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Zodiac sign Taurus myths and legends. Legends associated with the signs of the Zodiac

The zodiacal constellation Capricorn (December 22 – January 20) is located in the southern part of the sky. It never rises high above the horizon and is best observed at night from August to September. Next to it are the constellations Aquarius, Microscope, Sagittarius and Aquila. The characteristic geometric figure of this constellation is an irregular elongated polygon. Even with a great effort of imagination, it is very difficult to see in this figure a goat with twisted horns and a long curled tail of a fish, as this constellation was depicted on ancient star maps and in star atlases.

Several ancient Greek myths are associated with the constellation Capricorn. Some historians see in it an image of the legendary goat Amalthea. It reminds us of the childhood of Zeus, the son of the god Cronus. As is known, fearing the prophecy, Cronus swallowed his children born of the goddess Rhea. Therefore, Rhea gave birth to her last child, Zeus, in a secluded grotto on the island of Crete and left her under the care of her faithful assistants, the nymphs. This time, instead of a child, Rhea gave Kron a swaddled stone, and her divine husband did not notice the substitution.

So Zeus remained to live on a distant, secluded island. In order not to arouse Crohn's suspicion, Rhea could not leave home often. Therefore, the nymphs had to feed Zevsa not with mother’s milk, but with goat’s milk. Zeus' nurse was a wonderful goat! Amalthea had white wavy fur, golden hooves and curled long horns. She became so attached to baby Zeus that she even gave him one of her horns, from which he drank healing and magical milk. Zeus made Amalthea immortal by placing her in the sky in the form of a strange animal, Capricorn. From her skin, Zeus ordered to make cabbage soup for himself - an aegis, and her horn became a cornucopia, the owner of which knows no shortage of anything.

But the constellation Capricorn has one strange feature that does not fit into this myth. On ancient star maps it is depicted with a long, curled fish tail. Moreover, many historians believe that Amalthea in the firmament corresponds to the star Capella in the constellation Auriga, which means “goat” in Latin.

According to another version, the constellation Capricorn personifies Pan, a satyr who, together with baby Zeus, was also fed with the milk of the magic goat Amalthea.

Once, on the orders of Artemis, Typhon, a terrible fire-breathing monster, attacked Pan. In order to hide from the monster, Pan decided to turn into an animal and jumped into the water. The transformation happened so quickly that the part of Pan that was in the water became a fish tail, and the part that was above the water was transformed into a goat. In this form, Pan was immortalized in the sky as the winter constellation Capricorn.

Explained by legends about how Zeus, the ruler of all Gods and Goddesses, blessed them and endowed each person with a special gift. It is this gift that makes each of us special, unique and unrepeatable...

Aries

This zodiac sign is associated with the famous legend of the Golden Fleece. As you know, Jason and the Argonauts set out for the Golden Fleece, facing many different difficulties. Despite thousands of obstacles, Jason believed in the success of his journey and strongly supported his team, even declaring his readiness to sacrifice himself to achieve a common goal.

According to legend, Zeus, admiring Jason’s dedication and courage, turned the Golden Fleece into the constellation Aries, which with its radiance today reminds us of Jason’s great feat.

Aries' gift is honor

Aries always believe in success, no matter what activity they undertake. In psychology, such people are called optimists, but for Aries it is not just optimism, it is real faith in the protection of higher powers. As a rule, these hopes do not remain disappointed - the Gods patronize Aries and all their endeavors almost always end in success.

Taurus

This zodiac sign is associated with the legend of the exploits of Theseus. Wanting to save young men and women from certain death in the labyrinths of the ruthless Minotaur, Theseus volunteered to be the one who would be sacrificed once again. Contrary to the unfavorable forecasts of those around him, Theseus was able to break the vicious circle: he defeated the monster and got out of the ill-fated labyrinth alive and unharmed.

Taurus' gift is strength

Taurus can cope with any task. The main thing is that he wants it. It was not in vain that the gods endowed Taurus with amazing inner strength: in life they crave and achieve sincere love, which, as we know, is the most important weapon against any troubles.

