Zodiac

From the book

Stobaeus, Volume I

John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026

ζῳδιακός

zōdiakos

Zōidiakos is the adjective “zodiacal,” used with an understood circle to name the oblique circle associated with the zodiac.

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordZōidiakos is the adjective “zodiacal,” used with an understood circle to name the oblique circle associated with the zodiac.
In StobaeusThe account distinguishes this oblique circle from the three middle parallel circles: the two tropics and the equator.
In this edition“Zodiacal circle” keeps the geometrical object explicit.
A place to beginThe zodiacal circle is located relative to the tropics, equator, and meridian.

English renderings: zodiac; zodiacal circle

Meaning

Zōidiakos is the adjective “zodiacal,” used with an understood circle to name the oblique circle associated with the zodiac.

Use in the book

The account distinguishes this oblique circle from the three middle parallel circles: the two tropics and the equator. It meets the equator and reaches the tropics at its extremes. The accompanying meridian is another circle with a different orientation and must not be confused with the zodiac.

Places to read

I.23.3.2The zodiacal circle is located relative to the tropics, equator, and meridian.

Translation in this edition

“Zodiacal circle” keeps the geometrical object explicit.

Source note

Wachsmuth, volume I, printed pp. 201. The source’s “touching” has a broad sense of meeting: it does not make every intersection a geometrical tangency.

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Browse this book’s lexicon →

Zodiac

Zodiacus, animalia siderea, cor, anima principalis

Zodiacus names the zodiacal circle; animalia siderea its stellar creatures; cor the heart-like principal star; anima principalis the soul governing the constellation.

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordZodiacus names the zodiacal circle; animalia siderea its stellar creatures; cor the heart-like principal star; anima principalis the soul governing the constellation.
In the Platonic TheologyThe zodiacal figures supply a visible sign of twelvefold organization in the highest sphere.
In this editionThe divine correspondences are those of this reported Pythagorean passage.
A place to readThe twelvefold analogy is introduced through cosmic members and principal souls.

Meaning

Zodiacus names the zodiacal circle; animalia siderea its stellar creatures; cor the heart-like principal star; anima principalis the soul governing the constellation. These are different levels in the same image.

Use in the book

The zodiacal figures supply a visible sign of twelvefold organization in the highest sphere. Ficino presents each constellation as a celestial creature with a principal star functioning as its heart, where the constellation's principal soul lives. The divine correspondences reported as Pythagorean are Aries/Pallas, Taurus/Venus, Gemini/a particular Phoebus, Cancer/Mercury, Leo/a particular Jupiter, Virgo/Ceres, Libra/Vulcan, Scorpio/Mars, Sagittarius/Diana, Capricorn/Vesta, Aquarius/Juno, and Pisces/Neptune. These are the correspondences in this passage, rather than a general key interchangeable with every astrological scheme. “Particular” also matters: the Phoebus and Jupiter assigned here are contextual divine souls, not necessarily the same referents as a universal theological name elsewhere. The list explains Ficino's twelvefold analogy and cosmic nomenclature. It does not authorize predictions about individual character or destiny from a person's zodiac sign.

Further passage references. IV.1.42–IV.1.432; apparatus

Places to read

IV.1.42The twelvefold analogy is introduced through cosmic members and principal souls.
IV.1.43Each zodiacal creature receives a principal star-heart and one named divine soul, providing the visible twelvefold sign.

Translation in this edition

The divine correspondences are those of this reported Pythagorean passage. The supplied English preserves “particular” before Phoebus and Jupiter; neither should be silently equated with a universal divine name or transferred into the separate Orphic pair-list.

cor / principalis stella

cor / principalis stella. Printed forms: cor; corde; stella.

Heart; a principal star serving as a ruling center. Each zodiacal creature is pictured with a star-heart where its principal soul lives. References: IV.1.43. See Zodiac.

Apollo (cosmic names)

Apollo (Apollinem, universalem Apollinem). In the Pythagorean ascent, the universal Apollo names the unqualified One; in the later image, the nine Muses and Bacchuses revel around Apollo as the splendor of the invisible sun. This universal role differs from the particular Phoebus in Gemini. IV.1.51–IV.1.522; IV.1.95. See Apollo; Bacchus and the Muses; Zodiac.

Aquarius (cosmic names)

Aquarius (Aquarii). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Juno; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Aries (cosmic names)

Aries (Arietis). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Pallas; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Cancer (cosmic names)

Cancer (Cancri). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Mercury; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Capricorn (cosmic names)

Capricorn (Capricorni). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Vesta; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Ceres (cosmic names)

Ceres (Ceres). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Virgo in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. See Zodiac.

Diana (cosmic names)

Diana (Diana). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Sagittarius in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. See Zodiac.

Gemini (cosmic names)

Gemini (Geminorum). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is a particular Phoebus; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Juno (cosmic names)

Juno (Iuno, Iunonem). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Aquarius in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of air, paired with the knowing power named Jupiter. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Jupiter (cosmic names)

Jupiter (Iupiter particularis, fulminatorem Iovem, Jupiter the Thunderer, Iovis). A particular divine soul assigned to the heart of Leo in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Name of the knowing power of the soul of air, paired with Juno, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Sabasius; life-giving and governing power Terpsichore. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers; Spheres and stars.

Leo (cosmic names)

Leo (Leonis). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is a particular Jupiter; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Libra (cosmic names)

Libra (Librae). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Vulcan; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Mars (cosmic names)

Mars (Mars, Martis). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Scorpio in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Bassareus; life-giving and governing power Clio. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Mercury (cosmic names)

Mercury (Mercurius, Mercurii sphaerae). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Cancer in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Bacchus Silenus; life-giving and governing power Euterpe. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Neptune (cosmic names)

Neptune (Neptunus). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Pisces in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. See Zodiac.

Pallas (cosmic names)

Pallas (Pallas). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Aries in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. See Zodiac.

Phoebus (cosmic names)

Phoebus (Phoebus particularis). A particular divine soul assigned to the heart of Gemini in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Apollo.

Pisces (cosmic names)

Pisces (Piscium). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Neptune; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Pythagoreans (cosmic names)

Pythagoreans (Pythagoricis). Group to whom Ficino attributes the zodiacal divine-soul catalogue; the wider discussion is explicitly introduced and closed as a Pythagorean excursion. IV.1.40–IV.1.522 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. See Twelve; Zodiac.

Sagittarius (cosmic names)

Sagittarius (Sagittarii). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Diana; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Scorpio (cosmic names)

Scorpio (Scorpionis). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Mars; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Taurus (cosmic names)

Taurus (Tauri). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Venus; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Venus (cosmic names)

Venus (Venus, Veneris). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Taurus in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Lysius; life-giving and governing power Erato. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Vesta (cosmic names)

Vesta (Vesta). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Capricorn in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. See Zodiac.

Virgo (cosmic names)

Virgo (Virginis). Zodiacal stellar creature whose principal divine soul is Ceres; the principal star is described as its heart. IV.1.43. See Zodiac; Twelve.

Vulcan (cosmic names)

Vulcan (Vulcanus). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Libra in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. See Zodiac.