LOTR Astrology Project (Introduction)

[James the Just]

If anyone's interested I know Bilbo's and Frodo's exact birthdates, which, of course, can be used to calculate their signs, etc. Hint: the One Ring was destroyed on March 13, 4502 BC (Gregorian proleptic calendar; the one we use backdated). And here are some very interesting facts; both Martin Freeman and Ian Holm not only have the same sign but decan as well. An incredible coincidence.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by James the Just

If anyone's interested I know Bilbo's and Frodo's exact birthdates, which, of course, can be used to calculate their signs, etc. Hint: the One Ring was destroyed on March 13, 4502 BC (Gregorian proleptic calendar; the one we use backdated). And here are some very interesting facts; both Martin Freeman and Ian Holm not only have the same sign but decan as well. An incredible coincidence.

I'd be interested to know where that date comes from, at least! The Encyclopedia of Arda calendar puts the destruction of the Ring on the 17th March Gregorian, though you could probably account for the difference with some leap year differences.

But even allowing for that, your year intrigues me. In another thread I've calculated Tolkien's date for the end of the Third Age as either 4241 BC (post 2) or 7298 BC (post 16), depending on which of Tolkien's numbers you accept (the latter being more up-to-date). What did you derive the 4502 figure from?

hS

[James the Just]

I've just posted the reason for the 4502 BC date on your other thread. I suggest everyone else read it. It may be the thread that settles the question once and for all, "When did the Ages begin?"
The calendar converter on The Encyclopedia of Arda isn't good. Much better than following the vague suggestions in the Appendix one should look at what Tolkien actually used in his stories. He clearly used the moon phases from the years 1941/42.

'(...) this is the clue to his lunar calendar as finally conceived: the moons in The Lord of the Rings are based on those of 1941--2, but with their dates adjusted on either side of the full moon of 7/8 March to take account of Shire Reckoning. (...)'

The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion

Correlating them with the phases described in the books lets us know what he was maybe trying to conceal; that the year began on Christmas, just like it had in England for hundreds of years until about the fourteenth century, when they changed it to March 25 (Lady Day). Now where have I heard of a calendar's start changing to that date before? C'mon, James, think...

However, I'm assuming the Hobbits didn't use a converted Gregorian. So the March 13 date comes from calculations based on the moon phases back then. In modern times, though, we ought to celebrate it on March 20 (March 19 in leap years). Right at the time of the spring equinox.

[James the Just]

I've just calculated Aragorn's Sun sign. It's 29º Aquarius. Sorry, but he's not a Pisces, regardless of the time of day he was born. If you want to know the degree for Bilbo it is the same as Ian Holmes'.