

Zodiac Signs: Ancient To Modern History

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The art and science of astrology began thousands of years ago. That’s when ancient people noticed that certain stars were always in specific locations at the same time each year. Read on to discover how the 12 zodiac signs got their names…

Ever wonder why so many zodiac signs are represented by animals? It’s because the word “zodiac” comes from an ancient Greek word (zodiakos) that means “circle of animals,” according to the American Federation of Astrologers (AFA).

That’s how we get Aries the ram, Leo the lion, Pisces the fish and so on.

Each zodiac sign represents one-twelfth of the path traveled by the sun during the year. Ancient people observed the sun’s location during annual weather events, like rain. That’s how Aquarius, the “water bearer,” for example, came to be identified with the rainy season, the AFA reports. From these observations, they created the art/science of astrology as a way to explain times of chaos and times of abundance.

Month after month, year after year, astrologers of the day – often considered “wise men” – plotted the movements of heavenly bodies and offered predictions based on their discoveries.

The Babylonians are credited with giving birth to astrology in the West, according to the AFA. By at least 1800 B.C., the people of ancient Babylon had embraced learning, created a writing system, and made their city a center for education.
Astrology today is a mixture of philosophy, art and science that melded together over the centuries as many thousands of people practiced and fine-tuned their astrological knowledge.

Ancient Egyptians also divided the sun’s journey into 12 sections – equal zones of celestial longitude that became the 12 signs of the zodiac. Each sign is associated with its place in the annual cycle of seasons and with the constellations that lie along the sun’s annual path.

The Greeks learned about astrology from the Babylonians in the fourth century B.C., according to the AFA.

Learned astrologers became advisors to kings, pharaohs and emperors. Their job in ancient times included predicting wars, weather and probable outcomes of business conducted by people. It’s quite likely that Plato taught astrology to his favorite pupil, Aristotle.

Throughout Western history, astrology has fallen in and out of favor. It was considered evil by the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages, but interest in astrology was sparked again during the Renaissance.

In the 19th century, astrology enjoyed renewed interest in some areas, but was outlawed in others. Today, reading one’s daily horoscope in the newspaper or online is an everyday ritual for some.
Serious students of astrology continue to study the zodiac, “read” the stars, plot out horoscopes and look to the heavens for guidance in their everyday lives, as the wide variety of astrology websites proves. The American Federation of Astrologers, created to promote knowledge about “the science and art of astrology” is celebrating its 75th year in 2013.

Signs of the Zodiac
The Romans learned astrology from the Greeks, and appointed names to each of the 12 zodiac signs and 12 houses – names by which westerners still call them today. Each house resides within one of the four realms: fire, air, water and earth.

Aries the Ram
Today, Aries is the first house in which the sun resides before beginning its year-long journey across the sky. The constellation Aries appears in the sky as a ram looking behind and admiring its own fleece. Aries is called the “sign of sacrifice,” harking back to a myth of a sheep with a golden fleece offering himself as sacrifice after performing a service.

Taurus the Bull
More than 2,000 years ago, Taurus, not Aries, was the first of our zodiac signs. That’s because each sign spends approximately 2,150 years in each position in the sky. In ancient times, Taurus included the first day of spring when learned men looked to the sky and noticed that the sun’s position along the zodiac was in a cluster of stars that looked like the front half of a bull. The bull has long been a symbol of power and fertility, and many ancient societies held festivals honoring the bull.

Gemini the Twins
The twin brothers of Helen of Troy, Castor and Pollux, were very close, according to an ancient Greek myth. When the mortal Castor died, the immortal Pollux was so overcome with grief that he asked his father, Zeus, to place him in the sky with his brother so he could share his immortality with Castor and be together with him forever. Gemini traits include communication, intellectually curious and quick-witted.

Cancer the Crab
The 12 labors of Hercules, a popular Greek myth, had to be included in zodiac signs. The 12 houses are believed by some to represent the 12 labors. While Hercules fought the Hydra, a jealous Hera sent a crab to draw his attention away from the battle. When the crab pinched and hung on to his toe, Hercules paid little attention. He defeated Hydra and then put an end to the crab. Hera rewarded the crab for his valiant effort by positioning him forever in the sky. Modern astrologers believe when Saturn is in Cancer, there is strife in the world. Cancer is the sign of the prophet or teacher.

