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The system of decans was
originally associated with thirty-six constellations
that rose at specified times of the year. Early
examples of such lists can be found on coffin lids from
the Egyptian Middle Kingdom and ceilings of tombs
dating from the New Kingdom. Evidence suggests that
their risings marked both the days of the year and the
time of night. As early as 2100 B.C. the decans were
associated with particular gods. This system evolved
over time and became another scheme for dividing the
zodiac.
Like the faces, the
decans are even divisions of 10° each, starting with
the first point of Aries and
terminating at the last point of Pisces. Whereas
the faces appear to have been indigenous to Arabic
astrology, the system of decans is found first in
Egyptian and later in Indian astrology (al- Bīrūnī
asserts that the decans were a Hindu practice). By the
time al- Bīrūnī wrote his The Book of Instruction
in the Elements of the Art of Astrology in the
early eleventh century, the decans were ruled not by
Egyptian gods but were governed by a planet or luminary.
Although the decans spread widely throughout the
Islamic and Indian worlds, tables of decans are rare on
astrolabes. The lords of the decans are given
below.
| Zodiacal Sign |
Planetary Lords |
|
|
10° |
20° |
30° |
| Aries |
المراخ
Mars |
الشمس
Sun |
المشترى
Jupiter |
| Taurus |
الزهره
Venus |
العطارد
Mercury |
الوحل
Saturn |
| Gemini |
العطارد
Mercury |
الزهره
Venus |
الوحل
Saturn |
| Cancer |
القمر
Moon |
المراخ
Mars |
المشترى
Jupiter |
| Leo |
الشمس
Sun |
المشترى
Jupiter |
المراخ
Mars |
| Virgo |
العطارد
Mercury |
الوحل
Saturn |
الزهره
Venus |
| Libra |
الزهره
Venus |
الوحل
Saturn |
العطارد
Mercury |
| Scorpio |
المراخ
Mars |
المشترى
Jupiter |
القمر
Moon |
| Sagittarius |
المشترى
Jupiter |
المراخ
Mars |
الشمس
Sun |
| Capricorn |
الوحل
Saturn |
الزهره
Venus |
العطارد
Mercury |
| Aquarius |
الوحل
Saturn |
العطارد
Mercury |
الزهره
Venus |
| Pisces |
المشترى
Jupiter |
القمر
Moon |
المراخ
Mars |
|