The hour of birth (1)

Text
Nectanebus instructing Alexander’s mother at the childbirth.

Alexander Romance (Syriac Version) 1:
In this hour the signs of the heaven revolve swiftly … in this hour Cancer (predominates), and Saturn was plotted against by his children, and he was born in Gemini; and he bound him and cast him into the ocean and he was deprived of his superiority, and Bēl obtained the throne of heaven in his place. … In this hour home-loving Baltīn (= Venus) was with her husband, and she was slain by the hand of Ares without sword and without wound. In this hour the women who worship Baltīn set up mourning and weep for her husband. … Restrain yourself in this hour too, O queen, for the star of Nabo the scribe holds the sign of the zodiac, and he was born in (the sign of) the horned Goat, and afterwards his children rid themselves of him, and were estranged (from him), and went to the desert. In this hour Rhea was born; do you then sit upon the childbed, and bear bravely your pains as best as you may, because Bēl is the lover of virgins. … In this hour Bēl was born, the father of men, and the king of the gods, and the ruler of the world, who establishes royalty. In this hour give birth, O queen.

Source (list of abbreviations)
Alexander Romance (Syriac Version) 1

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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