“In 776 B.C. the first Olympic Games of ancient times were held, an institution which lasted 1,170 years, until 393 A.D. when they were banned as a pagan rite, by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius the 1st. At first, only free Greek citizens were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. Later, under the Roman Empire, all citizens of the Empire had the right to participate. The Games took place every 4 years, during the first full moon after the summer solstice. At first they lasted only one day, but as different sports were added, the time required to participate grew longer, reaching 5 days. While the Games were in progress the Ancient Greeks obeyed the rule of the Sacred Armistice, which meant the stopping of all hostilities and forbidding the execution of the death penalty. At first the Sacred Armistice lasted for a month, but later it lasted for three.” See: The Games in Ancient Greece
Since the first Full Moon after the Summer Solstice would be on July 23 of 776 B.C.E., a Tuesday, I decided to look at the dates for where the planets where. The planet’s positions are as follows: Sun Cancer 21; Moon Capricorn 21; Mercury Cancer 16; Venus Virgo 3; Mars Capricorn 7 retrograde; Jupiter Taurus 19; Saturn Capricorn 28 retrograde; Uranus Capricorn 1 retrograde; Neptune Aquarius 23 retrograde; Pluto Cancer 4; North Node Leo 27.
A plenitude of planets are in either Cancer or Capricorn, with the representation that entails of home, security, proud in one’s country of origin, and status, along with hard work to obtain a goal. All of this is still true today.
The comparison between this chart and the upcoming August 13 Olympics is most prominently displayed in the opposition of the original chart’s Venus and the current charts Uranus and ascendant. The original chart’s Neptune and South Node are opposite the current chart’s Sun. The original chart’s Pluto is conjunct the current chart’s Venus and the original chart’s Uranus and Mars are opposite the current chart’s Venus, adding to the strong ties between the two. The current chart is heavily linked to the first chart and the aspects between them are deep and long lasting.
“Astronomers pinpoint date of first marathon, according to the 19 July 04 NewScientist.com news service. “The date of the first ever marathon - thought to have been run 2500 years ago by a single sprinter who died after reaching the finish line - has been identified by a team of astronomical sleuths.” http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996175
August 12, 490 B.C.E. is on a Monday, according to the ephemeris at Astrodienst. That would give the Sun over to Leo at 12 degrees, with the following zodiacal chart statistics: Moon Aquarius 28, Mercury Leo 16 retrograde, Venus 16 Virgo, Mars Aries 1, Jupiter 2 Cancer, Saturn Libra 22, Uranus 26 Taurus, Neptune 19 Scorpio, Pluto 29 Virgo, North Node 14 Aries retrograde.
In the first marathon, as the story that it is linked to goes on to explain, we are told of the heroic young man who died to warn his countrymen of impending danger. With the Moon moving quickly into Pisces that day, the theme of self sacrifice would be very evident. Jupiter in Cancer can also show the protective feelings the young man had for his country, Cancer being the sign that symbolizes the home of one’s birth.
Pluto and Venus are in Virgo that hot August day, opposite Pisces, which accentuates the theme of self sacrifice, duty and responsibility to others. Mercury is retrograde, so that could explain the young man having to do double duty, and run back a second time, which in the blazing August sun of Greece is what did him in.
Looking at Friday’s August 13 current chart, Mercury is retrograde, at 8 Virgo and opposite the ascendant at 7 Pisces. Could this mean there will be questions as to the veracity of the Olympic scores, with questions occurring as to whether or not the athletes themselves have done anything illegal, to doctor up themselves and hence their scores? Could there be questions as to the fairness of the judges, with political concerns creeping into what should be a sporting event totally devoid of political concerns?
I know there has been talk of possible terrorism at this years Olympics, and with Uranus conjunct the ascendant and opposite Mercury and Mars, and with Pluto culminating in the tenth house, that could be a possibility.
Personally, I find the use of the asteroids a very telling way to decipher some of the smaller symbols in a chart and this chart is no different. With Vesta, named for the vestal virgins, the goddesses of home, hearth and safety, at 26 Pisces and nearly conjunct the fixed star Sheat, I can again hear the echo of the potential for something outside the normal accidents and missteps that can occur at an event of this magnitude. I do wonder if the possibility of a female suicide bomber could play a factor in a possible event of terrorism. I hope not but it is possible.
The ascendant of the current chart is in Pisces and ruled by Neptune, adding a sense of confusion into the games, and what that will bring forth is anybody’s guess. Spectators not finding their seats, getting lost, (Mercury retrograde again) etc. are some of the scenarios that could play out. Also, the desire by the producers of this spectacle to have more than a touch of glamour added to the proceedings, to in a sense Hollywoodize it, may also be a factor.
On the brighter side, the Part of Fortune is at 3 Aries in this chart, and in the first house. The energy, drive and ambition expended by the athletes will be second to none; they are really going to go all out to prove themselves and to put on a good show, if I may use that terminology for a spectacle about athletic prowess and abilities (Neptune again).
With the opening chart Sun firmly in Leo, shining down into the sixth house of duty, service and health, the themes of Virgo are again emphasized. Truly the athletes spend a lot of time, money and effort organizing themselves into the peak physical condition needed to perform at this much anticipated ritual. Let us hope nothing comes along to stir up the oyster pot and that we can just relax and watch our fellow compatriots win, lose or draw, all the while cheering them on, not forgetting the supreme sacrifice made by the first Marathon runner, so very long long ago.
In that light, here is a little of what the ancient athletes could expect once they got home, (assuming they won): “The winners at the stephanitic festivals had more than crowns as rewards. In triumphant welcomes at their return home they were deluged with honors and privileges -- possibly free meals for the rest of their lives, statues commissioned by their cities or families to be set up at Olympia, a victory ode composed by Pindar or Bacchylides and performed by a chorus in their cities, like Pindar's ode for the winner of the boys' Olympic footrace in 460 B.C.: Now for Alkimedon: blessed with victory at Olympia, by the slopes of Kronos. On first sight he was splendid; sure he proved his beauty in the test.Triumphant from each bout he put his homeland on the herald's lips -'Aegina of the long oars!'
If the athlete lost on the other hand: “In another ode Pindar describes the homecoming of an unsuccessful athlete: ''the loser's hateful return, the jeering voices, the furtive back alleys.'' http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/books/review/08KNOXDIX.html
Sounds a little harsh to me but there you have it.