Term Tables
The table below gives the Egyptian terms as preserved in Book I of Vettius Valens's Anthology. It is a single, labeled system—not a blend of Egyptian and Ptolemaic values.
Each cell lists a planet followed by its range within the sign. The upper endpoint belongs to the next bound. Thus Jupiter 0°–6° covers 0°00′ through 5°59′59″; a position at exactly 6°00′ has entered the following bound.
Egyptian terms
| Sign | Bound 1 | Bound 2 | Bound 3 | Bound 4 | Bound 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Jupiter 0°–6° | Venus 6°–12° | Mercury 12°–20° | Mars 20°–25° | Saturn 25°–30° |
| Taurus | Venus 0°–8° | Mercury 8°–14° | Jupiter 14°–22° | Saturn 22°–27° | Mars 27°–30° |
| Gemini | Mercury 0°–6° | Jupiter 6°–12° | Venus 12°–17° | Mars 17°–24° | Saturn 24°–30° |
| Cancer | Mars 0°–7° | Venus 7°–13° | Mercury 13°–19° | Jupiter 19°–26° | Saturn 26°–30° |
| Leo | Jupiter 0°–6° | Venus 6°–11° | Saturn 11°–18° | Mercury 18°–24° | Mars 24°–30° |
| Virgo | Mercury 0°–7° | Venus 7°–17° | Jupiter 17°–21° | Mars 21°–28° | Saturn 28°–30° |
| Libra | Saturn 0°–6° | Mercury 6°–11° | Jupiter 11°–19° | Venus 19°–26° | Mars 26°–30° |
| Scorpio | Mars 0°–7° | Venus 7°–11° | Mercury 11°–19° | Jupiter 19°–24° | Saturn 24°–30° |
| Sagittarius | Jupiter 0°–12° | Venus 12°–17° | Mercury 17°–21° | Saturn 21°–26° | Mars 26°–30° |
| Capricorn | Mercury 0°–7° | Jupiter 7°–14° | Venus 14°–22° | Saturn 22°–26° | Mars 26°–30° |
| Aquarius | Mercury 0°–7° | Venus 7°–13° | Jupiter 13°–20° | Mars 20°–25° | Saturn 25°–30° |
| Pisces | Venus 0°–12° | Jupiter 12°–16° | Mercury 16°–19° | Mars 19°–28° | Saturn 28°–30° |
The five ranges in every row total 30°. The Sun and Moon do not rule bounds in this table.
Two lookup examples
18°42′ Gemini: the degree is past 17° but has not reached 24°, so it falls in the bound of Mars.
19°00′ Libra: Jupiter's range ends at 19°00′ and Venus's begins there. The bound lord is Venus, not Jupiter.
Once the ruler is identified, traditional astrologers may ask whether the occupant is in its own bound, whether the bound lord is well placed, or whether a directed point is approaching the next boundary. Those are separate interpretive steps. The table itself supplies a ruler, not a complete prediction.
Do not mix systems silently
Ptolemy's table differs from Valens's in both planetary order and boundary degrees. William Lilly's early modern dignity tables continue the practical use of the Egyptian arrangement, but printed and manuscript tables can contain variants or errors. When a value differs from this page, compare the named source before “correcting” either table.
For chart notes, record at least:
- the zodiacal degree to the available precision;
- “Egyptian terms” as the system;
- the edition or table used when the boundary is disputed.
See Terms (Bounds) Overview for interpretation and Traditional Term Systems for the evidence behind the other named systems. Related dignity layers include Triplicity and Face (Decan).