Every person, no matter how he relates to astrology, knows under what sign of the Zodiac he was born. Their names originate from the time of ancient Antiquity, when the location of the stars, due to the displacement of the earth's axis, was somewhat different. The names of the Zodiac constellations echo ancient myths and legends.
History of constellation names.
The history of the constellations is very interesting. A very long time ago, sky observers combined the brightest and most noticeable groups of stars into constellations and gave them various names. These were the names of various mythical heroes or animals, characters of legends and tales - Hercules, Centaurus, Taurus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Pegasus, etc.
In the names of the constellations Peacock, Toucan, Indian, South. Cross, Bird of Paradise was reflected in the Age of Discovery.
There are a lot of constellations - 88. But not all of them are bright and noticeable. most richly bright stars winter sky.
At first glance, the names of many constellations seem strange. Often in the arrangement of stars it is very difficult or even simply impossible to consider what the name of the constellation is talking about. Big Dipper, for example, resembles a bucket, it is very difficult to imagine a Giraffe or Lynx in the sky. But if you look at old atlases starry sky, then on them the constellations are depicted in the form of animals.
Aries.
The constellation Aries was highly revered in antiquity. The supreme god of Egypt, Amun-Ra, was depicted with a ram's head, and the road to his temple was an alley of sphinxes with ram's heads. It was believed that the constellation Aries was named after Aries with the Golden Fleece, after which the Argonauts sailed. In the sky, by the way, there are a number of constellations that reflect the Argo Ship. The alpha (brightest) star of this constellation is called Gamal (Arabic for "adult ram"). The brightest star in the constellation Taurus is called Aldebaran.
According to the ancient Greek myth, Nephele, the titan of the clouds, wanting to save her children Gella and Frix from the evil stepmother, whose name was Ino, sent them an enchanting golden-haired ram, who was supposed to put them on her back and transport them to the kingdom of Colchis, where they would be in security. However, Gella could not resist during the flight and fell into the strait, which was later named after her. Phrixus, on arrival at the place, sacrificed a magical ram to Zeus, who took him to heaven.
Constellation Taurus
Among the ancient peoples, the most important was the constellation Taurus, since the new year began in the spring. In the zodiac Taurus is the most ancient constellation, since cattle breeding played a huge role in the life of ancient peoples, and that constellation was associated with the bull (calf), where the Sun, as it were, defeated winter and heralded the arrival of spring and summer.
In general, many ancient peoples revered this animal, considered it sacred. In ancient Egypt there was a sacred bull, Apis, who was worshiped during his lifetime and whose mummy was solemnly buried in a magnificent tomb. Every 25 years Apis was replaced with a new one. In Greece, the bull was also held in high esteem. In Crete, the bull was called the Minotaur. Heroes of Hellas Hercules, Theseus, Jason pacified the bulls.
Where are the twins in the sky?
In this constellation, two bright stars are very close to each other. They got their name in honor of the Argonauts Dioscuri - Castor and Pollux - twins, sons of Zeus, the most powerful of the Olympic gods, and Leda, a frivolous earthly beauty, the brothers of Helen the beautiful - the culprit of the Trojan War.
Castor was famous as a skilled charioteer, and Pollux as an unsurpassed fist fighter. They participated in the campaign of the Argonauts and the Calydonian hunt. But one day the Dioscuri did not share the booty with their cousins, the giants Idas and Linkey. In the battle with them, the brothers were badly wounded. And when Castor died, the immortal Pollux did not want to part with his brother and asked Zeus not to separate them. Since then, by the will of Zeus, the brothers spend half a year in the kingdom of gloomy Hades, and half a year - on Olympus. There are periods when on the same day the star Castor is visible against the background of the dawn, and Pollux is visible against the background of the evening. Perhaps it was this circumstance that gave rise to the legend of the brothers living either in the realm of the dead or in heaven.
The Dioscuri brothers were considered in ancient times the patrons of sailors caught in a storm. And the appearance on the masts of ships before a thunderstorm of "Fires of St. Elmo" was considered a visit to the Twins by their sister Elena. St. Elmo's fires are luminous discharges of atmospheric electricity observed on pointed objects (tops of masts, lightning rods, etc.). The Dioscuri were also revered as guardians of the state and patrons of hospitality.
In ancient Rome, a silver coin "Dioscuri" with the image of stars was in circulation.
How did Cancer appear in the sky?
The constellation Cancer is one of the most obscure zodiac constellations. Its history is very interesting. There are several rather exotic explanations for the origin of the name of this constellation. So, for example, it was seriously claimed that the Egyptians placed Cancer in this region of the sky as a symbol of destruction and death, because this animal feeds on carrion. Cancer moves tail forward. About two thousand years ago in the constellation of Cancer was the point of the summer solstice (ie, the longest daylight hours). The sun, having reached at this time the maximum distance to the north, began to "retreat" back.
The length of the day gradually decreased.
According to classical ancient mythology, a huge sea Cancer attacked Hercules when he fought the Lernaean Hydra. The hero crushed him, but the goddess Hera, who hated Hercules, placed Cancer in the sky.
The Louvre houses the famous Egyptian zodiac circle, in which the constellation Cancer is located above all others.
Is the lion in the sky scary?
