We are all familiar with the zodiac—the twelve signs of the zodiac that represent various groups of animals and people we associate with astrology. But have you ever wondered what exactly the zodiac is? Read on to discover more about the twelve constellations of the zodiac and how they were formed!
Aries, the Ram
Aries is represented by a ram, and Aries season lasts from March 21st to April 19th. In some locations, it overlaps with Pisces season, but not everywhere. If you were born on March 22nd or 23rd, check your astrological charts for both signs; you might be an Aries/Pisces! Aries people are fiery and passionate creatures—aggressive when they have to be, passive when they don’t need to defend their boundaries. They tend to be very direct about what they want and how they feel, which can make them seem demanding in relationships.
On one hand, that directness makes them excellent communicators; on the other hand, it can also make them poor listeners because they assume everyone else feels as strongly as they do about everything. They’re highly independent people who often struggle to admit when something is wrong in their lives because doing so means admitting vulnerability—and vulnerability isn’t something most Aries folks enjoy feeling.
Taurus, the Bull
Taurus is symbolized by a bull. It was first discovered by the Babylonians around 3,000 B.C., and has since been adopted into Chinese and Greek mythology, among others. Taurus is a fixed earth sign that falls between April 20 and May 20. Famous Taureans include Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles, Kanye West, Olivia Wilde, Barbara Streisand and John Krasinski. Aquarius, the Water Bearer: Aquarius is one of two air signs in astrology.
It is known as the water bearer because it rules over precipitation (rain) and comes to us from Ancient Greece, where it represented Ganymede—the cupbearer for Zeus. Aquarius can be recognized by its twin streams or jets of water pouring out from a vase or jar on its head; it’s also often pictured with wings on its ankles like Pegasus.
Gemini, the Twins
Gemini is one of two constellations in Earth’s skies representing twins. Its twin stars, Castor and Pollux, are bright enough to be seen from Earth without binoculars or a telescope. In mythology, Castor and Pollux were inseparable brothers who sailed together on Jason’s ship Argo during his quest for the Golden Fleece. According to legend, when they died they were placed among the stars as constellation Gemini.
Cancer, the Crab
As the mythology goes, Zeus was so angry with his lover, Callisto, that he turned her into a bear. To protect her from hunters, Zeus placed her among the stars—in Ursa Major. It is said that if you can spot Arcturus and Spica in Ursa Major (also known as Big Dipper) then you will have good luck for up to six months.
If you are born between June 22nd and July 22nd, then Cancer is your constellation. Aquarius, the Water Bearer: This constellation has been associated with Ganymede since ancient times; however, it wasn’t until 1752 that astronomer Charles Messier identified it. In Greek mythology Ganymede was kidnapped by Zeus and taken to Mount Olympus where he became cupbearer to all gods.
Leo, the Lion
Leo is home to one of our solar system’s brightest stars, Regulus. Leo contains a few other bright stars that are popular with stargazers. Marking its head and front paws are Epsilon Leonis (the lion’s eye) and Alpha Leonis, respectively. On either side of Leo’s back legs are Beta Leonis (Denebola), which represents his tail, and Gamma Leonis (Algieba), which represents his hindquarters. Rounding out the constellation is Delta Leonis, representing his mane.
Also known as Ras Elased Borealis or Al Minliar al-Sufi, Denebola makes up part of what’s called The Sickle. This large star formation resembles a backward question mark in shape, but if you draw an imaginary line from Denebola through Regulus to Zeta Leonis (known as Adhafera), it forms a backwards question mark when viewed from Earth.
Virgo, the Virgin
Virgo is represented by a young woman holding a set of scales, sometimes with an ear of wheat nearby. Virgo is one of four zodiac constellations that represent mythological creatures (the others being Libra, Pisces and Sagittarius).
According to Greek mythology, she’s also known as Diktynna—the daughter of Omphale who was ordered to guard Gaia’s sacred fruits or grains. When Perseus came to steal them, he seduced her and stole them for himself. In other versions of the story, Perseus turned her into stone. Either way, Virgo represents purity and fertility in both ancient Greece and Rome. Today, it’s still considered an auspicious sign if you were born under its influence.