Leo the Lion
Leo is the “king of the night sky,” just as the lion is known as king of the jungle. The first labor of Hercules was to slay the Nemean lion and return with its skin. Hercules succeeded in his first task and to commemorate the event, the lion was placed in the heavens to grace the sky with his fierce presence. One characteristic of those born under the zodiac sign of Leo is that they tend to be larger than life.

Virgo the Virgin
The original etymology for Virgo has been lost through the ages, but in Europe and the Middle East, Virgo has long been associated with fertility, purity and the season of harvest. Associated with the Egyptian goddess Isis and the goddess of justice, Astraea, from Roman mythology, Virgo rises at the onset of autumn and is the largest constellation after Hydra. Feminine and harvest are two words that define Virgo. Characteristics of those born under the zodiac sign of Virgo include serious, modest, and service. It is the sign of craftsman.

Libra the Scales
There is a time each year when the sun travels through Libra. The Babylonians believed that the sun’s crossing of the celestial equator began the autumnal equinox or the day of the season when night and day are balanced. Neither one nor the other is longer. The zodiac sign Libra is symbolized by scales. Although the Greeks made Libra a part of Scorpio, the Romans returned to the Babylonian concept of balance and the scales with Astraea holding the scales. No one holds the modern Libra’s scales of justice, giving Libra the only inanimate symbol in the zodiac.
Scorpio the Scorpion
One of the most ancient zodiac signs, Scorpio – accompanied by its symbol, the scorpion – was a time of darkness. During this time of year, the ancient Babylonians noticed the sun losing its power as the world grew darker, with fewer hours of daylight each day. Looking into the night sky, a scorpion with upturned poisoned tail ready to strike was prominent. Ancient astrologers viewed Scorpio as a dark force in the world. Modern astrology has vindicated this most maligned sign, and Scorpio traits are now seen as intense, courageous, and persistent.

Sagittarius the Archer
The word Sagittarius was assigned to the time of the year when Romans believed they saw an archer in the sky, drawing back the string of his bow to let an arrow fly. Greeks saw the archer not as merely human, but as a centaur: half man and half horse. According to Greek mythology, centaurs were considered both kind and aggressive. The zodiac sign of Sagittarius follows this path with an aggressive, somewhat stand-offish, yet visionary character.

Capricorn the Goat
The constellation Capricorn remains a dimmer set of stars creating the outline of a goat or “sea goat.” Where and when the zodiac sign of Capricorn became symbolized by a goat is uncertain, but ancient history is littered with sacrificial goats. Greek mythology includes the drama of the monster Typhon removing the tendons of Zeus in a great battle and placing them in a cave guarded by Delphyne, a half-serpent/half-woman monster. The shepherd-god Pan and his father, Hermes, recover the tendons and restore Zeus to his royal Olympic self. Zeus honors Pan by placing him in the sky. Capricorns are responsible, unique and reclusive.

Aquarius the Water Bearer
Aquarius is the most recognizable of all zodiac signs in the modern era, which has been touted as the beginning of “the age of Aquarius.” There is nothing new about Aquarius; in fact, it’s one of the most ancient signs in the zodiac. During the season of rain, Babylonians noticed an overflowing urn in the heavens. The Egyptians saw the god of the Nile, Hapi, and the Greco-Roman mythology created a story of a beautiful shepherd boy who became the water-carrier for Zeus. Of course, the great and powerful Zeus rewarded the boy for his service by placing him in the heavens.
Pisces the Fish
Pisces is a dim cluster of stars that form a fish, as identified by civilizations as early as Mesopotamia, which included Babylon. Most viewed the constellation as one fish, but the Arabic peoples saw two. The Greeks told it as Zeus once again battling the monster Typhon. Aphrodite and Eros, her son, were walking along a river when they sensed this battle between giants. So the pair quickly transformed themselves into fish and swam away from harm. Pisces are known for inner battles of right and wrong and believing in what cannot be seen. Faithful, transforming and visionary are key words for traits belonging to those born under the sign of Pisces.

Astrology and each zodiac sign are steeped in ancient history that follows a path from Babylon to the present.

Astrology eventually became the science of astronomy, but plotting out the movements of the sun, moon and stars, and how they affect life on earth is still very much a part of the human experience.

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