About 4.5 thousand years ago, the point of the summer solstice was in this constellation, and the Sun appeared in this constellation during the hottest time of the year. Therefore, among many peoples, it was the Lion that became the symbol of fire.
The Assyrians called this constellation "the great fire," and the Chaldeans associated the fierce lion with the no less fierce heat that was every summer. They believed that the Sun receives additional strength and warmth, being among the stars of the lion.
In Egypt, this constellation was also associated with the summer period: flocks of lions, fleeing the heat, migrated from the desert to the Nile valley, which at that time was flooding. Therefore, the Egyptians placed on the gates of irrigation canal locks that directed water to the fields, images in the form of a lion's head with an open mouth.
Virgo.
The Virgo constellation, located next to Leo, this constellation was sometimes represented by a fabulous sphinx - a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a woman. Often in early myths, the Virgin was identified with Rhea, the mother of the god Zeus, the wife of the god Kronos. Sometimes she was seen as Themis, the goddess of justice, who in her classical guise holds scales in her hands (the zodiac constellation next to Virgo). There is evidence that in this constellation, ancient observers saw Astrea, the daughter of Themis and the god Zeus, the last of the goddesses who left the Earth at the end of the Bronze Age. Astrea - the goddess of justice, a symbol of purity and innocence, left the Earth because of the crimes of people. This is how we see the Virgin in ancient myths.
The virgin is usually depicted with the rod of Mercury and an ear. Spica (translated from Latin "ear") is the name of the brightest star in the constellation. The very name of the star and the fact that the Virgin was depicted with an ear in her hands indicates the connection of this star with human agricultural activities. It is possible that the beginning of any agricultural work coincided with her appearance in the sky.
Libra is the only "non-living" zodiac constellation.
Indeed, it seems strange that among the animals and "semi-animals" in the Zodiac there is a sign of Libra. Over two thousand years ago, this constellation was the point of the autumnal equinox. The equality of day and night could be one of the reasons why the zodiac constellation was named Libra.
The appearance of Libra in the sky in the middle latitudes indicated that the time had come for sowing, and the ancient Egyptians, already at the end of spring, could consider this as a signal to start harvesting the first crop. Scales - a symbol of balance - could simply remind the ancient land-businessmen of the need to weigh the harvest.
Among the ancient Greeks, Astrea, the goddess of justice, weighed the fate of people with the help of Libra. One of the myths explains the appearance of the zodiac constellation Libra as a reminder to people of the need to strictly observe the laws. The fact is that Astrea was the daughter of the almighty Zeus and the goddess of justice Themis. On behalf of Zeus and Themis, Astrea regularly "inspected" the Earth (armed with scales and blindfolded in order to judge everything objectively, supply Olympus with good information and mercilessly punish deceivers, liars and everyone who dared to commit all kinds of unjust acts). So Zeus decided that Libra's daughter should be placed in the sky.
Does the constellation really look like a scorpion?
Not only because of the external similarity, this constellation was assigned the role of a poisonous creature.
The sun entered this region of the sky in late autumn, when all nature seemed to die, in order to be reborn, like the god Dionysus, in the early spring of the next year. The sun was considered "stung" by some poisonous creature (by the way, in this region of the sky there is also the constellation of the Serpent!), "from that it hurt" all winter, remaining weak and pale.
According to classical Greek mythology, this is the same Scorpio that stung the giant Orion and was hidden by the goddess Hera on the diametrically opposite part of the celestial sphere. It was he, the heavenly Scorpio, who frightened the most unfortunate Phaethon, the son of the god Helios, who decided to ride across the sky in his fiery chariot, not listening to his father's warnings. Other nations gave this constellation their own names. For example, for the inhabitants of Polynesia, it seemed like a fishing hook, with which the god Maun pulled out of the depths Pacific Ocean island of New Zealand. Among the Maya Indians, this constellation was associated with the name Yalagau, which means "Lord of Darkness."
According to many astronomers, the sign of Scorpio is the most sinister - a symbol of death. It seemed especially scary when the planet of disasters, Saturn, turned out to be in it.
Scorpio is a constellation where new stars often flare up, in addition, this constellation is rich in bright star clusters.
Who is the star Sagittarius aiming at?
According to ancient Greek mythology, the wisest of the centaurs Chiron, the son of the god Chronos and the goddess Themis, created the first model of the celestial sphere. At the same time, he took one place in the Zodiac for himself. But he was outstripped by the insidious centaur Krotos, who took his place by deceit and became the constellation of Sagittarius. And the god Zeus turned Chiron himself after death into the constellation of the Centaur. And so it turned out in the sky as many as two centaurs. Even Scorpio himself is afraid of the evil Sagittarius, at whom he aims with a bow.
Sometimes you can find the image of Sagittarius in the form of a centaur with two faces: one is turned back, the other is forward. In this he resembles the Roman god Janus. The first month of the year, January, is associated with the name of Janus. And the Sun is in Sagittarius in winter.
Thus, the constellation, as it were, symbolizes the end of the old and the beginning of the new year, with one of its faces looking into the past, and the other into the future.
In the direction of the constellation Sagittarius is the center of our Galaxy. If you look at the map of the starry sky, then Milky Way passes through the constellation Sagittarius.
Like Scorpio, Sagittarius is very rich in beautiful nebulae. Perhaps this constellation more than any other deserves the name "heavenly treasury". Many star clusters and nebulae are strikingly beautiful.
