THE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The idea of the 12 Signs of the Zodiac is one that goes back thousands of years, and most people will be able to name several of the Zodiac signs, even if they have no interest in astrology.
The names used today, in the western world, for the 12 Signs of the Zodiac are taken from the Roman period some 2000 years ago. The Romans though were simply building on the work undertaken by Babylonian and Greek astronomers in the centuries before.
Behind each Latin name of a sign of the Zodiac is a story though, a story linked with a tale, or tales, from Greek mythology.
The names used today, in the western world, for the 12 Signs of the Zodiac are taken from the Roman period some 2000 years ago. The Romans though were simply building on the work undertaken by Babylonian and Greek astronomers in the centuries before.
Behind each Latin name of a sign of the Zodiac is a story though, a story linked with a tale, or tales, from Greek mythology.
Aries - The Ram |
Signs of the Zodiac |
The first of the 12 Signs of the Zodiac is Aries, the Ram. The ram in question was Crius Chrysomallus, the Golden Ram of Greek mythology, who, after its death was transformed into the constellation.
In Greek mythology the Golden Ram was the offspring of Poseidon and Theophane, a woman who the god had transformed into a sheep. The Golden Ram had special abilities for as well as being able to talk it could also fly. The cloud nymph Nephele would subsequently make use of the Golden Ram to rescue her children, Phrixus and Helle, when their stepmother Ino, threatened their lives. The Golden Ram would head towards Colchis, although Helle was unable to hang onto the ram, and fell to her death at the point that became known as Hellespont. Today, the Golden Ram is best remembered after its death, for the ram told Phrixus to sacrifice its rescuer. Phrixus would then present the fleece of the ram to King Aeetes of Colchis, from which point on the Golden Fleece would become a sought after prize, and one which would see Jason and the Argonauts travel to Colchis to acquire. |
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Taurus – The Bull
It is another creature from Greek mythology that is represented by Taurus, this time the Cretan Bull.
As the name suggests, the Cretan Bull is primarily connected with the island of Crete, for it was sent to the island by Poseidon as a symbol that the gods were pleased with Minos, and that the son of Europa should be the next king of Crete.
Minos was supposed to sacrifice the magnificent bull, but so taken with it was Minos, that he sacrificed an inferior beast instead. Poseidon would thus cause Pasiphae, the wife of Minos to fall in love with the bull, and as a result the Minotaur was born.
The Cretan Bull would ravage Crete until it was captured by the hero Heracles as he undertook his 12 Labours, as set by King Eurystheus. Heracles took it back to Tiryns, but when it was subsequently released the bull would terrorise Marathon, whence it became known as the Marathonian Bull.
The Bull would eventually be killed by Theseus, with its likeness placed amongst the stars as Taurus.
As the name suggests, the Cretan Bull is primarily connected with the island of Crete, for it was sent to the island by Poseidon as a symbol that the gods were pleased with Minos, and that the son of Europa should be the next king of Crete.
Minos was supposed to sacrifice the magnificent bull, but so taken with it was Minos, that he sacrificed an inferior beast instead. Poseidon would thus cause Pasiphae, the wife of Minos to fall in love with the bull, and as a result the Minotaur was born.
The Cretan Bull would ravage Crete until it was captured by the hero Heracles as he undertook his 12 Labours, as set by King Eurystheus. Heracles took it back to Tiryns, but when it was subsequently released the bull would terrorise Marathon, whence it became known as the Marathonian Bull.
The Bull would eventually be killed by Theseus, with its likeness placed amongst the stars as Taurus.
Gemini – The Twins
In Greek mythology, the Twins, as represented by Gemini were the Dioscuri, two brothers named Castor and Pollux.
Castor and Pollox were the offspring of Leda, queen of Sparta, but whilst the father of Castor was King Tyndareus, Pollux was the son of Zeus. This meant that whilst Castor was mortal, Pollux was said to have been immortal. The two brothers were said to be inseparable, and were always found in the company of the other. Famously, Castor and Pollux would rescue their sister Helen when she was abducted by Theseus, and were also named as Argonauts and hunters of the Calydonian Boar. Castor though would be killed when the brothers fought with Idas and Lynceus. Even death though could not separate the two brothers, for Pollox willingly gave up his own mortality, with Zeus transforming the twins into the Gemini constellation. Cancer – The Crab
The fourth sign of the Zodiac in Cancer, the crab, representing a creature named Carcinus from Greek mythology.