Twins

The Zodiac sign Gemini, like Aries, is associated with the legend of the Golden Fleece. Let us remember that among the Argonauts who fought for the trophy were the twin brothers Dioscuri. They loved and were so devoted to each other that when one of them died, the other was beside himself with grief. Such brotherly relations impressed Zeus so much that he invited the surviving twin to climb Olympus with him and live among the Gods. Pollux refused, but the memory of him and his brother continues to live in the constellation created by Zeus.

Gemini's gift is communication

No one can compare to Gemini in communication skills. It is not difficult for them to become part of any social group, in any society. Geminis are able to adapt to their surroundings and conduct conversations on any topic, which makes them the best interlocutors in the world.

Cancer

The legend of Cancer is associated with the myth of Hercules. This mighty hero was called by Zeus to help people defeat the terrible multi-headed snake monster - Hydra. Zeus's wife, the goddess of Olympus Hera, offended by her husband, decided to deal with Hercules with the help of the King of Crab (Cancer - aka crab). According to legend, he was unable to cope with the strongman and fell at the hands of Hercules, and then Hera decided to perpetuate the memory of the dead king in a bright constellation.

The Gift of Cancer is Loyalty

Cancers value loyalty and devotion more than anything else. People whom Cancer loves are real lucky ones. For their well-being, he will do everything and even more. Often, such loyalty and devotion are blind, so representatives of this zodiac sign suffer from their own trust. But all the torments of Cancer are always not in vain. Sooner or later, a loyal attitude towards people returns to Cancer a hundredfold and is adequately rewarded in the form of a strong family and loyal friends.

a lion

The appearance of the constellation Leo is also connected with one of the labors of Hercules, or rather, his victory over the Nemean Lion, which did not give life to people in the area. Having dealt with the enemy of humanity, Hercules made a cloak from the skin of a killed lion, which more than once saved the hero’s life from arrows and sharp swords.

Leo's gift is pride

According to legend, the symbol of pride of lions is their skin and fur. Arrows and spears, which manifest themselves in the modern world in the form of cruel words and insults, cannot penetrate the proud disposition of people born under the constellation Leo. And if pride is not always a virtue, then in relation to Leos it is the strength that makes them wise and kind.

Virgo

The Virgo zodiac sign is reflected in the legend of Persephone. As you know, Persephone, the daughter of the great Earth Goddess Demeter, was kidnapped by Hades, the powerful ruler of the Underworld. The mother could not put up with the loss and turned to Zeus with a request to return Persephone back to Olympus. Having entered into negotiations with the young man, Zeus decided that for 6 months Persephone would be on Earth, and the other 6 in the Underworld of her husband.

Virgo's gift is adaptability

Virgos have a great gift for adapting to their surroundings, like Persephone, who, out of respect for her mother and love for her husband, lives in radically different conditions and circumstances every six months. Those born under the Virgo zodiac sign see absolutely no difficulties in changing their surroundings and surroundings. They are ready to overcome all their fears and know how to overcome any, even the most difficult, life circumstances with dignity.

Scales

The creator of this zodiac sign was the goddess of justice - Themis. Libra is a symbol of Karma for committed actions, a symbol of balancing the severity of human sins.

Libra's gift is justice.

Almost all people born under the zodiac sign Libra tend to draw conclusions about the behavior of other people and judge them for their wrongdoings. They are demanding not only of others, but also of themselves, which makes them very fair and capable of solving any problems that arise in their life.

Scorpion

The Zodiac sign Scorpio is an echo of the legend of Orion, who was considered the most talented hunter. According to legend, Orion, blinded by the beauty of the Pleiades nymphs, began to pursue the girls. The Earth Goddess Gaia, to whom the nymphs turned with a request to save them from the annoying admirer, sent them to help a huge poisonous Scorpio, which instantly struck and killed Orion. All the heroes mentioned in this legend are reflected in the sky in the form of bright constellations.

