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Old 28-March-2006, 08:32 PM
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Default Bad Astrology in Bernard Cornwell novel

Well, I don't know if I should call it Bad Astrology (which is kind of tautologic), Bad Astronomy, or Bad Chronology, but it is an astronomical anachronism used in an astrological conversation in an otherwise quite good and accurate book.
"The Archer's Tale" (aka "Harlequin"), page 375:
Quote:
"Neptune approaches the bending tomorrow, sire. It is not a hopeful conjunction"
This quote comes from an astrologer at the eve of the battle of Crécy, in the middle of the 14th century...
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Old 28-March-2006, 09:06 PM
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Oops!
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Old 28-March-2006, 09:28 PM
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He must have darned good eyesight.

Or else he drew up a horoscope so accurate and detailed it even predicted they discovery and subsequent naming of the next two planets!
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Old 29-March-2006, 03:21 PM
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Well, if astrology really worked, you'd think they could predict planets before the astronomers do.
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Old 29-March-2006, 07:35 PM
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Of course, but to get even the name right is really a marvelous feat
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Old 29-March-2006, 11:04 PM
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But in the 14th century, the astrologer was probably speaking French. He obviously said 'Poseidon' but it was changed in translation.
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Old 30-March-2006, 08:46 AM
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I know you're joking, but I like irrelevant nitpicking, so I don't see why the French would use Poséidon (Greek) instead of Neptune (Roman, originally Etruscan).
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