Where is Capricorn going?
Capricorn is a mythical creature with the body of a goat and the tail of a fish. According to the most common ancient Greek legend, the goat-footed god Pan, the son of Hermes, the patron saint of shepherds, was frightened by the hundred-headed giant Typhon and rushed into the water in horror. He has since become a water god and has grown a fish tail. Transformed by the god Zeus into a constellation, Goat-horn became the lord of the waters and the harbinger of storms. It was believed that he sends heavy rains to the earth. According to another legend, this is the goat Amalthea, who nursed Zeus with her milk.
The Indians called this constellation Makara, i.e. a miracle dragon, also half goat, half fish. Some peoples depicted him as a half-crocodile - a half-bird. Similar ideas existed in South America. When the sun entered the constellation Capricorn, the Indians celebrated New Year, putting on masks depicting goat heads for ceremonial dances. But the indigenous Australians called the constellation Capricorn the constellation Kangaroo, which is chased by heavenly hunters to kill him and fry him on a large fire.
Among many ancient peoples, the goat was revered as a sacred animal; divine services were performed in honor of the goat. People dressed in sacred clothes made of goat skins and brought a gift to the gods - a sacrificial goat.
It is with such customs and with this constellation that the idea of \u200b\u200bthe "scapegoat" - Azazel, is associated. Azazel - (letting goat) - the name of one of the goat-like gods, demons of the desert. On the so-called day of the goat, two goats were selected: one for sacrifice, the other for release into the wilderness. Of the two goats, the priests chose which one for God and which one for Azazel. First, a sacrifice was made to God, and then another goat was brought to the high priest, on which he laid his hands and thereby, as it were, transferred to him all the sins of the people. And after that, the goat was released into the desert. The desert was a symbol of the underworld and a natural place for sins. The constellation Capricorn is located at the bottom of the ecliptic. Perhaps this is what caused the idea of the underworld.
In the constellation of Capricorn about 2 thousand years ago was the point of the winter solstice. The ancient philosopher Macrobius believed that the Sun, having passed the lowest point, begins to climb up, like a mountain goat striving for the top.
Where does Aquarius pour water?
This constellation was called among the Greeks Hydrohos, among the Romans - Aquarius, among the Arabs - Sa-kib-al-ma. All this meant the same thing: a person pouring water. The Greek myth about Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha, the only people who escaped the Flood, is associated with the constellation Aquarius.
The name of the constellation really leads to the "homeland of the Flood" in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In some writings of the ancient people - the Sumerians - these two rivers are depicted as flowing from the vessel of Aquarius. The eleventh month of the Sumerians was called "the month of the water curse". According to the Sumerians, the constellation Aquarius was in the center of the "celestial sea", and therefore foreshadowed the rainy season. It was identified with the god who warned people about the flood. This legend of the ancient Sumerians is similar biblical story about Noah and his family - the only people who escaped the flood in the ark.
In Egypt, the constellation Aquarius was observed in the sky during the days of the highest water level in the Nile River. It was believed that the water god Knemu overturns a huge ladle into the Nile. It was also believed that the White and Blue Nile rivers, tributaries of the Nile, flow from the god's vessels.
It is possible that the legend about one of the exploits of Hercules is connected with the constellation Aquarius - cleaning the Augean stables (for which the hero needed to dam three rivers).
Pisces closes the circle of the zodiac constellations.
The very arrangement of the stars in the sky inspires the idea of two fish tied together with a ribbon or rope. The origin of the name of the constellation Pisces is very ancient and, apparently, is connected with Phoenician mythology. In this constellation, the Sun entered the season of rich fishing. The goddess of fertility was depicted as a woman with a fish tail, which, according to legend, appeared to her when she and her son, frightened by a monster, rushed into the water.
A similar legend existed among the ancient Greeks. Only they believed that Aphrodite and her son Eros turned into fish: they walked along the river bank, but frightened by the evil Typhon, rushed into the water and escaped, turning into fish. Aphrodite became the southern Pisces, and Eros became the northern Pisces.
Legends and myths about the origin of the Zodiac constellations
ARIES
The Golden Fleece of Aries was the goal of the journey of Jason and the Argonauts. Aries was originally given by Mercury to Nephelia when her ex-husband took a new wife, Ino, who began to persecute the children of Nephelia.
To protect the children from Ino's harassment, Nephelia put Frix and Gel on the back of Aries and sent them to the East. The gel fell into the Hellespont (Dardanelles) between the Aegean and Marmara Seas, but Frix reached Colchis (south of the Caucasus) on the Black Sea. Frix, brought Aries and his golden fleece as a sacrifice to the king of Colchis.
TAURUS
According to legend, Taurus is a bull that Jupiter (Zeus) turned into, fascinated by the beauty of Europe, the princess and daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor.
Majesty and love cannot be together and cannot share one hearth for a long time. Abandoning the greatness of his scepter, the father and ruler of the gods, throwing withering lightning bolts with a wave of his hand, shaking the universe with a nod of his head, took the form of a bull; and, lost among the other oxen, he lowed and grazed in the meadow. His skin turned as white as pure snow, snow not yet melted by the rainy south wind. Muscles showed through his neck and deep folds of skin hung from his sides. His horns were small, it's true, but so beautiful and sparkling, as if they were made by a jeweler.
