Book IV

Refutation of All Heresies (Philosophumena) · Saint Hippolytus of Rome

1. System of the Astrologers; Sidereal Influence; Configuration of the Stars.
2. Doctrines Concerning Æons; The Chaldean Astrology; Heresy Derivable from It.
3. The Horoscope the Foundation of Astrology; Indiscoverability of the Horoscope; Therefore the Futility of the Chaldean Art.
4. Impossibility of Fixing the Horoscope; Failure of an Attempt to Do This at the Period of Birth.
5. Another Method of Fixing the Horoscope at Birth; Equally Futile; Use of the Clepsydra in Astrology; The Predictions of the Chaldeans Not Verified.
6. Zodiacal Influence; Origin of Sidereal Names.
7. Practical Absurdity of the Chaldaic Art; Development of the Art.
8. Prodigies of the Astrologers; System of the Astronomers; Chaldean Doctrine of Circles; Distances of the Heavenly Bodies.
9. Further Astronomic Calculations.
10. Theory of Stellar Motion and Distance in Accordance with Harmony.
11. Theory of the Size of the Heavenly Bodies in Accordance with Numerical Harmonies.
12. Waste of Mental Energy in the Systems of the Astrologers.
13. Mention of the Heretic Colarbasus; Alliance Between Heresy and the Pythagorean Philosophy.
14. System of the Arithmeticians; Predictions Through Calculations; Numerical Roots; Transference of These Doctrines to Letters; Examples in Particular Names; Different Methods of Calculation; Prescience Possible by These.
15. Quibbles of the Numerical Theorists; The Art of the Frontispicists (Physiognomy); Connection of This Art with Astrology; Type of Those Born Under Aries.
16. Type of Those Born Under Taurus.
17. Type of Those Born Under Gemini.
18. Type of Those Born Under Cancer.
19. Type of Those Born Under Leo.
20. Type of Those Born Under Virgo.
21. Type of Those Born Under Libra.
22. Type of Those Born Under Scorpio.
23. Type of Those Born Under Sagittarius.
24. Type of Those Born Under Capricorn.
25. Type of Those Born Under Aquarius.
26. Type of Those Born Under Pisces.
27. Futility of This Theory of Stellar Influence.
28. System of the Magicians; Incantations of Demons; Secret Magical Rites.
29. Display of Different Eggs.
30. Self-Slaughter of Sheep.
31. Method of Poisoning Goats.
32. Imitations of Thunder, and Other Illusions.
33. The Burning Æsculapius; Tricks with Fire.
34. The Illusion of the Sealed Letters; Object in Detailing These Juggleries.
35. The Divination by a Cauldron; Illusion of Fiery Demons; Specimen of a Magical Invocation.
36. Mode of Managing an Apparition.
37. Illusive Appearance of the Moon.
38. Illusive Appearance of the Stars.
39. Imitation of an Earthquake.
40. Trick with the Liver.
41. Making a Skull Speak.
42. The Fraud of the Foregoing Practices; Their Connection with Heresy.
43. Recapitulation of Theologies and Cosmogonies; System of the Persians; Of the Babylonians; The Egyptian Notion of Deity; Their Theology Based on a Theory of Numbers; Their System of Cosmogony.
44. Egyptian Theory of Nature; Their Amulets.
45. Use of the Foregoing Discussions.
46. The Astrotheosophists; Aratus Imitated by the Heresiarchs; His System of the Disposition of the Stars.
47. Opinions of the Heretics Borrowed from Aratus.
48. Invention of the Lyre; Allegorizing the Appearance and Position of the Stars; Origin of the Phœnicians; The Logos Identified by Aratus with the Constellation Canis; Influence of Canis on Fertility and Life Generally.
49. Symbol of the Creature; And of Spirit; And of the Different Orders of Animals.
50. Folly of Astrology.
51. The Hebdomadarii; System of the Arithmeticians; Pressed into the Service of Heresy; Instances Of, in Simon and Valentinus; The Nature of the Universe Deducible from the Physiology of the Brain.
52. Note.