Scorpio's gift is passion

Scorpios have a unique gift to hear and understand their inner voice, which allows them to make themselves and the people around them happy without much effort. Scorpio is a wonderful friend who will never leave in difficult times and will lend a helping hand to those who need it. Everything that Scorpios do, they do with such dedication and passion that it is not surprising that representatives of this sign almost always achieve their goals.

Sagittarius

The appearance of the constellation Sagittarius is associated with the legend of King Centaur, who was accidentally struck by the poisonous arrow of Hercules. Being a demigod, he was immortal, so he could not die. Zeus helped the Centaur escape torment.

Sagittarius's gift is good luck

Sagittarians are considered lucky and favored by Fortune. When making a decision, Sagittarius rarely makes mistakes. The gift received from Zeus makes representatives of this zodiac sign the luckiest.

Capricorn

Capricorn is associated with the beautiful legend of the faithful sea Goddess Amalthea. She began to be revered thanks to the mother of Zeus, the goddess Rhea. To save her son from her cruel husband Kronos (Saturn), Rhea hid the baby with Almathea, who raised him and fed him with her milk. Having become God, Zeus immortalized Amalthea with the help of a bright constellation.

Capricorn's gift is success

Capricorns received God's hardest gift. Capricorns receive recognition only through hard efforts and continuous work on themselves. Capricorns are successful, but only thanks to themselves - manna from heaven falls on them extremely rarely.

Aquarius

The zodiac sign Aquarius is associated with the legend of a prince named Ganymede. This young man was so handsome that even Zeus himself could not resist his charms. By order of the King of the Gods, Ganymede was taken to Olympus and was given the honor of pouring the drink of eternal youth - nectar - into the cup of Zeus and other gods.

The Gift of Aquarius is Amazingly Unique

Aquarians are so interesting and unique that they seem to have nothing in common with other people. No wonder Zeus himself could not ignore the beauty and uniqueness of the young man, settling him on Olympus. God's gift of Aquarius does not always bring happiness to the representatives of this zodiac sign, because they sometimes do not know how to find a common language with the world around them due to a sense of their own uniqueness. This is why Aquarians often prefer solitude to the warm circle of friends and family.

Fish

The twelfth and last sign of the zodiac, Pisces, is associated with a terrible story about the giant demon Typhoon, who swept away all living things in its path and left scorched earth behind it. Trying to escape from the monster, Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, passion and beauty, and her son Eros turned into beautiful fish and swam away from danger together.

The Gift of Pisces is a Fantasy

Like Aphrodite and Eros, representatives of the Pisces zodiac sign easily achieve what they want and can make even the wildest fantasies come true. They know how to paint their world with bright colors, which makes them especially attractive to the people around them.

Conclusion

Each zodiac sign has received its own unique gift from God. On the one hand, he is a blessing, on the other, he is a curse. People need to be able to accept this gift and grow with it. By ignoring it, you can only annoy yourself. And this will be a valuable lesson that will teach us to value not only our capabilities, but also the abilities of other people.

JoeInfoMedia journalist Marina Korneva also suggests finding out. What awaits us in the year of the Yellow Dog?

The inhabitants of Australia called this cluster of stars in the sky the constellation Kangaroo, the Arabs called al-Jadi (the little goat), and on a Russian map of the seventeenth century it is designated as Capricorn or the Goat. Currently it is Capricorn, a constellation in the southern hemisphere.

Characteristics of the constellation Capricorn

The brightest stars:

The constellation Capricorn is famous for the fact that the planet Neptune was discovered in it in 1846. This was done by Johann Halle and Heinrich Louis d'Arre.

Story

Capricorn is a constellation that was known more than 2,000 years ago. In ancient times it was called “goat fish”. The constellation was known in Babylonian and Sumerian (called Suhur-mash-sha) cultures. The Indians called the constellation Makara, which means “miracle dragon,” and also painted it as half fish, half goat. It is in this interpretation that it is presented on many star maps.

It was depicted as a creature with a ram's or goat's horned head and a fish tail. More than two thousand years ago, the star Sun passed the winter solstice point precisely in the constellation Capricorn, being at its lowest point in relation to the celestial equator. Then it began to “climb” upward. There was an analogy with the symbol of a goat that climbs a high mountain range.

