Antiscias can be a really obscure topic. However, through the lens of the astrologer Firmicus Maternus (4th century CE), I’ll be doing an analysis of some things about this aspect of the chart & dissecting an example Firmicus gives in his work Mathesis + more.

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The antiscia is a mirrored point across the solsticial axis of Cancer & Capricorn. Planets here can be connected b/c one planet would on the ascending half of the ecliptic, while the other would be on the descending half. They are equidistant from the ♋︎-♑︎ axis.

In Book II, Chap 30 of his work Mathesis, Firmicus emphasizes the importance of the antiscia, reminding us that the doctrine was passed down from the Greeks like Ptolemy and the likes of Dorotheus of Sidon. (At the time they were called commanding and obeying signs).

Firmicus then gives a lengthy example of the efficacy of antiscia, and reminds us that if any planet were not connected by aspect, we must see how they may be connected via antiscia.

Heres the example chart he gives. He notes the native of the chart’s father was exiled, and the native himself bc of accusations of adultery, was snatched from exile, assigned administration over Campania, through a variety of roles, then finally became a prefect of Rome.

Despite the good indications of ♃ & ☉ in ♓︎ in the 5H, Firmicus uses antiscia in an interesting way, pointing out the antiscia of ♃ & the ☉ sends their antiscia into the 12H in ♎︎, into a sign that’s “humiliated and dejected.” So it was “posited” into the 12H by antiscia

Here Firmicus further notes this aroused many enemies against both the native and his father.

Another indicator of the exile was ♄ in ♍︎ opposite the ☉, and Saturn’s antiscion was sent into ♈︎, making the ☉ and ♄ ‘s antiscia opposite one-another.

The antiscia themselves being in opposition “by decree of the highest order” sent him into exile.

He was also accused of being an adulterer too, and Firmicus explains that the ☽’s antiscion in ♊︎ is overcome by a superior △ from Mars. Apparently Mars is “pernicious” when he recieves the light of a waxing ☽, despite this being a trine.

Mars furthermore sends a partile □ ray to the degree of the Asc, Aspects ☽’s antiscion with a full trine, ♂︎ ‘s antiscion is on the Asc, and trines posited ☽ in Cancer. He notes this has caused him to be “burdened down with many illnesses, and finally an exile.”

I noted that the ☽ is Lord of the 9H, trying follow his rationale. He says that on the “third day” which James Holden noted was the *second day after birth, the ☽ will have also thrust herself into an opposition with Mars. He says this 3rd day idea is v useful for nativities.

Firmicus says that without the △ from Jupiter to the Asc, he would’ve never been freed from exile. And without the superior △ from ♃ with reception into his exaltation, he would’ve “perished a violent death.”

Back on the adultery topic lol, Mars sends his antiscion to oppose natal ♀︎ in ♉︎, while ♀︎ sends her antiscia to oppose ♂︎ in ♒︎. These aspects are also in the angular whole sign houses, and only have inimical configurations to eachother. This made him “guilty.”

However, on the good things that happened to him, Mercury in ♒︎ and Saturn in ♍︎ exhange signs, aka mutual reception, which made him “knowledgeable about secret writings”, but bc Venus’ antiscion in ♌︎ into the MC, it “made the emperor pronounce a sentence against him.”

However this example answers some questions Ive had on whether mutual reception requires a Ptolemaic aspect. Firmicus doesn’t seem to think so! He says this m. reception “decreed learning & great knowledge of letters, that his speech/style are like the ancient authors.”

Some weird techniques indeed from Firmicus, but hopefully that was interesting to everyone & maybe test it out in your own charts to see how well it works? Also sorry this has been a fever-dream of a thread lol. Bonus: my notes preparing for this