Carcinus is a relatively unknown creature from the tales of Greek mythology, but it does appear in a famous story, for it was encountered by Heracles as he completed his second labour, the slaying of the Lernaean Hydra. |
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Carcinus was a crab of monstrous size that was dispatched by Hera to distract Heracles when it appeared that he was about to overcome the Lernaean Hydra. Carcinus though did little to distract Heracles, for the Greek hero simply crushed it beneath his foot, and then continued killing the Hydra.
Hera though would place the likeness of the monster amongst the stars as the constellation Cancer.
Hera though would place the likeness of the monster amongst the stars as the constellation Cancer.
Leo – The Lion
Leo, the Lion, is the fifth sign of the Zodiac, and another of the animals encountered by Heracles during his 12 Labours, with Leo representing the Nemean Lion.
Residing in Nemea, the Nemean Lion was a creature that killed all those unlucky to cross its path. With a skin that could not be penetrated by mortal weapons, and claws that could rip open armour, the Nemean Lion had killed all those who sought to kill it.
The slaying of the Nemean Lion was the first Labour given to Heracles by King Eurystheus, with Eurystheus believing that Heracles would perish, just as all others had done. When Heracles realised that his weapons could not kill the Nemean Lion, the Greek hero instead wrestled with it, strangling it.
Again, for its efforts in trying to kill Heracles, Hera placed the beast amongst the stars as Leo.
Residing in Nemea, the Nemean Lion was a creature that killed all those unlucky to cross its path. With a skin that could not be penetrated by mortal weapons, and claws that could rip open armour, the Nemean Lion had killed all those who sought to kill it.
The slaying of the Nemean Lion was the first Labour given to Heracles by King Eurystheus, with Eurystheus believing that Heracles would perish, just as all others had done. When Heracles realised that his weapons could not kill the Nemean Lion, the Greek hero instead wrestled with it, strangling it.
Again, for its efforts in trying to kill Heracles, Hera placed the beast amongst the stars as Leo.
Virgo – The Maiden
Virgo is one of the signs of the Zodiac which is often forgotten about, and this is perhaps apt, for Virgo is the representation of an often overlooked figure from Greek mythology.
It is sometimes said that Virgo, the Maiden, is the representation of the Olympian goddess, Artermis, but whilst Artemis was certainly protective of her virtue, Virgo actually represents the goddess Astraea. Astraea was the virgin goddess of Justice in Greek mythology, and was named the daughter of Astraeus and Eos. During the Golden Age, Astraea, and many other deities lived amongst mankind, but as the generations passed, and man became more unruly, most of the gods and goddesses withdrew to the divine palaces. Astraea stayed longer than any other deity but even she eventually felt she could no longer live amongst mankind, at which point Zeus placed her amongst the stars as Virgo. Libra – The Scales
Libra, the Scales, is the only inanimate object amongst the 12 signs of the Zodiac, but there is no certainty about who the scales were said to be belong; for, in Greek mythology, these scales were linked to three goddesses.
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Lying between Virgo and Scorpio, it is most common to suggest that the scales of Libra, were the scales of Justice as used by Astraea, who herself is represented within Virgo. Astraea though was not the only Greek goddess of Justice, for Themis was also named such, and so the scales have been linked with this goddess as well.
Alternatively the scales might be the Scales of Fate, the scales of the goddess of good fortune, Tyche. The scales of fate are not as well-known as the scales of justice though, and when it comes to good fortune it was normally said that the goddess Nemesis kept good fortune in check, rather than scales.
Alternatively the scales might be the Scales of Fate, the scales of the goddess of good fortune, Tyche. The scales of fate are not as well-known as the scales of justice though, and when it comes to good fortune it was normally said that the goddess Nemesis kept good fortune in check, rather than scales.
Scorpio – The Scorpion
In Greek mythology, Scorpio, the Scorpion, represented another monstrous creature, this time a giant scorpion named Scorpius. Scorpius was said to be a child of Gaia, the Greek protogenoi goddess of the earth, with Scorpius being put to use by its mother.
Scorpius would be sent against the Greek hero hunter Orion. Orion was a troublesome mortal for the gods, as although Orion was an occasional companion of gods and goddesses, especially in the hunt, he also ended up antagonising them as well.
One day, it was said, that Orion boasted of his own greatness as a hunter, proclaiming that he would hunt down all beasts found upon the earth. This proclamation antagonised Gaia to such a degree that hunter became the hunted when Scorpius faced Orion, and the sting of the scorpion ended up killing the hunter. Both Scorpius and Orion would subsequently be found amongst the stars.