There was no threat in his eyes; his gaze was calm. (Metamorphoses II 847-858).
Princess Europe was struck by the beauty and kindness of the bull and they spent a lot of time together on the seashore. Europa climbed on the back of the bull, and he swam with her into the sea, and took her to Crete, and discovered himself.
TWINS
Gemini is a zodiac constellation depicting two twin brothers, Castor and Pollux. Their mother was Leda and they were Elena's brothers, but from different fathers. One night, Leda became pregnant from Jupiter, who came to her in the body of a swan, and her husband, Tyndareus, king of Sparta. Pollux, as the son of a god, was immortal and famous for his strength, while his mortal brother Castor was known as a skilled rider and connoisseur of horses. Both brothers became Argonauts and went in search of the Golden Fleece, and then fought in Trojan War to bring her sister home to her husband, Menelaus. They are traditionally depicted as horsemen armed with spears on their snow-white horses.Pollux was filled with grief when his mortal brother died, and begged Jupiter to let him give his brother some of his immortality. Recognizing the valor of both brothers, Jupiter agreed and reunited them in heaven.
CANCER
Like many other constellations, the mythological meaning of Cancer is uncertain; however, the most common version is the legend that Cancer was sent to prevent Hercules (Hercules) when he performed his second feat. While Hercules was fighting the Lernean Hydra, the ever envious Juno (Hera) ordered Cancer to pinch Hercules on the leg. Hercules trampled on Cancer, but Juno placed Cancer in heaven as a reward for his devotion.
A LION
It is generally accepted that the zodiac constellation Leo is the Nemean lion killed by Hercules (the first feat of Hercules).
According to legend, the Nemean lion had impenetrable skin. Hercules fought him unarmed and strangled him to death. Then Hercules pulled out a fang from him and with his help skinned the lion. Since then, Hercules wore the skin of the Nemean lion to protect himself from sword and spear blows.
VIRGO
In the writings of ancient poets, the maiden is often called Astrea. She lived on earth in the Golden Age (the first era of mankind, the era of calm and serenity, when there was ideal peace and happiness), which was described by Hesiod:
"In the beginning, the golden race of mortals was created by immortals living on Olympus. They lived at the time of Kronos (Saturn), when he ruled the sky; they lived like gods, with a carefree heart, without sadness and pain; merciless old age was not familiar to them, their legs and arms were always strong and they lived in joy, having no evil, they died as they obey sleep, their deeds were righteous, their fertile lands themselves brought them an abundance of fruits, they ruled their lands with joy and carelessness. hides this race since they, according to the plan of Zeus (Jupiter), became "daimons", generous earthly guardian angels of mortals, observing judgments and cruel deeds, wrapped in air and wandering around the world "(Works and Days 109-125 ).
The "daimons" Hesiod speaks of are invisible spirits that watch over mortals. Presumably, Astrea is a daimon of justice. The symbol of her activity is Libra, the next zodiac sign in the zodiac cycle.
SCALES
Libra symbolizes balance and is one of the most ancient constellations. Libra is a symbol of justice in the hands of the Virgin, but at the same time is associated with the autumn equinox. On this day, the length of the day is equal to the length of the night (i.e. the sun and moon are in balance).
SCORPION
It is believed that Scorpio is initially responsible for the death of the great hunter Orion. According to some myths, Scorpio stung Orion in response to his boast that he could kill any creature. According to other legends, Scorpio was sent by Apollo, who was worried about the chastity (virginity) of his sister Diana.
In any case, Scorpio was positioned in the sky on the other side of Orion to avoid further clashes. Scorpio is located southeast of Libra and is distinguished by the bright red giant Antares (Antares in ancient Greek means "Ares' Rival". Ares is the ancient Greek god of war. The star is so named because its brightness and color approximately correspond to the brightness and color of the planet Mars).
SAGITTARIUS
The zodiac constellation Sagittarius symbolizes the centaur Chiron. Centaurs are considered in myths as animals, at least half-horses. However, the ancient Greeks treated horses with great respect and did not always speak negatively about centaurs. In fact, Chiron was known for his kindness. He was an excellent archer, musician and healer and was the teacher of Achilles, Jason and Hercules. Cyron, however, was accidentally wounded by Hercules. An arrow impregnated with the poison of the Lernaean Hydra caused Chiron great suffering. Even such a famous and talented healer as Chiron himself could not cure himself. The immortal cannot find release in death, and Chiron, in agony, offered himself as a replacement for Prometheus. The gods punished Prometheus for stealing fire from them and giving it to people by chaining Prometheus to a rock. Prometheus was doomed to eternal torment: every day an eagle flew in and pecked at his liver, which grew back overnight. Jupiter (Zeus), at the request of Hercules, agreed to release Prometheus if a replacement was found for him. Chiron renounced his immortality and went to Tartarus instead of Prometheus. For his kindness, Jupiter placed Chiron among the stars.
CAPRICORN
This zodiacal constellation, like Pisces, arose as a result of the unexpected appearance of the hundred-headed fire-breathing monster Typhon. Bacchus (Dionysus), who was feasting at that time on the banks of the Nile, jumped into the water. The part of his body that was under water turned into a fish, and the upper part of the body turned into a goat. From here he saw that Typhon was already ready to tear Jupiter (Zeus) apart. At this moment, Capricorn whistled piercingly, frightening Typhon. In gratitude for saving his life, Jupiter placed Bacchus in his new guise in heaven.
