Campanus

Definition

Campanus is a quadrant house system used to divide an astrological chart into twelve houses. Traditionally associated with the thirteenth-century mathematician Campanus of Novara, it divides the prime vertical—the great circle passing through the east and west points and the zenith and nadir—into equal thirty-degree sections. These divisions are then projected onto the ecliptic to establish the house cusps.

Astrological Meaning

In a Campanus chart, planets retain their zodiac signs and degrees, but their house placements may differ from those produced by Placidus, Whole Sign, or Equal House systems. Astrologers using Campanus often value its spatial approach because it relates house division to the observer’s local horizon and prime vertical. Interpretation follows standard house symbolism: a planet’s house describes the area of life through which its qualities may be expressed, while its sign and aspects provide additional context.

Why It Matters

The selected house system can shift planets near cusps into neighboring houses, changing interpretive emphasis without altering the underlying planetary positions. Campanus therefore matters when comparing charts, studying angularity, or deciding which house framework best suits an astrologer’s method. At extreme latitudes, its cusps can become highly unequal, so chart location and comparison with other systems may be useful before drawing conclusions.

Related Encyclopedia Entries

• Traditional Astrology
• Astrological Terminology
• Natal Chart
• House Systems
• Prime Vertical
• Placidus