Vettius Valens of Antioch (Οὐέτιος Βαλέντιος Ἀντιοχεύς) was a Greek astrologer of the 2nd century CE. A native of Antioch, his life is reconstructed primarily from his own writings, which describe extensive travel, including to Egypt, and a career marked by professional and personal hardships [1][2]. He was a contemporary of Claudius Ptolemy, whose theoretical Tetrabiblos contrasts with Valens’s practical methods [1][3].

His sole surviving work is the Anthologies (Ἀνθολογίαι), a nine-book astrological treatise also known as the Apotelesmatics [1][2][4].

Valens is a pivotal figure in the history of astrology. His Anthologies is the most extensive personal astrological workbook from antiquity, offering an unparalleled view of Hellenistic practice through over 120 illustrative horoscopes [1][4]. This empirical compilation preserves unique techniques and was influential in later Byzantine and Islamic traditions [1][2].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vettius-Valens 2. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://iep.utm.edu/valens-vettius/ 3. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-6729 4. Perseus Digital Library, Catalog entry for Vettius Valens: http://catalog.perseus.org/catalog/urn:cite:perseus:author.1822