AQUARIUS
Aquarius symbolizes Ganymede, a beautiful young man from Phrygia. Ganymede was the son of Tros, king of Troy (according to Lucian, he was also the son of Dardanus). Ganymede was abducted by Jupiter while he was heading with his father's herd to Mount Ida. The king of the gods was delighted with the beauty of the young man. He descended from the mountain in the form of a large bird and carried Ganymede to heaven. Since then, Ganymede has become a servant serving wine for guests (the cup-bearer of the gods). Ovid folded a legend about this abduction: "The king of the gods burned with love for the Phrygian youth Ganymede and appeared to him in a different guise. He desired to turn into a bird, as he despised any forms that would allow him to throw lightning. Without wasting a minute, he beat his wings in the air and grabbed the shepherd, who now supplies wine and nectar to Jupiter, to the displeasure of Juno" (Metamorphoses X 154-160).
FISH
One day, a terrible fire-breathing earth-born monster Typhon appeared, the mere sight of which made all the gods scatter in different directions. Jupiter turned himself into a ram, Mercury became an ibis, Apollo took the form of a raven, Diana hid herself under the guise of a cat, Bacchus turned into a goat. Venus and her son Cupid bathed in the Euphrates River that day and, escaping, turned into fish. Minerva later commemorated this event by placing images of two fish among the stars.
In ancient times, people thought that the sky was a gigantic hollow dome rising above the flat earth like an upside down cup on a saucer. Later, this idea of the Earth and the sky was replaced by another: the globe turned out to be in the center of a huge sphere like a soap bubble. The sun moved across the surface of the sky-bubble, making a full circle in a year.
The apparent path of the Sun around the Earth is called the ecliptic. The sun moves within a narrow band - the zodiac. It encircles the Earth and is 16 degrees wide (extending 8 degrees above the ecliptic and the same number of degrees below it). Within this belt are the orbits of all the planets of our solar system, except for Pluto, which moves within an exceptionally wide band. Also in the zodiac are the stars that form groups, which in ancient times were called constellations. To the first explorers of the sky, these constellations seemed like the outlines of animals, so the belt of constellations is known as the zodiac - from the Greek word "zodiac" meaning "circle of animals."
The zodiac consists of twelve constellations, each of which has its own name and resembles an animal or human figure in shape. Ancient astrologers began to use these names to refer to the twelve astrological signs.
The zodiac belt is a conditional concept (it is generated by the consciousness of a person who singled it out in the sky), but the stars inside it are quite real. If you could simultaneously be at different points on the surface of the globe, you would see all twelve constellations at once. They were known long before Ptolemy described them in his writings. Each constellation has its own history, which has come down to us in the form of ancient myths. This folklore has become an integral part of our knowledge of astrological signs.
ARIES
Aries or Ram is the first sign of the Zodiac. In myths, the Baran always appears as a courageous, enterprising, agile, energetic animal, capable of overcoming obstacles and mountain steeps.
The history of the Baran begins in ancient Greece, where King Athamas ruled Boeotia. He married a woman named Nephele, and she bore him two beautiful children - a son, Phrixus, and a daughter, Hellu.
After some time, Nephele got tired of Athamant. He abandoned her and married Ino, who gave him two sons. Ino was a jealous schemer who hated her adopted children Frix and Gella. She plotted to destroy them.
First of all, Ino persuaded the women of her country to dry the seeds prepared for sowing. That year, nothing sprouted on the normally fertile fields. The Greeks were in danger of starvation. The king sent an embassy to sacred Delphi to ask the oracle about the reason for the barrenness of the earth. It never occurred to him to ask the opinion of the women who sowed the seeds, but modern political leaders sometimes make a similar mistake.
Ino managed to bribe the envoys of the king, and they, returning from Delphi, brought a false answer. They told Athamas that the gods would restore fertility to the soil if he sacrificed his children Phrixus and Hellus to the god Jupiter. The gullible king decided to kill his son and daughter in order to save his people.
Frix and Gella, meanwhile, were herding sheep. In the herd was the Golden-fleeced Aries, a gift from the god Mercury to their mother Nephele. Having heard about the impending atrocity, Nephele asked Aries to save her children. Aries, in a human voice, warned Frix and Gella about the danger that threatened them, ordered them to climb on his back and flew with them over the sea. Over the Dardanelles Strait, separating Europe from Asia, Gella felt dizzy, she lost consciousness and slid off the back of Aries. Hella fell into the sea and drowned. Since then, the sea where Hella died became known as the Hellespont - the sea of Gella.
Her brother Phrixus safely reached Colchis. The plan of the vile Ino fell through, but this did not save the Greeks from starvation and did not reason with Athamas.
The ungrateful Frix sacrificed the Golden-Fleece Aries to Jupiter, who sent Aries to the stars for his brave deed.
TAURUS
The second sign of the Zodiac is Taurus, or Bull, an animal both violent and kind, always symbolizing strength and sexuality.
The myth of the Bull is associated with Jupiter, the supreme god of ancient Greece, the ruler of heaven, other gods and people. Loving Jupiter had many novels, wives and mistresses. One of his lovers was the beautiful Europa, the daughter of the king of Phoenicia.
