CATASTERISM. - It is the transformation of human beings or mythological heroes into stars. Catasterism is therefore part of astrological doctrines (v. ASTROLOGIA), and, like these, it had its origin in Mesopotamia. Among the most ancient testimonies are those of Egypt, where, according to the "pyramid texts," the king (as also the queen), after death, could become Orion or be placed — a new star — in this constellation by the goddess Nât.
In Greece catasterism has singular philosophical precedents. Heraclitus and Plato had explained that the human soul came from the stars and to the stars, after death, would return; and the Pythagoreans too believed in this stellar destiny. With such a belief it was easy for the Greeks to welcome the teaching of the Babylonians and to begin a system of stellar legends, in which the heroes of mythology continue after death their life among the stars. Three theories were formed on the subject: man can be elevated to heaven even during his life in his full personality; not the body, but only a part of man (the eye, the arm, the heart, the soul, etc.) can benefit from this assumption; man or his soul do not become new stars, but only luminous natures that go to inhabit pre-existing stars. The ancient fables thus receive an astronomical determination, and poetic tales found the way to make their protagonists live under a celestial form.
In the sky, Perseus finds Andromeda again, Chiron fraternizes with Orion; Heracles, Castor and Pollux and others had this fortunate destiny. Catasterism represents the conclusion of infinite mythical stories, a conclusion not devoid of moral foundation.
As a development of catasterism one can consider the belief of the Hellenistic solar religion, for which the king becomes a sign of the Zodiac (v.), or is placed as a new star in a constellation or in the Milky Way.
Even the Roman apotheosis of the emperor has sometimes considered the deceased emperor as an inhabitant of the stars.
Christianity naturally does not admit catasterism: an echo of it is found in certain authors, e.g., where the two Bears become the symbols of creation before and after Christ; the Dog is the Word; and the anonymous constellation (Ἐγγύνασιν) is Adam kneeling who confesses his sins stretching one hand toward the Lyre (instrument of the Word) and the other toward the Crown, which will be restored to him if he will be faithful to the Lyre-Word harmony.
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Mario Camozzini