What Are Zodiac Signs - Ancient Names and Legends
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| Legends of 12 Zodiac Signs |
| Table of Content |
What is the Zodiac?
The zodiac is used by astrologers to depict the positions of the planets and stars. It is divided into twelve sections, each with a unique title and icon. One way to try and estimate how the planets affect someone's life in particular is to use the zodiac.
The Zodiac represents the Sun's path through the sky over a full year, with celestial bodies like planets, stars, and galaxies projected onto the imaginary sphere that surrounds the Earth.
Every time the Sun crosses the sky, it will do so at a different location. In a year, that path forms a closed circle, which the ancients named the Zodiac. At a thirty-degree angle, they separated the Zodiac into twelve sections, each of which represented a sign (12 constellations or zodiac signs).
♦ What is My Zodiac Sign: Dates and Characteristics Explained
You can easily visualize the phenomenon of changing the position of the Sun on the Zodiac through the following figure:
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| What is the Zodiac? |
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| As the Earth orbits the sun, the sun appears to move against the background stars (red line). The constellations (green) through which the sun passes define the zodiac |
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| Tidal forces from the sun cause Earth’s axis to wobble over a 26,000-year period. The wobble changes where in Earth’s orbit the solstices and equinoxes occur. Image via NASA/ Wikipedia. |
When was the Concept of the Zodiac Sign Born?
The Zodiac concept was developed by ancient Babylonian astrologers as early as 1645 BC. The perfect circle of 12 Zodiac signs representing the four seasons and twelve months.
The elements are divided into four groups (Fire, Water, Air, and Earth). Each element group is made up of three signs that represent signs with similar personalities.
The Sun will pass through one of twelve special constellations in 30 - 31 days, according to ancient astronomers.
Those born during the time when the Sun passes through any constellation are ruled by that constellation, and their personalities are also influenced by it. In the Zodiac circle, 12 constellations form 12 signs that mean "Path of the Sun."
This circle is known as Horoscope in astrology and Zodiakus Kyklos (o) in Greek, both of which mean "Circle of Mascots."
The Zodiac is currently considered a new trend among young people because it is not superstitious but rather accurate.
However, the constellations are not equal in size like the 12 signs, but are very different, so there are constellations where the Sun's time spans a month or more, but there are also constellations where the time spans only a few days.
Video - 12 Zodiac Signs and Their Meanings:
Are There 12 or 13 Zodiac Signs?
According to current astronomical understanding of the constellations, the Zodiac contains all 13 constellations, not just 12.
The International Astronomical Union established the modern constellations in 1930, with all 13 constellations aligned with the Sun's path. Ophiuchus, also known as the 13th constellation and located between the constellations Scorpio and Sagittarius, is not included in the western horoscope.
Check More: 12 Zodiac Signs: Horoscope, Symbol, Personality Traits, Meaning and Every Thing
Ancient Zodiac Signs: Names and Legends
1. Aries: March 21 – April 20
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| Aries |
The constellation Aries - a sheep with golden fur in Greek mythology - leads the circle of 12 zodiac signs.
It is also the most basic Zodiac constellation. Its stars are extremely difficult to see. There are only two bright stars in this constellation, alpha and beta. The remaining stars are very dimly lit, and many of the stars in this constellation are binary pairs.
2. Taurus: April 21 – May 20
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| Taurus |
According to legend, Zeus fell in love with Europa and transformed himself into a white cow to avoid the pursuit of his wife Hera. Europa rode that white bull, and Zeus led her to a new land, which became Europe as we know it today.
According to legend, Taurus was the bull that attacked the hunter Orion.
Taurus is one of the largest and brightest constellations in astrology. Its brightest star is Aldebaran, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, and it has the Hyades group of stars slightly above its horns.
Furthermore, two well-known nebulae, M1 (Crab Nebula) and M45 (Pleiades - Seven Stars), can be seen in the sky of this constellation Taurus.
Unlike Aries, the stars in Taurus are quite bright, making it easy to see and identify this constellation. However, you will only see it after midnight if you look at it between summer and autumn.
3. Gemini (Gemini): May 21 - June 21
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| Gemini |
Castor and Pollux are two half-brothers from different mothers, according to legend. Pollux's father was Zeus, while Castor's father was mortal.
Both brothers are well-known warriors for their strength and martial arts, but Pollux is immortal due to Zeus' blood.
Castor was killed during a fight. Zeus appeared and gave Pollux the option of going to heaven to live an immortal life or sharing half of it with Castor.
Pollux chose the second privilege to avoid being separated from his brother, so the two Pollux brothers spent one day in heaven with the gods and the next day in the underworld.
If the weather is nice, you can see this Gemini constellation shining in the sky on spring evenings.
4.Cancer: June 22 – July 22
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| Cancer |
Hercules's second feat was to destroy the many-headed Hydra.
While Heracles was fighting this monster, Hera, who despised her husband's child, assisted Hydra by sending Cancer crab to attack Heracles, but this crab was killed by Heracles with a mace. following that.
When compared to the other Zodiac constellations, Cancer occupies a relatively small area on the celestial sphere.
5.Leo: July 23 - August 22
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| Leo |
According to legend, Hercules was tasked with taming a man-eating lion in the Nemea forest. However, the lion was a formidable foe who fought valiantly against Hercules' bow and sword. It took a lot of strength to keep Hercules down.
Hercules, on the other hand, was able to destroy the lion thanks to his skilled skill and superior fighting ability. That battle went down in history as one of Hercules' 12 exploits.
Leo is one of the brightest and most beautiful constellations in the Zodiac, if not all 88 constellations in modern astronomy.
