Egyptian year. The ancient Book of Nut covers the subject of the decans.
There were 36 decans, plus five added days to compose the 365 days of a solar based year. Decans measure sidereal time and the solar year is six hours longer; the Sothic and solar years in the Egyptian calendar realign every 1460 years. Decans represented on coffins from later dynasties compared with earlier decan images demonstrate the Sothic-solar shift.
According to Sarah Symons
Although we know the names of the decans, and in some cases can translate the names the locations of the decanal stars and their relationships to modern star names and constellations are not known. This is due to many factors, but key problems are the uncertainty surrounding the observation methods used to develop and populate the diagonal star tables, and the criteria used to select decans.

Later developments

These predictable heliacal re-appearances by the decans were eventually used by the Egyptians to mark the divisions of their annual solar calendar. Thus the heliacal rising of Sirius marked the annual flooding of the Nile.
Eventually this system led to a system of 12 daytime hours and 12 nighttime hours, varying in length according to the season. Later, a system of 24 "equinoctial" hours was used.
After astrology was introduced to Egypt, various systems attributing astrological significance to decans arose. Decans were connected, for example, with various diseases and with the timing for the engraving of talismans for curing them; with decanic "faces", a system where three decans are assigned to each zodiacal sign, each covering 10° of the zodiac, and each ruled by a planetary ruler ; and correlated with astrological signs.