Europe lived as a recluse in her father's palace and knew nothing about outside world. Once she dreamed prophetic dream - unknown woman stretched out her hands to Europe and said: "I will take you to Jupiter, because fate will make him your beloved."
And indeed, when that day Europe went with her friends to the meadow to the sea to collect roses and hyacinths, Jupiter saw the beauty, and he was struck by lightning. He decided to take over Europe.
Jupiter understood that an inexperienced young girl would run away from him in fear if he appeared to her in the guise of a thunderer, so he turned into a bull. He became not an ordinary bull, but a magnificent white animal with horns sparkling like diamonds and a silver moon on his forehead.
Europe succumbed to the charms of the beautiful good Bull and began to caress him. Finally, she climbed onto his back. Jupiter was just waiting for this moment. He took off into the air and took Europe to the island of Crete. There he took on his former appearance and confessed his love to the girl. Under the shade of a huge tree, they became lovers.
Soon the goddess of love Venus, appearing to Europe, explained to her that she was the woman from the dream. From now on, said Venus, the continent to which Jupiter delivered his chosen one will be called Europe.
This story of adultery (Jupiter was married to the goddess Juno) has a happy ending. Europe gave birth to Jupiter three children, and he himself remained in heaven in the guise of a Bull.
TWINS
Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac and the first to be symbolized by people rather than animals.
The myth of Gemini, like the previous one, is associated with Jupiter and the weakness that he had for pretty women. In this story, the beautiful Leda, the wife of the King of Sparta Tyndareus, becomes the subject of his passion. Lustful Jupiter, apparently unwilling to repeat the trick with the bull, this time turned into a magnificent swan. The details of their meeting have survived only approximately, but it is known that Jupiter in the guise of a swan managed to seduce Leda.
In this amazing union, Leda gave birth to two eggs. According to the myth, one of the eggs contained the offspring of Jupiter, and the other - the offspring of Leda's mortal husband. Four children were born from a pair of eggs: two brothers, Castor and Pollux, and two sisters, Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. It remains unclear whose father was Jupiter. According to one version, the immortal descendants of the god were Castor and Pollux. According to another, Castor and Helen were the children of Jupiter.
In any case, the twins Castor and Pollux grew up strong, agile and inseparable. Castor became famous for his ability to tame wild horses, Pollux won universal recognition as an invincible fist fighter. In their youth, the brothers went with Jason and his Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. When a storm broke out in the sea, two stars sparkled over the heads of the twins, and the elements magically subsided. Because of this incident, Castor and Pollux are considered the patrons of all sailors on the seas. (During a storm, these lights still flicker near the ends of the masts and tall spiers. They are generated by atmospheric electricity. According to legend, the appearance of two lights heralds the end of the storm. If only one light glows, the storm will intensify.)
The twins were considered courageous young people. Unfortunately, Castor died in battle. Nothing could console Pollux. Finally he went to his father Jupiter and asked him to bring Castor back to life. In return, Pollux agreed to be sacrificed.
Jupiter rewarded the brothers for their love and affection by sending them both to heaven as stars. Since then, they have been shining forever in the constellation of Gemini next to each other.
CANCER
The fourth sign of the zodiac is depicted as Cancer, an inhabitant of water bodies, also able to move on land. It is known that Cancer as a symbol appeared in the zodiac about five hundred years before the beginning of our era. The Chaldeans gave one of the constellations such a name because the cancer moves backward or moves in a zigzag, and the Sun, having reached the region of this sign around June 21, seems to freeze for several days in one position. After the Sun enters the constellation Cancer, the summer solstice begins.
The Egyptians called this constellation the "Water Stars" and designated it as a pair of turtles. (Perhaps this is due to the fact that the constellation was observed at dawn, when the water level in the Nile reaches a minimum; at this time of the year, the Nile is teeming with turtles.) According to many astrologers, Cancer is a cross between the Egyptian river turtle and the Babylonian waterfowl allul, apparently close to to the turtle. There are important similarities between these three species - the tortoise, the allul and the crayfish. They are similar to each other in structure, have a hard shell and move slowly (like the Sun in Cancer).
According to ancient Greek myth, a giant crayfish dug its claws into the leg of Hercules when he fought with the nine-headed monster - the Hydra. Hercules, the son of Jupiter and a woman named Alcmene, was given the task of performing twelve heroic deeds known as the Labors of Hercules. One of these feats was to be the destruction of the formidable serpent Hydra. At the time of the cancer attack, Hercules knocked down the heads of the Hydra with a club, but two new ones grew in place of each knocked down head.
The attack of cancer was inspired by Juno, the jealous wife of Jupiter, who wanted the death of Hercules. However, cancer doomed itself to death. Crushing him, Hercules continued the fight with the Hydra.
Nevertheless, Juno was grateful to cancer for trying to fulfill her order. As a reward for obedience and sacrifice, she placed the image of cancer in the sky next to the symbols of other heroes.
A LION
The fifth sign of the zodiac is represented by Leo, the king of the beasts. The mythology of the Lion is traditionally based on the story of the fight between Hercules and the Nemean lion.
Hercules was the son of the great god Jupiter and the ordinary woman Alcmene. The wife of Jupiter, Juno, who was jealous of her husband for his many lovers, not without reason, began to pursue Hercules from the first day of his life. Young Hercules was forced to commit twelve dangerous heroic deeds that went down in history as the exploits of Hercules.