This constellation covers a large area of the celestial sphere and contains many bright stars, including Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the sky. From April to June, this constellation will be visible in the sky for the majority of the evening.
6. Virgo (Virgo): August 23 - September 22
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| Virgo |
The constellation Virgo (also known as the Virgin) has many different legends. There is an opinion that it is the constellation representing the wheat goddess Demeter, one of the 12 supreme gods of the Olympia world.
7.Libra: September 23 - October 23
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| Libra |
According to Greek mythology, the world is divided into generations: gold, silver, bronze, demigods, and iron. And Astraea, the goddess of justice, is the one who stands to keep the world's justice. She used the Libra balance to tell the difference between good and evil.
People and animals lived in harmony and happiness during the golden age. However, in the silver age, evil and malicious people appeared.
The gods had reached the end of their endurance and retreated to heaven, leaving only Persephone to fight. At the same time, people became more violent because they only knew there was war; the god Persephone could no longer stand it and had to flee to the Slanper world.
Libra, when observed, occupies a relatively small area with relatively bright stars. Even though it only has a few bright stars, this constellation can be easily identified on summer evenings.
8. Scorpio: October 24 – November 22
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| Scorpio |
Scorpio's legend (also known as Scorpio, Scorpio, Scorpio) is the story of the goddess Hera's vengeance on Orin.
Hera summoned the giant scorpion to the ground and attacked Orin to death. Both fought to the death in a fierce battle, and in the end, they were both honored in the constellations. However, because they are in opposite directions, when the scorpion star rises, the Orin star falls.
Scorpio is one of the brightest constellations, especially in relation to Vietnam's climate, among the 88 constellations in general and the 12 constellations of the Zodiac in particular.
Every year from March to September, this constellation can be seen throughout the evening. It is usually found high in the sky, slightly to the south, and is easily identified by the scorpion's curvaceous body with its distinctive claws and tail.
9. Sagittarius: ovember 23 – December 21
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| Sagittarius |
Sagittarius (also known as Archer, Gunner) is a creature with a human upper body and a horse lower body.
Centaurs coexisted with humans in Greek mythology. However, the majority of centaurs are aggressive and barbaric, with only one being praised and raised into the constellations. Cheiron, king of the centaurs and a learned figure, was the centaur who befriended the heroes Peleus and Heracles.
Heracles accidentally shot and killed Cheiron with a poisonous arrow. When this friendly centaur died, his name was given to a constellation in the sky in his honor.
Sagittarius, which is located right next to the constellation Scorpio, is also a very bright constellation with a fairly large area (though slightly smaller than Scorpio).
The brightest stars in the shape of Sagittarius' bow make up the majority of the constellation; the rest of the stars are mostly dim and difficult to identify. This constellation, like Scorpio, can be seen in the evening for much of the year.
10. Capricorn: December 22 – January 19
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| Capricorn |
The god Zeus was initially defeated in the monster Typoon's attack to overthrow Zeus; the gods were afraid to flee Typoon, so they transformed into animals to avoid being pursued.
God Pan is a half-goat, half-human god who can transform into a fish, but only the tail can do so, leaving the upper body in the shape of a goat. The gods dared to return to their original form and return to heaven after Hermes freed Zeus and Typoon was defeated.
Capricorn is the Zodiac constellation that follows Sagittarius. This constellation is a little fainter, but on a clear summer evening, you can easily identify it due to its location and the stars arranged in a closed triangle.
The right angle is exactly a right triangle, with the right angle facing the Archer Sagittarius, but the right angle is slightly curved into many small bends.
11. Aquarius: January 20 – February 18
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| Aquarius |
Ganimede, a very attractive man, is known as Aquarius. Zeus fell in love with him and sent the eagle Aquila to fly down to earth to take him to Olympia, grant him immortality, and make him the bearer of wine to pour for the gods to drink in the world of gods meetings.
This constellation is directly behind the sea goat Capricorn; its stars are slightly brighter but more difficult to identify at first.
On the other hand, when this Aquarius constellation appears in the sky in the evening, the brightness of the stars will be greatly reduced due to the density of clouds and night dew in the North of Vietnam. However, you can try to observe it by identifying some of the brightest stars and by its position on the Zodiac.
12. Pisces: February 19 – March 20
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| Pisces |
Pisces, like the legend of Capricorn, is the constellation that describes the escape of the gods during Typoon's attack. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and her son, the cupid, Eros, also transformed themselves into fish and fled the aforementioned attack until Zeus triumphed and returned to heaven.
If you want to see the constellation Pisces in the best light on summer nights, you'll have to stay up past midnight, because this constellation only appears before midnight in winter, when the light conditions in the atmosphere are very poor.
Ancient Aliens: ORIGINS OF THE ANCIENT ZODIAC (Video):
13.Ophiuchus – 13th zodiac sign: November 30 - December 17Due to the modern definition of constellations, in which each constellation occupies a certain area of the sky, astronomers have found that a part of the constellation Ophiuchus (the snake-keeper) has invaded. into the area of the Zodiac, located between the two constellations Scorpio and Sagittarius. For this reason, the constellation Ophiuchus is considered the 13th sign of the Zodiac. It is also a large constellation and is very bright when appearing in the night sky. When observing the area containing the Zodiac on summer evenings, you will easily recognize this constellation with the shape as shown above, located directly above Scorpio and Sagittarius with some stars in the middle. these two constellations. ♦ Read More: OPHIUCHUS: Facts 13th Zodiac Star Sign With Dates, Symbols and Meaning |
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