Descriptions of the decans

Decans are named in various Greco-Egyptian sources, many Hermetic writings, the Testament of Solomon, and the writings of Aristobulus of Paneas. Julius Firmicus Maternus, Cosmas of Maiuma, Joseph Justus Scaliger, and Athanasius Kircher.
Images of the decans are described in Hermetic writings, by the Indian astrologer Varāhamihira, in the Picatrix, and in Japanese writings. Varāhamihira's images of the decans was influenced by Greco-Egyptian, if not Hermetic, depictions of the decans by way of the Yavanajataka. Their role in Japanese astrology may have derived from an earlier Chinese or Indian form possibly from adding the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac to a list of twenty-four hour stars. They were most common between the Kamakura and Edo periods.
The first original Decan position due to the precession in ancient times started at 0° of Cancer when the heliacal rising of Sirius on sunset like Jewish and Islamic calendars marking the Egyptian New Year and now the 1st decan falls on 0° of Leo at July 20 in the Julian calendar, that is July 22/23 on the Gregorian calendar.
Western ZodiacDecanOriginal Decan Position due to the Precession in Ancient TimesAncient Egyptian Transliteration Greco-EgyptianTestament of SolomonAristobulus's namesGreek HermeticismLatin HermeticismFirmicusCosmasScalingerKircher
Aries128Χont-harRhyax or RuaxBendoncChenlachoriAulathamasSenator or AsiccanAidoneusAsiccanArueris
Aries229Sasaqed
Si-ketBarsafaelMensourChontaretSabaothSenacher or AsenterPersephoneSenacherAnubis
Aries330Xont-χreArtosael or ArôtosaelCarexonSiketDisornafaisSentacher or AsentacerErosAcentacerHorus
Taurus431Khau
XauHoropelGisanSoouJausSuo or AsicatCharisAsicathSerapis
Taurus532Ārt
AratKairoxanondalon or IudalTourtourAronSarnotoisAryo or Asondie HorenViroasoHelitomenos
Taurus633Remen-Ḥeru-An-Saḥ
Remen-hareSphendonaelBallatRhomenosErchmubrisRomanae or ArfaLitaiAharphApophis
Gemini734Mesdjer-Saḥ
ΘosalkSphandorFarsanXochaManuchosThesogar or TensogarThetysThesogarTautus
Gemini835Remen-Kher-Saḥ
UaretBelbelVaspanOuariSamuroisVer or AsuaeKybeleVerasuaCyclops
Gemini936A-Saḥ
Phu-horKourtael or KurtaêlParquiaPepisothAzuelTepis or AtosoaePraxidikeTepisatosoaTitan
Cancer101 Sepdet
SopdetMetathiaxPanemSotheirSeneptoisSothis or SociusNikeSothisApollun
Cancer112Depā-Kenmut
SetaKatanikotaelCatarnoOuphisitSomachalmaisSithHeraklesSythHecate
Cancer123Kenmut
KnumSaphthorael or SaphathoraélHellorsChnouphosCharmineThiumis or ThumusHekateThuimisMercophta
Leo134Kher-Khept-Kenmut
Χar-KnumPhobothel or BobêlJareaChnoumosZaloiasCraumonis or AfruicoisHephaistosAphruimisTyphon
Leo145Ḥā-Djat
Ha-tetLeroel or KumeatêlEffraaIpiZachorSicIsisSithacerPeroeus
Leo156Peḥui-Djat
Phu-TetSoubettiHayasPhatitiFrichFutile or EisieSarapisPhuonisieNepenthe
Virgo167Tjemat-Ḥert
TomKatrax or AtraxAngafAthoumZamendresThumis or ThinnisThemisThumiIsis
Virgo178Tjemat-Khert
Uste-bikotJeropa or IeropaêlBethapenBrysousMagoisTophicus or TropicusMoiraiThopitusPi-Osiris
Virgo189Ustji
AposotModobel or BuldumêchBarocheAmphathamMichulaisAfut or AsuthHestiaAphutCronus
Libra1910Bekatji
Sob‿χosMadero or NaôthZercurisSphoukouPsineusSeuichut or SenichutErinysSerucuthZeuda
Libra2011Depā-Khentet
Tpa-χontNathotho or MarderôBahamNephthimesChusthisisSepisent or AtebenusKairosAterechinisOmphta
Libra2112Xont-harAlathPieretPhouPsamiatoisSenta or AtepitenLoimosArpienOphionius
Scorpio2213Sapt-Khennu
Spt-χneAudameothHazizaNameNecbeuosSentacer or AsenteNymphsSentacerArimanius
Scorpio2314SesmeNefthadaNacyOustichosTurmantisTepsisen or AsentatirLetoTepiseuthMerota
Scorpio2415Si-sesmeAktonAlleinacAphebisPsermesSentineu or AterceniKairos SenicerPanotragus
Sagittarius2516Ḥer-Ab-Uia
Hre-uaAnatrethOrtusaSebosClinothoisEregbuo or ErgbuoLoimos EregbuoTolmophta
Sagittarius2617SesmeEnautha or EnenuthDahaTeuchmosThursoisSagonKoreSagenTomras
Sagittarius2718Kenmu
KonimeAxesbyth or PhêthSatanChthisarRenethisChenene or ChenemAnankeChenenTeraph
Capricorn2819Semdet
SmatHapax or HarpaxEractoTairRenpsoisThemesoAsklepiosThemesoSoda
Capricorn2920Sert
SratAnosterSalacEpitekManethoisEpiemu or EpimenHygieiaEpimaRiruphta
Capricorn3021Sasa-Sert
Si-sratPhysikoreth or AlleborithSerosEpichnausMarcoisOmotTolmaHomothMonuphta
Aquarius3122Khukhu
Tpa-χuAleureth or HephesimirethTonghelIsiUlarisOro or AsoerDikeOroasoerBrondeus
Aquarius3223Baba
XuIchthionAnafaSosomoLuxoisCratero or AstiroPhobosAstiroVucula
Aquarius3324Tpa-BiuAchoneoth or AgchoniônSimosChonoumousCrauxesTepis or AmasieroOsirisTepisatrasProteus
Pisces3425BiuAutoth or AutothithAchafTetimoFambaisAcha or AtapiacOkeanosArchatapiasRephan
Pisces3526Xont-HarPhtheneoth or PhthenothLarvataSopphiFlugmoisTepibui or TepabiuDolosThopibuiSourut
Pisces3627Tpi-biuBianakithAjarasSyroPiatrisUiu or AatexbuiElpisAtembuiPhallophorus