Many peoples of the world considered the goat a sacred animal. Rituals and services were performed in her honor. The constellation Capricorn is associated with one custom that gives the idea of a scapegoat.

Azazel was considered a goat-shaped demon of the desert. On the appointed day, two goats were selected. One had to become a sacrifice for God, the second was released into the desert, considering it a symbol of the underworld, to Azazel. After the sacrifice ceremony, the high priest laid his hands on the remaining goat, thereby transferring to it all the sins of his people. After this, the animal was released into the desert, and the “release of the goat” took place.

The Myth of Capricorn

There are several reasons why the constellation Capricorn arose. Legend has it that Zeus was born on the winter solstice on the island of Crete in a cave on Mount Ida. His father Kronos killed all his children. The wise mother Rhea, instead of the baby, gave Kronos a stone wrapped in a blanket, which he safely swallowed.

The goat Almathea fed Zeus with her milk. In gratitude, the almighty god placed her in the sky in the form of the constellation Capricorn.

According to another legend, Capricorn traces its origins to Epianus. Zeus and Capricorn grew up together on the island of Crete. Capricorn assisted Zeus in his struggle with Kronos for power. As a sign of gratitude, Zeus turned Capricorn into a constellation and left it on the celestial map.

Another myth claims that the son of Dryope and Hermes, born with goat legs and horns, all covered with wool, was the patron saint of shepherds. He helped Zeus in the battle with the Titans. The reward was his transformation into a constellation. But before that, fleeing from the enraged Typhon, he fell into the Nile, which is why the lower part of his body acquired the features of a fish. It was in this form that he was ascended to heaven.

Zodiac sign

Capricorn is the zodiac sign responsible for the period from December 22 to January 20 inclusive. This is the earthly sign of a person who is accustomed to achieving the goal he has set for himself, standing firmly on his feet. This is the most persistent and resilient, both morally and physically, of all the zodiac signs.

Capricorn, the constellation under which such celebrities as Moliere, Isaac Newton, Federico Fellini, Mao Zedong, Isaac Asimov, Elvis Aaron Presley, Joan of Arc, Buddha, Jesus Christ were born.

In ancient times, people thought that the sky was a giant hollow dome rising above the flat earth, like an upside-down cup on a saucer. Later, this idea of earth and sky was replaced by another: the globe found itself in the center of a huge sphere like a soap bubble. The sun moved across the surface of the bubble sky, 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 there are stars that form groups, called constellations in ancient times. To the first explorers of the sky, these constellations seemed similar to the outlines of animals, so the belt of constellations is known as the Zodiac - from the Greek word "Zodiacos", meaning "circle of animals".
The zodiac consists of twelve constellations, each of them 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 conventional concept (it is generated by the consciousness of the person who highlighted it in the sky), but the stars located 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 the Ram, is the first sign of the Zodiac. In myths, the ram always appears as a courageous, enterprising, agile, energetic animal, capable of overcoming obstacles and mountain steeps.
The history of the ram begins in ancient Greece, where King Athamas ruled Boeotia19. He married a woman named Nephele, and she bore him two beautiful children - a son, Phrixus, and a daughter, Gella.
After some time, Nephele got tired of the aphamans. He left her and married a foreigner, who gave him two sons. Ino was a jealous schemer who hated her adopted children Frix and Gella. She planned to destroy them.
First of all, Ino persuaded the women of her country to dry the seeds prepared for sowing. That year nothing sprouted in the usually fertile fields. The Greeks were facing famine. The king sent an embassy to the sacred Delphi to ask the oracle about the reason for the barrenness of the earth. It did not occur 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 king's envoys, 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 Gella to the god Jupiter. The gullible king decided to kill his son and daughter to save his people.
Phrixus and Gella were meanwhile tending sheep. In the herd there was a golden-fleeced ram, a gift from the god Mercury to their mother Nephele. Having heard about the impending crime, Nephele asked the ram to save her children. Aries, in a human voice, warned Frix and Gella about the danger that threatened them, ordered them to climb onto his back and flew with them over the sea. Over the Dardanelles Strait, which separates Europe from Asia, Gella became dizzy, lost consciousness and slipped off the back of the ram. Hella fell into the sea and drowned. Since then, the sea where Gella died began to be called the Hellespont - the sea of Gella.
Her brother the frix reached Colchis safely20. The vile foreigner’s plan failed, but this did not save the Greeks from hunger and did not bring Athamas to his senses.
The ungrateful frix sacrificed the golden-fleeced ram to Jupiter, who sent the ram to the stars for his brave deed.
Taurus

