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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Neighborhoods Employment Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend November 13, 2006 Since You Asked When did newspapers start running horoscopes? People seem to take them pretty seriously these days, but I can't imagine that has always been the case. -- Glenna P., Talent Glenna, you'd be surprised at what people used to believe and what they hold onto even in modern times when such stuff has been thoroughly debunked. Horoscopes are believed to have evolved out of mankind's attempt to make a frightening and unpredictable world more predictable — handy in agrarian cultures that could face famine with one bad decision. If nothing else, perhaps they allowed humans a sort of peace thinking they knew what was to come — even if they were wrong. The first horoscope in recorded history dates to 409 B.C. found in Mesopotamia. We wonder if it also had a collection of lucky numbers and perhaps predicted a Persian victory over invading Greeks? Maybe it had a gyro grease stain on it? Horoscopes and astrology quickly spread across the world and have their variations in modern (and not so modern) cultures everywhere. Newspaper horoscopes have been around in this country since the early 20th century. Interest in the occult (seances, astrology, mediums, etc.) peaked in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and newspapers simply provided horoscopes as a service readers wanted. Though many practitioners of astrology assert that theirs is a "science," it doesn't come close to meeting the strict definition of "systematically acquired knowledge that is verifiable." But, they can be fun if taken purely for entertainment value — which is why you find most horoscopes on the comics pages. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com