Scorpius would be sent against the Greek hero hunter Orion. Orion was a troublesome mortal for the gods, as although Orion was an occasional companion of gods and goddesses, especially in the hunt, he also ended up antagonising them as well.
One day, it was said, that Orion boasted of his own greatness as a hunter, proclaiming that he would hunt down all beasts found upon the earth. This proclamation antagonised Gaia to such a degree that hunter became the hunted when Scorpius faced Orion, and the sting of the scorpion ended up killing the hunter. Both Scorpius and Orion would subsequently be found amongst the stars.
Sagittarius – The Archer
Representing an Archer, Sagittarius is one of the signs of the Zodiac where there is some disagreement about who Sagittarius is in Greek mythology.
The most common story about Sagittarius sees the constellation linked with Chiron the wise and civilised centaur who trained many Greek heroes, including Achilles and Asclepius. Chiron though, may have taught Achilles to hunt, but the centaur was not regarded as a great archer; and indeed Chiron is normally associated with a different constellation, Centaurus. |
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Thus, an alternative Greek mythological tale linked to Sagittarius sees the Archer named as Crotus, a satyr. Crotus was a son of the god Pan, who some tell invented the hunting bow, and was a companion of the Muses of Mount Helicon; thus it was the Muses who requested Crotus be placed amongst the stars as Sagittarius.
Capricorn – The Sea-Goat
Like Sagittarius before, the sign of the Zodiac named Capricorn, is another constellation with different creation myths.
Some tell of Capricorn, the Sea-Goat, being a likeness of the goat suckled by Zeus when the supreme god was a babe; some call this goat Amalthea. Others tell of Capricorn being the representation of the god Pan, whilst others say it is a Panes called Aegipan, who may or may not have been Pan.
Aegipan was a minor god who appears in Greek mythology twice assisting Zeus as he did battle. In the first case, Aegipan sided with Zeus during the Titanomachy, and when Aegipan entered the battlefield he would emit such a noise that would cause Titans to flee.
Aegipan also appears during the uprising of Typhon, and whilst gods fled before Typhon, Aegipan would return to assist Zeus when Typhon took the sinews of Zeus, Aegipan retrieved them, and made Zeus whole once again.
For his assistance Zeus would place Aegipan amongst the stars as Capricorn.
Some tell of Capricorn, the Sea-Goat, being a likeness of the goat suckled by Zeus when the supreme god was a babe; some call this goat Amalthea. Others tell of Capricorn being the representation of the god Pan, whilst others say it is a Panes called Aegipan, who may or may not have been Pan.
Aegipan was a minor god who appears in Greek mythology twice assisting Zeus as he did battle. In the first case, Aegipan sided with Zeus during the Titanomachy, and when Aegipan entered the battlefield he would emit such a noise that would cause Titans to flee.
Aegipan also appears during the uprising of Typhon, and whilst gods fled before Typhon, Aegipan would return to assist Zeus when Typhon took the sinews of Zeus, Aegipan retrieved them, and made Zeus whole once again.
For his assistance Zeus would place Aegipan amongst the stars as Capricorn.
Aquarius – The Water-bearer
More obvious is the mythological tale behind the eleventh sign of the Zodiac Aquarius, the Water-bearer, for it is said by most that Aquarius is Ganymede.
In Greek mythology Ganymede was a prince of Troy, a son of Tros, and brother of Ilus. Ganymede was also considered to be the most beautiful of all mortal men. This beauty attracted the attention of Zeus, for Zeus was always on the lookout for beautiful mortals. Zeus decided to abduct Ganymede from Troy, and thus an eagle was dispatched to take Ganymede. The eagle would bring Ganymede to Mount Olympus where Ganymede became a lover of Zeus, as well as taking up the mantle of cupbearer to the gods, and server of nectar and ambrosia. Subsequently, the likenesses of Ganymede, and the Eagle, were placed amongst the stars as Aquarius and Aquila. Pisces – The Fish
The twelfth and final sign of the Zodiac is Pisces, the Fish, a constellation said to depict two figures from Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite and her son Eros.
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When Typhon and Echidna went to war with the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, all fled before them. Most of the deities would seek refuge in Egypt where they were then worshipped under new names, but Aphrodite and Eros were in the Middle East when Typhon approached. To escape the mightiest of all monsters, Aphrodite and Eros transformed themselves into fish, and dived into the River Euphrates to enable their escape.
In thanks for their escape, the likeness of the deities, as fish, was placed in the heavens as Pisces.
In thanks for their escape, the likeness of the deities, as fish, was placed in the heavens as Pisces.
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