The second sign of the Zodiac is Taurus, or the bull, an animal that is both fierce 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 the heavens, other gods and people. The loving Jupiter had many affairs, wives and mistresses. One of his lovers was the beautiful Europa, the daughter of the king of Phoenicia.
Europa lived as a recluse in her father's palace and knew nothing of the outside world. One day she had a prophetic dream - an unfamiliar woman stretched out her hands to Europe and said: “I will take you to Jupiter, since fate wants to make him your lover.”
And indeed, when that day Europe and her friends went to the meadow by the sea to pick roses and hyacinths, Jupiter saw the beauty and was struck by lightning. He decided to take over Europe.
Jupiter understood that the 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, kind 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 carried Europe to the island of Crete. There he resumed 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, appeared in Europe and explained to her that she was the woman from the dream. From now on, Venus said, 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. Europa gave birth to three children to Jupiter, and he himself remained in heaven in the guise of a bull.
Twins

Gemini is the third sign of the Zodiac and the first whose symbol is people, not animals.
The myth of the twins, like the previous one, is associated with Jupiter and the weakness that he had for pretty women. In this story, the object of his passion is the beauty of Ice, the wife of the king of Sparta, Tyndareus. Lustful Jupiter, obviously not wanting to repeat the trick with the bull, this time turned into a magnificent swan. The details of their meeting have been preserved only approximately, but it is known that Jupiter in the guise of a swan managed to seduce Leda.
In this amazing union, Ice 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. From a pair of eggs four children were born: 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 God were Castor and Pollux. According to another, the children of Jupiter were Castor and Helen.
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 above the heads of the twins, and the elements magically calmed down. Because of this incident, Castor and Pollux are considered the patrons of all those sailing the seas. (During a storm, these lights still flicker near the ends of masts and high 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.)
Geminis were considered courageous young men. Unfortunately, Castor died in the 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 sacrifice himself.
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 Gemini next to each other.
Cancer

The fourth sign of the Zodiac is depicted as a cancer, an inhabitant of bodies of water, also capable of moving 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 this name because 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 "water stars" and symbolized it with a pair of turtles. (This may be due to the fact that the constellation was observed at dawn, when the water level in the Nile reaches its minimum; at this time of year the Nile is teeming with turtles.) According to many astrologers, the cancer is a cross between the Egyptian river turtle and the Babylonian waterfowl allulus, apparently closely related to the turtle. There are important similarities between these three species - the turtle, the allulus and the crayfish. They are similar in structure, have a hard shell and move slowly (like the sun in the sign of Cancer).
According to ancient Greek myth, a giant crayfish dug its claws into the leg of Hercules when he fought with a nine-headed monster - the hydra. Hercules, the son of Jupiter and a woman named Alkmene, was tasked with performing twelve heroic deeds known as the Labors of Hercules. One of these feats was supposed to be the destruction of the formidable snake Hydra. At the time of the cancer's attack, Hercules knocked down the hydra's heads with a club, but in the place of each knocked-down head, two new ones grew.
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. Having crushed him, Hercules continued the fight with the hydra.
Nevertheless, Juno was grateful to the cancer for trying to carry out her orders. As a reward for obedience and sacrifice, she placed an image of a 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 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 an ordinary woman Alkmene. Jupiter's wife Juno, who was not without reason jealous of her husband for his many lovers, began to pursue Hercules from the first day of his life. The young Hercules was forced to perform twelve dangerous heroic deeds, which went down in history as the Labors of Hercules.
The first feat of Heracles was to destroy the 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 - undoubtedly, we can assume that the hero got off lightly.
Having killed the beast, Hercules tore off its magical skin. He made breastplates from it, and a protective helmet from the jaw of a lion. This new armor proved to be very valuable in the following feats.
The constellation Leo perpetuates the courage of Hercules, shown during single combat with the mighty Nemean lion.
Virgo

