1
Nechepso and Petosiris
DORIAN GIESELER GREENBAUM AND
MICAH ROSS
Certain astrological pseudepigraphies attribute
early doctrines of ancient western astrology to
“Nechepso” and “Petosiris.” Nechepso was sup-
posedly a king of Egypt; Petosiris’ relationship
to him is unclear, but they are often cited
together. No one has definitively demonstrated
which historical figures correspond to Nechepso
or Petosiris, despite frequent attempts (e.g.,
Neugebauer and Parker 1969; Krauss and
Fecht 1981). Astrological texts identify
Nechepso as “the King” (e.g., Vett. Val. Anthol-
ogy 2.3.1; 2.29.1; 3.11.2; 3.13.6; Firm. Mathesis
4, 22.2). The historian MANETHO identified
Nechepsos as a 26th dynasty king and Eisler
(1946: 216) first suggested Necho II
(610–595 BCE).
Fragments of Nechepso and Petosiris’ writ-
ings occur in Greek verse and prose (probably
from mid-second century BCE). First collected
by Riess (1892), the fragments have been
updated by Heilen (forthcoming). Later astrol-
ogers considered Nechepso and Petosiris
authoritative and used quotations ascribed to
them to lend antiquity and credibility to astro-
logical doctrines, although these doctrines
were also sometimes critiqued by astrologers
themselves (e.g., Vett. Val. 2.3.1; 3.11; 9.2.7–8).
Nechepso and Petosiris often appear together,
but Petosiris apparently wrote a treatise called
Definitions (Horia) and a letter to Nechepso,
whereas Nechepso authored around fourteen
books of opaque and enigmatic verses (see
Valens’ comments at 2.3.1; 3.11.1). Valens para-
phrases this composition in his account of
Nechepso’s astrological vision (6. Proem).
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, First Edition. Edited by Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine,
and Sabine R. Huebner, print pages 4722–4723.
© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Published 2013 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah21224
PLINY THE ELDER reports that Nechepso and
Petosiris together calculated the size of the
universe (HN 2.21).
The doctrines ascribed to Nechepso and
Petosiris contain universal, natal, iatro-
mathematical and catarchic astrology. Universal
techniques include the effects of eclipses,
comets, and Sothic risings (Heph. 1.21–24).
Natal techniques include the relationship
between the moon’s position and the ascendant
for conception and birth (Heph. 2.1.2), the lot
of fortune for determining happiness and length
of life (Vett. Val. 2.3; 3.11), and planets ruling
periods of life (Heph. 2.11).
SEE ALSO: Astrology, Greece and Rome;
Astronomy, Egyptian; Firmicus Maternus,
Iulius; Hephaistion of Thebes; Vettius Valens.
REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS
Eisler, R. (1946) The royal art of astrology.
London.
Heilen, S. (forthcoming) “Some metrical
fragments from the manual of Nechepso and
Petosiris.” In J.-H. Abry, I. Boehm, and
W. Hübner, eds., Proceedings of the international
conference la poésie astrologique dans l’Antiquité,
Lyon 7–8 décembre 2007. Lyons.
Krauss, R., and Fecht, G. (1981) “Necho II. alias
Nechepso.” Göttinger Miszellen 42: 49–60.
Neugebauer, O., and Parker, R. A. (1960–9)
Egyptian astronomical texts. (1. The early decans.
2. The Ramesside star clocks. 3. Decans, planets,
constellations and zodiacs). Providence.
Pingree, D. (1974) “Petosiris.” In C. C. Gillispie,
ed., Dictionary of scientific biography, vol. 10:
547–9. New York.
Riess, E. (1892) “Nechepsonis et Petosiridis
fragmenta magica.” In Philologus, Suppl. 6, pt. 1.
Göttingen.