The Matheseos was dedicated to the governor of Campania, Lollianus Mavortius, whose knowledge of the subject inspired Firmicus, and whose encouragement supported him during the composition of this handbook. It is among the last extensive handbooksThe text by Paulus Alexandrinus of 378 is an introduction to the subject. of a "scientific" astrology that circulated in the West before the appearance of Arabic texts in the 12th century.<ref>Quasten et al. 1970:6.</ref> Augustine of Hippo, drawn to astrology in his youth in the mid-fourth century,Confessions: "“These impostors, whom they designate astrologers, I consulted without hesitation, because they used no sacrifices and invoked the aid of no spirit for their divination.”. fulminated against the study's impieties, in part based on the astrologers' view that the planets were divinities, but also on rational grounds, taking, for instance, the divergent careers of twins.Confessions: "Why, in the life of twins—in their actions, the events that befall them, their professions, arts, honors and other things pertaining to human life, as well as in their very deaths—is there often so great a difference that, as far as these things are concerned, many entire strangers are more like them than they are like each other, though separated at birth by the smallest interval of time but at conception generated by the same act and at the same moment?” The Neoplatonist astrological work was first printed by Aldus Manutius in 1499, and has often been reprinted.
The Matheseos was dedicated to the governor of Campania Lollianus Mavortius whose knowledge of the subject inspired Firmicus and whose encouragement supported him during the composition of this handbook It is among the last extensive handbooksThe text by Paulus Alexandrinus of 378 is an introduction to the subject of a "scientific" astrology that circulated in the West before the appearance of Arabic texts in the 12th century<ref>Quasten et al 19706</ref> Augustine of Hippo drawn to astrology in his youth in the mid-fourth centuryConfessions "“These impostors whom they designate astrologers I consulted without hesitation because they used no sacrifices and invoked the aid of no spirit for their divination” fulminated against the study's impieties in part based on the astrologers' view that the planets were divinities but also on rational grounds taking for instance the divergent careers of twinsConfessions "Why in the life of twins—in their actions the events that befall them their professions arts honors and other things pertaining to human life as well as in their very deaths—is there often so great a difference that as far as these things are concerned many entire strangers are more like them than they are like each other though separated at birth by the smallest interval of time but at conception generated by the same act and at the same moment” The Neoplatonist astrological work was first printed by Aldus Manutius in 1499 and has often been reprinted