What got me into Egyptology originally was this quote written by Julius Firmicus Maternus, a retired Roman senator and lawyer who took up astrology as his final career in the fourth century CE, in Mathetheos Libri XVIII.

"I am now about to explain fearful secrets which the revered ancients left wrapped in obscurity so that they should not come to the ears of the profane. Give this your full attention, with a calm mind, so that you may understand easily what I am about to say.

"We have said … that each sign has three decans. These decans have great divine power and by themselves determine all good and bad fortune. Nechepso, the most just emperor of Egypt and a truly good astrologer, by means of the decans predicted all illnesses and afflictions; he knew which decan produced which illness and which decans were stronger than others. From their different nature and power he discovered the cure for all illnesses because one nature is often overcome by another and one god by another.

"There are 36 decans in the world circle of the zodiac and they are divided among the twelve gods, that is, the twelve signs. There are three decans to every sign, but their power does not extend to all 30 degrees of each sign. In every sign decans possess certain degrees and not the others. Those they possess are called 'full'; those where they have no power, 'empty.' "

It left me wanting to know more...