Stories in the stars
Greek zodiac signs: myths and gods behind the 12 signs
The Greek myths behind each of the twelve zodiac constellations, and the older Babylonian star lore they grew out of.
Who invented the zodiac signs?
No single person created or made the zodiac. Babylonian astronomers invented the twelve equal signs around the 5th century BCE, dividing the Sun’s path into twelve 30° sections named after older constellations. Greek astronomers and astrologers adopted the system, and Hellenistic astrology in Egypt combined it with planets and houses.
From Babylon to Greece
Most zodiac constellations were first described by Babylonian astronomers; the MUL.APIN tablets (compiled before about 700 BCE) already list the bull, the twins, the lion, the scorpion and the goat-fish. Greek writers such as Aratus (3rd century BCE) and Eratosthenes attached their own myths to these figures, and those stories are the ones retold today.
Aries: the ram
The ram is usually linked with Chrysomallos, the golden-fleeced ram of Greek myth that carried Phrixus to safety in Colchis. Its fleece became the Golden Fleece later sought by Jason and the Argonauts.
Taurus: the bull
Taurus is identified with the white bull whose form Zeus took to carry the princess Europa across the sea to Crete. Much older Mesopotamian sources already knew this star group as the Bull of Heaven.
Gemini: the twins
The twins are Castor and Pollux (Polydeuces), brothers of Helen of Troy. When mortal Castor died, Pollux shared his own immortality so that the pair could remain together, alternating between the heavens and the underworld.
Cancer: the crab
Cancer is Karkinos, the crab that Hera sent to distract Heracles while he fought the Hydra of Lerna. Heracles crushed it, and Hera placed it among the stars as a reward for its loyalty.
Leo: the lion
Leo is the Nemean lion, whose hide no weapon could pierce. Heracles strangled it as the first of his twelve labours and wore its skin as armour.
Virgo: the maiden
The maiden is most often identified with Astraea, goddess of justice, who left Earth when humanity became corrupt. Other stories connect her with Demeter or Persephone; the bright star Spica means “ear of grain”.
Libra: the scales
Libra is the only zodiac emblem that is an object. The Greeks originally counted these stars as the claws of the Scorpion; the Romans popularised the scales, often linked with Astraea or Dike and the balance of justice.
Scorpio: the scorpion
The scorpion is linked with the story of Orion the hunter, killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia or Artemis. The two were placed on opposite sides of the sky, so Scorpius rises as Orion sets.
Sagittarius: the archer
The archer is a centaur, often identified with Chiron, the wise teacher of heroes, or with Crotus, a satyr credited with inventing archery. The arrow is traditionally aimed at the heart of the neighboring Scorpion.
Capricorn: the sea-goat
The sea-goat, half goat and half fish, goes back to the Mesopotamian goat-fish associated with the god Enki (Ea). Greek writers linked it with Pan, who turned partly into a fish while fleeing the monster Typhon.
Aquarius: the water-bearer
The water-bearer is usually Ganymede, the Trojan youth carried to Olympus to serve as cupbearer to the gods. Babylonian astronomers already pictured a figure pouring water in this region of the sky.
Pisces: the fish
The two fish tied together are Aphrodite and her son Eros, who turned into fish and bound themselves with a cord so they would not lose each other while escaping the monster Typhon.
Greek gods zodiac signs: the Olympian of each sign
Roman poet Manilius assigned an Olympian guardian to each sign: Minerva to Aries, Venus to Taurus, Apollo to Gemini, Mercury to Cancer, Jupiter to Leo, Ceres to Virgo, Vulcan to Libra, Mars to Scorpio, Diana to Sagittarius, Vesta to Capricorn, Juno to Aquarius and Neptune to Pisces. Modern “Greek god zodiac” lists usually follow this scheme or the planetary rulers.
Sources
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