Miscellaneous Myths: The Zodiac

Overly Sarcastic Productions・2 minutes read

The zodiac is an area in the sky where celestial bodies like the sun and moon pass through, with twelve constellations aligned with it, each representing a 30º segment. Various cultures, including Babylonians and Greeks, developed their zodiac systems, with unique myths and deities associated with each constellation.

Insights

  • The zodiac consists of twelve large constellations that align with 30º segments of the 360º zodiac, with each sign associated with the sun's position on one's birthday, despite discrepancies due to axial precession.
  • Various cultures worldwide, including the Babylonians, Greeks, Mayans, Polynesians, and Chinese, have developed their unique zodiac systems based on celestial movements, with each having distinct characteristics and methods of classification, such as the Chinese Zodiac revolving around Jupiter's orbit and yearly animal representations.

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Recent questions

  • What is the zodiac and its significance?

    The zodiac is the area of the sky where the sun, moon, and planets move through from Earth's perspective, divided into twelve large constellations. These constellations align with the zodiac and are assigned a 30º segment of the 360º zodiac that the sun traverses yearly. Zodiac signs are determined by the sun's position on one's birthday, although they don't perfectly align with the constellations. The zodiac has been used for centuries to track celestial movements and for astrological interpretations.

  • Why is Ophiucus overlooked in the zodiac?

    Ophiucus, a thirteenth constellation, is often overlooked in the zodiac due to Scorpius and Sagittarius covering its time of the year. Additionally, Leo mostly lies above the ecliptic, further complicating the alignment of constellations with the zodiac. Despite its omission in popular zodiac interpretations, Ophiucus remains an important constellation in astronomy.

  • What is the significance of the Babylonian zodiac?

    The Babylonian astronomers created the first official zodiac, MUL-APIN, cataloging stars and constellations associated with myths and deities. The constellations were linked to various gods and goddesses, with each representing different aspects of life and nature. The Babylonian zodiac laid the foundation for the zodiac systems used in various cultures worldwide and continues to influence modern astrology.

  • How did the Greeks adapt the zodiac?

    The Greeks localized the Babylonian zodiac, adapting existing myths to fit the new constellations. By 150 BCE, they had divided the zodiac into twelve equal intervals with corresponding constellations. Greek zodiac constellations, like Aries and Gemini, have unique myths associated with them, reflecting the cultural and mythological influences on the zodiac's development.

  • Who laid the groundwork for modern astrology?

    Ptolemy, in the 100s AD, laid the groundwork for modern astrology by connecting the zodiac signs to the four humours. His work on astrology and the zodiac influenced the development of astrological practices and interpretations that continue to be used today. Ptolemy's contributions helped shape the understanding of zodiac signs and their significance in astrology.

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Summary

00:00

The Zodiac: Stars, Signs, and Mythology

  • The zodiac is the area of the sky where the sun, moon, and planets move through from Earth's perspective, centered on the ecliptic and extending about eight degrees on each side.
  • Twelve large constellations align roughly with the zodiac, each assigned a 30º segment of the 360º zodiac that the sun traverses yearly, starting with Aries and continuing through Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
  • Zodiac signs are determined by the sun's position on one's birthday, although the constellations don't perfectly align with the 30º partitions of the year.
  • Ophiucus, a thirteenth constellation, is overlooked due to Scorpius and Sagittarius covering its time of the year, while Leo mostly lies above the ecliptic.
  • Axial precession causes the equinoxes to shift slightly yearly, leading to discrepancies in zodiac signs, as seen when NASA announced changes in some people's zodiac signs.
  • Babylonian astronomers created the first official zodiac, MUL-APIN, cataloging stars and constellations, including the Pleiades, Taurus, Orion, Perseus, Auriga, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Aquarius.
  • The constellations were associated with myths and deities, like Taurus representing the bull of heaven in a battle with Gilgamesh, and Virgo symbolizing the goddess Shala, deity of grain and fertility.
  • Libra, representing scales, was significant to the Babylonians as the sacred symbol of Shamash, the god of truth and justice, while Scorpio and Sagittarius had complex mythological associations.
  • Capricorn, a goat-fish, symbolized the Babylonian god Ea, creator of humanity, while Aquarius, known as Ea, The Great One, was a merman holding a vase of water, associated with flooding.
  • Pisces was subdivided by the Babylonians into constellations like the tail and the great swallow, or as a stag and Ishtar, the queen of heaven, while Aries was represented by The Farm Worker, Tammuz, consort to Ishtar.

10:06

Greek Mythology and the Zodiac Alignments

  • The labors were used to justify new constellations from Babylon, with half of them drawing parallels to these constellations.
  • The twelve labors align with the yearly cycle, with each labor corresponding to a specific constellation.
  • Heracles' labors, like the Nemean Lion and Lernaean Hydra, are linked to constellations such as Leo and Hydra.
  • Some labors, like capturing the Cretan bull, directly correlate to specific constellations like Taurus.
  • The final three labors involve astronomical elements, with Heracles being carried by the sun to various locations.
  • Heracles' myth may have pre-existed the Babylonian zodiac, incorporating themes of following the sun's path.
  • Other Greek zodiac constellations, like Aries and Gemini, have unique myths associated with them.
  • The Greeks localized the Babylonian zodiac, adapting existing myths to fit the new constellations.
  • By 150 BCE, the Greeks had divided the zodiac into twelve equal intervals with corresponding constellations.
  • Ptolemy in the 100s AD laid the groundwork for modern astrology by connecting the zodiac signs to the four humours.

19:32

Diverse Zodiac Systems Across Cultures

  • Various cultures worldwide have developed their own zodiac systems based on the movement of celestial bodies, such as the Mayans, Polynesians, and Chinese, with each having unique characteristics and methods of classification. The Chinese Zodiac, for instance, is based on the orbit of Jupiter, which completes a circuit in roughly twelve years, unlike the Babylonian zodiac. Each year, Jupiter advances into the next zodiac section, with the twelve animals representing yearly classifications rather than monthly subdivisions.
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