The first feat of Hercules was to be the destruction of a fierce and fearless lion who lived in the Nemean Valley. No human weapon could pierce his skin. Stone, iron and bronze bounced off her. Hercules tried to kill the lion with arrows, but they flew off the sides of the beast. The hero decided to defeat the lion with his bare hands. Possessing incredible strength, he managed to squeeze his neck with his fingers and strangle him. During the fight, the lion bit off Hercules' finger - no doubt, we can assume that the hero got off lightly.
After killing the beast, Hercules tore off his magical skin. He made chest armor out of it, and a protective helmet out of a lion's jaw. This new armor proved to be of great value in the following feats.
The constellation Leo commemorates the courage of Hercules, shown during the single combat with the mighty Nemean lion.
VIRGO
Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac and the second, symbolized by a person, not an animal. Virgo is often depicted as a young woman with a sheaf of wheat in her hand, as this constellation is always associated with the harvest. In Babylon, he was called Furrow and represented as the goddess of wheat. The main star in Virgo is Spica, which means "ear of wheat."
The legend of the Virgin is found in the ancient Greek creation myth. According to her, before people and animals, titans lived on earth - giants who ruled the world. Two titan brothers, Prometheus and Epimetheus, were given the task of creating humans and animals. When this was done, Epimetheus began to distribute various gifts to the animals - wings to some, claws to others. He showed such generosity that when it came to the human race, he had nothing left in store, so he turned to Prometheus for help. Prometheus went to heaven and returned from there with fire. This gift elevated humans above all other species, because fire allowed humans to warm themselves, make tools, and eventually engage in commerce and science.
Jupiter, the ruler of the gods, was furious when he learned that man had received the secret of the gods - fire. He ordered Prometheus to be chained to a rock, where the eagle constantly tore the titan's liver with its beak, never devouring it entirely. Also, Jupiter sent a curse on the earth, delivered by the first woman. Her name was Pandora, which means "endowed with all gifts."
Pandora brought to earth a box that she was forbidden to open. One day, succumbing to curiosity, she lifted the lid. All those misfortunes that haunt humanity to this day have scattered from the box: bodily illness and death, as well as spiritual vices - anger, envy and a thirst for revenge. At the bottom of the box, there was only one hope left.
After this incident, terrible times came, and the gods left the Earth one by one to live in heaven. The last to leave was Astrea, the goddess of innocence and purity. She found refuge among the stars in the form of the constellation Virgo. The legend claims that one day the Golden Age will begin again and Astrea (Virgo) will return to earth.
SCALES
Libra is the seventh astrological sign and the only one that is not a human or animal symbol. Libra represents balance, justice and harmony.
Like the previous sign, Libra is associated with the harvest, since in ancient times the grain after the harvest was weighed on a scale. They also contain deeper symbolism. In the underworld, the deeds of the dead are weighed on them.
In the religion of the Egyptians, the god Anubis, the conductor of souls, alone owned the scales of justice. Anubis, who had the head of a jackal, led the dead through the underworld and made sure that they got what they deserved. He was the keeper of the scales. There is a picture called the Ani papyrus and painted one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ. It depicts a court scene. Anubis stands at a large scale, with which the heart of the deceased is weighed. The heart rests on one bowl, the Truth sits on the other, symbolized by a feather. In this picture, the bowls balance each other. According to the beliefs of the Egyptians, the dead heart (or soul) must be in balance with the Truth in order to gain a second life.
Libra has long been associated with justice and the rule of law. We have all seen the statues symbolizing justice. This is a blindfolded woman holding scales in her hands, a symbol of impartiality, that everyone will be rewarded according to their deserts.
In Greek mythology, the goddess of justice was Themis, the mother of Astrea. Themis and her daughter Astrea are represented by the constellations of Libra and Virgo, twinkling in the sky next to each other. According to legend, when the human race finally enters the Golden Age, Themis, symbolizing justice, and her daughter (symbolizing innocence), will return to earth.
SCORPION
The eighth sign of the zodiac is represented by Scorpio, who paralyzes his prey with poison, which he throws out through a sting located behind him.
This sign suffers from association with the scorpion, a hateful and dangerous insect. However, the scorpion was not always disgusting. AT ancient egypt he was deified in the form of the goddess Selket. She was considered the patroness of the dead, she can often be seen with outstretched wings of a protector on the walls of crypts.
The classic scorpion myth begins with the death of Orion, a handsome young giant and skilled hunter, son of the god of the seas, Poseidon (Neptune). Agility, strength and courage of Orion are sung in legends. The story of his death is transmitted in several versions. According to one of them, the goddess of the dawn, Eos, fell in love with Orion and took him away with her. The moon goddess Diana (among the Greeks - Artemis) out of jealousy ordered the scorpion to kill the mortal lover Eos.
According to another version, Orion tried to rape Diana, and she removed a giant scorpion from the earth, which killed Orion with its poison.
After the death of Orion, Jupiter placed him and the scorpion among the stars. Each of them became a constellation. Orion, with his golden armor and sword in hand, is one of the brightest and most spectacular constellations in the winter sky. But in the summer, when Scorpio appears in the sky, the brilliance of Orion fades.