Libra, the Scales
This constellation represents justice and fairness—and it’s one of two signs named after ancient concepts rather than animals. Libra is known as a cardinal sign, which means it’s associated with beginnings. In mythology, Libra was also connected to Astraea, an ancient goddess of justice who was thought to live among humans until they became so corrupt that she returned to heaven.
That sense of balance has carried over into modern interpretations of Libra: In astrology, Libras are often characterized by their ability to see both sides of an argument or situation. They’re typically fair-minded individuals who are able to remain calm in tense situations and work toward compromise. Like other cardinal signs, Libras are said to be energetic and quick to act. As far as personality traits go, they’re considered charming and likable but can also be indecisive at times. Perhaps most importantly for our purposes here: It’s said that people born under Libra (which includes those born between September 23rd and October 22nd) tend to be very artistic—which makes them natural candidates for careers in writing!
Scorpio, the Scorpion
Scorpio (October 23-November 21) is not just a constellation; it’s also an entire region in space that contains thousands of stars. More than any other sign, Scorpio excels at seeking out hidden information and bringing it to light. When used for good, Scorpio can help expose hypocrisy and lies, helping to solve problems.
But when used for evil or malicious intent, Scorpio will inject paranoia into your life and make you question everyone around you. If you want to know what someone is really thinking, ask a Scorpio. If they say no, then keep asking until they tell you yes! In general, you should be wary of people born under a Scorpio sun sign because they have incredible mental power over others. They can be very intimidating people to meet if you don’t understand their power, but as long as you respect them for who they are, there won’t be any issues.
Sagittarius,the Archer
Sagittarius is a centaur, half man and half horse. He holds his bow with his right hand and an arrow in his left hand. Sagittarius was named after Centaurus, son of Apollo and a human woman named Stilbe.
When he grew up he became king of Arcadia, where he was known for being a great archer. When Zeus decided to honor him by placing him in the sky, however, he didn’t want to be seen holding a bow because it would be disrespectful to point a weapon at Zeus (who placed him there). So instead he holds arrows because they aren’t as threatening as bows and can still be used for hunting purposes. This constellation has two main stars that form a distinctive teapot shape. These are called Kaus Borealis and Kaus Australis (the northern and southern knees) respectively. You can find Sagittarius near Scorpius, Aquila, Capricornus, Ophiuchus and Corona Australis.
Capricorn,the Sea Goat
Capricorn is one of only two zodiac constellations (along with Aquarius) to be represented as an inanimate object. In his case, he’s a goat—which may seem strange, but for astrologers, there’s actually some sense to it.
The constellation was once thought to represent Pan, god of flocks and shepherds, as well as Pan himself—and goats were his preferred form. But when classical Greeks introduced their version of astronomy to Rome, they changed things up. Instead of representing a goat-god, Capricorn came to represent Pan’s father—the sea-god Aegipan, who had hooves like a goat. And so began what we now know as Capricorn: half-goat/half-fish hybrid.
Aquarius, the Water Carrier
Aquarius is typically portrayed as a young man pouring water out of jug or urn. He represents one’s ideals, dreams and hopes. He may also represent someone who seems impossible to get along with but actually has a warm heart and deep well of generosity.
Those born under Aquarius are inventive, clever and enjoy helping others reach their full potential. They have strong opinions on social issues and can be counted on to stand up for what they believe in. They don’t like being told what to do and prefer to take charge themselves. They like variety in life and often feel restless when things become too routine. Their minds are always active, making them excellent communicators when they choose to be; however, if bored or unhappy they can become grumpy loners who prefer spending time alone rather than interacting with people they don’t know very well.
Pisces, the Fishes
A constellation that consists of two fish swimming horizontally across a background marked with lines (representing water) and dots (representing bubbles).
The origin of Pisces is disputed, but one popular myth describes it as being created by Zeus to commemorate his dead lover, Ariadne. It’s interesting to note that there are also star patterns called Cetus, Delphinus and Equuleus; they are considered sub-constellations. In total, Pisces is part of nine different constellations. According to Greek mythology, these stars represent Aphrodite and her son Eros; however, in modern times it has become more associated with Jesus Christ (the two fish forming a V shape that looks like an abbreviation for Jesus Christ) or St.