East Asian Zodiac

The East Asian zodiac features Decans in the form of Thirty-six Calendar Animals. The group originated in China, wherein the 36 were divided into four clusters, with each cluster made up of nine animal-deity pairs. The four clusters represent the four cardinal directions. The animals are also grouped in triads—three animals are combined under one of 12 Zodiac Signs. In Japan, the group appeared in the Nichū Reki 二中暦, a Japanese calendar from the second half of the 14th century. Curiously, eight of the 36 appear “fox like”—almost identical in physical attributes. These eight include the tanuki, mujna, fox, wolf, jackal, wild cat, and wild male-female dogs. The mujina, fox and rabbit are combined under the zodiacal sign of the rabbit. The tanuki, leopard, and tiger are combined under the zodiacal sign of the tiger. Western scholars have mistranslated tanuki and mujina for decades as “badger” or “racoon-dog.” But in extant artwork like that shown below, the beasts are clearly “fox-like.” It is therefore puzzling why Western scholars call them badgers and racoon dogs.:
ZodiacFirst animalSecond animalThird animal
RatCat Rat Bat
OxCattle Crab Turtle
TigerRaccoon dog Leopard Tiger
RabbitFox Rabbit Badger
DragonDragon Shark Fish
SnakeCicada Carp Snake
HorseDeer Horse Roebuck
GoatSheep Goose Hawk or falcon
MonkeyGibbon Ape Monkey
RoosterRaven Chicken Pheasant
DogDog Wolf Ch. Dhole, Ja. Honshu wolf
PigPig Domestic pig Wild boar

Table of faces (or decanates)

There were two main versions of rulership given to the decans in the ancient world: Chaldean rulership and rulership by Triplicity.
SignFirst Decan ruler
Second Decan ruler
Third Decan ruler
AriesMarsSunVenus
TaurusMercuryMoonSaturn
GeminiJupiterMarsSun
CancerVenusMercuryMoon
LeoSaturnJupiterMars
VirgoSunVenusMercury
LibraMoonSaturnJupiter
ScorpioMarsSunVenus
SagittariusMercuryMoonSaturn
CapricornJupiterMarsSun
AquariusVenusMercuryMoon
PiscesSaturnJupiterMars

* as used as an essential dignity in astrology.
Notice that rulerships follow a repeating pattern, the so-called "Chaldean" order of the planets: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon.
This planetary order, in which the Sun stands at the center of the continuum, with the planets between the Sun and the Earth on one side and the outer planets on the other side, reflected the perception of the speed of each planet's motion as seen from the Earth.
SignFirst Decan ruler
Second Decan ruler
Third Decan ruler
AriesMarsSunJupiter
TaurusVenusMercurySaturn
GeminiMercuryVenusSaturn
CancerMoonMarsJupiter
LeoSunJupiterMars
VirgoMercurySaturnVenus
LibraVenusSaturnMercury
ScorpioMarsJupiterMoon
SagittariusJupiterMarsSun
CapricornSaturnVenusMercury
AquariusSaturnMercuryVenus
PiscesJupiterMoonMars

Decans or "faces" are the least important of the essential dignities, representing about one-fifteenth of a planet's overall strength in medieval astrology.

Ancient India

In India, the division of the zodiac into 36 ten degree portions is called either the drekkana,the dreshkana, or the drikana.

The iconography and use of the drekkana's is mention earliest by Sphujidhvaja in Yavanajataka, and given detailed treatment by Varahamihira in his Brihat-Samhita. Modern scholars believe the decans were imported into India through the Greeks, who learned about them from the Egyptians.

There are multiple types of drekkana in use in Indian astrology. The parivritti drekkana goes in order of the signs; the first decan is Aries, the second is Taurus, the third is Gemini, the fourth is Cancer, etc. Then there is the trinal calculation which utilizes the elemental trines to each sign; In Aries there is Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, while in Taurus there is Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. There are in total four variations of drekkana calculations. Indian astrologers will calculate these signs and create a new chart based upon the sign placement for predictive purposes.

Footnotes