SAGITTARIUS
Sagittarius, the ninth sign of the zodiac, is no ordinary person stretching a bowstring. Sagittarius is a centaur, a mythological creature, half man, half horse. Sagittarius is the only astrological sign depicted as a human and an animal at the same time.
However, the constellation Sagittarius is not a simple centaur. This is the great and wise Chiron, the son of the titan god Saturn. Chiron was a friend and confidant of both gods and men. The gods taught Chiron to heal, hunt, play musical instruments and predict the future. Over time, Chiron himself became a recognized teacher. Among his famous students were Achilles, Jason, Castor, Pollux and Hercules.
Once, when the great Hercules was hunting a formidable boar, he accidentally wounded Chiron in the knee with a poisoned arrow. Terrible agony seized Chiron, but the immortal centaur could not die. Hercules promised to find Death, able to alleviate the fate of Chiron. During his wanderings, Hercules discovered the unfortunate Prometheus, forever chained to a rock, where an eagle devoured his liver. The supreme god Jupiter cursed Prometheus: the hero's torment had to continue until someone agreed to voluntarily take his place. The dying Chiron replaced Prometheus. Thus the curse ended. Chiron was allowed to die, and Hercules freed Prometheus.
After the death of Chiron, Jupiter rewarded him for his nobility by placing a courageous centaur among the stars, and he became the constellation of Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN
The tenth sign of the zodiac is Capricorn, an animal with strong hooves that climbs up the mountain cliffs, clinging to every ledge.
In ancient times, Capricorn was depicted as a half-goat, half-fish, or rather, a goat with a fish tail. In many paintings and engravings, Capricorn with a fish tail can be seen, and in some astrological books, Capricorn is called the Sea Goat.
In the religion of ancient Babylon, the Sea Goat is the great and revered god Ea, who brought knowledge and culture to the peoples of Mesopotamia. In the Mesopotamian Valley, irrigation of land and crops began with the flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Because of this, people believed in the existence of an underground ocean. The god Ea lived in this ocean. He left the underground reservoir every day to bring his wisdom to people, and returned back at night.
During the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, Capricorn became associated with the god Pan, a cheerful and lustful creature, the ruler of forests and fields, herds and shepherds. Above the waist, Pan was a man, and below, a goat. He had goat ears and horns.
Pan loved music and became famous for his fife playing. His shepherd's pipe was actually a nymph who rejected his sexual advances. Pan turned her into a musical instrument, stating that if he could not master her in her original form, she would still belong to him in a new form.
Pan rose to prominence as the god of nature. Some features of Pan - sexuality, shamelessness, love of nature - are preserved in the character of Capricorn.
AQUARIUS
The symbol of the eleventh sign of the zodiac is Aquarius, a man with a jug from which water flows.
The image of Aquarius first appeared in the religions of Egypt and Babylon. In Egypt, Aquarius was the god Hep, who personified the Nile River. Hap carried a pair of water vessels, symbolizing the South and North Nile. This god was considered the guardian of life. All living beings would die without Hap's water.
In ancient Greek literature, Aquarius was sometimes associated with Jupiter, by whose will water flowed from heaven to earth. This sign also commemorates Deucalion, the only person not harmed during the great flood.
At the beginning of the creation of the world, gods and people lived in harmony. This era is called the Golden Age. The earth itself gave man rich fruits, and he did not have to cultivate fields and gardens; riverbeds were filled with wine and honey. Then Pandora opened the disaster box, and disease and other misfortunes fell upon humanity.
Great Jupiter looked down and decided to rid the world of people, to create a new race more worthy of life. With the help of his brother Poseidon, Jupiter flooded the earth with water. Only two people survived, Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha - the righteous, who zealously revered the gods. They found refuge on Mount Parnassus, and when Jupiter saw them, he remembered the exemplary behavior of the spouses. Jupiter caused the water to recede and the earth to dry up. He ordered Deucalion and Pyrrha to pick up stones and throw them over their heads without turning around. Deucalion fulfilled the command of the mighty thunderer, and the stones that he threw turned into men, and the stones thrown by his wife Pyrrha became women. So the Earth received a new population after the flood. Deucalion became the father of these people.
FISH
The twelfth and last sign of the zodiac is depicted as two fish tied to one another, but swimming in opposite directions. Two fish in the water symbolize conflicting emotions and secret depths.
The constellation Pisces was known by this name two thousand years before our era. In Babylon, it was called Kun, which means Tails (of fish). Kun is also interpreted as a ribbon or leash (which connects two fish). Two tethered fish goddesses, Anunitum and Symmachus, symbolized the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
In Greek mythology, Pisces is associated with the myth of Aphrodite and Eros. The terrible monster Typhon with a hundred dragon heads, spewing fire with his eyes, shook the air with a menacing howl, in which the hiss of snakes, the roar of a bull and the roar of a lion were heard.
One day Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was walking along the banks of the Euphrates with her son Eros. Suddenly Typhon appeared before them. Sinister tongues flickered in its mouths, eyes blazed with flames. The monster set out to destroy the goddess and her son. Frightened, Aphrodite, unable to escape, called on her father Jupiter for help. The great god immediately turned Aphrodite and Eros into two fish. They jumped into the water and disappeared. According to another version, two bold fish jumped out of the river and carried Aphrodite and Eros on their backs to safety. Pallas Athena (virgin goddess) in gratitude raised these fish to heaven, where they became a constellation.