Virgo is the sixth sign of the Zodiac and the second whose symbol is a person rather than an animal. Virgo is often depicted as a young woman holding a sheaf of wheat in her hand, as this constellation is always associated with the harvest. In Babylon it was called the furrow and was represented as the goddess of wheat. The main star in Virgo is spica, which means “ear of wheat.”
The legend of the maiden is found in the ancient Greek creation myth. According to it, before people and animals, there lived titans on earth - giants who ruled the world. Two titan brothers, Prometheus and Epimetheus, were given the task of creating people and animals. When this was done, Epimetheus began to give 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 reserve, 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 keep warm, make tools, and eventually engage in trade 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. Jupiter also sent a curse to the earth, delivered by the first woman. Her name was Pandora, which means “endowed with all gifts.”
Pandora brought a box to earth that she was forbidden to open. One day, succumbing to curiosity, she lifted the lid. From the box scattered all those misfortunes that haunt humanity to this day: physical illness and death, as well as mental vices - anger, envy and the thirst for revenge. At the bottom of the box there was only one hope left.
After this incident, terrible times came and the gods, one after another, left the earth to live in heaven. The last to fly away was Astraea, the goddess of innocence and purity. She found refuge among the stars in the form of the constellation Virgo. Legend claims that one day the golden age will begin again and Astraea (the maiden) will return to earth.
Scales

Libra is the seventh astrological sign and the only one whose symbol is not a person or animal. Libra represents balance, justice and harmony.
Like the previous sign, scales are associated with the harvest, since in ancient times grain was weighed on scales after the harvest. They also contain deeper symbolism. In the underworld, the deeds of the dead are weighed against them.
In the religion of the Egyptians, the scales of justice were solely owned by the god Anubis, the guide of souls. Anubis, who had the head of a jackal, led the dead through the underworld and made sure that they received what they deserved. He was the keeper of the scales. There is a painting called the Anian papyrus, painted one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ. It depicts a court scene. Anubis stands at the large scales used to weigh the heart of the deceased. On one bowl rests the heart, on the other sits truth, symbolized by a feather. In this painting the bowls balance each other. According to Egyptian beliefs, a dead heart (or soul) must be in balance with the truth in order to gain a second life.
Libra has also long been associated with justice and legality. We have all seen statues that symbolize 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 Astraea. Themis and her daughter Astraea are represented by the constellations 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, which paralyzes its victim with poison, which it throws out through a sting located at the back.
This sign suffers from an association with Scorpio, a hated and dangerous insect. However, the scorpion was not always disgusting. In 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 protective wings on the walls of crypts.
The classic Scorpio myth begins with the death of Orion, a handsome young giant and skilled hunter, son of the god of the seas Poseidon (Neptune). Orion's agility, strength and courage are glorified in legends. The story of his death is told in several versions. According to one of them, the goddess of the dawn Eos fell in love with Orion and took him with her. The moon goddess Diana (among the Greeks - Artemis), out of jealousy, ordered the scorpion to kill her mortal lover Eos.
According to another version, Orion tried to rape Diana, and she pulled out a giant scorpion from the ground, which killed Orion with its poison.
After the death of Orion, Jupiter placed him and Scorpius 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, Orion’s shine fades.
Sagittarius

Sagittarius, the ninth sign of the Zodiac, is not an ordinary person stretching the bowstring. Sagittarius is a centaur, a mythological creature that is half man and half horse. Sagittarius is the only astrological sign depicted as both a human and an animal.
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.
One day, when the great Hercules was hunting a formidable boar, he accidentally wounded Chiron in the knee with a poisoned arrow. A terrible agony gripped Chiron, but the immortal centaur could not die. Hercules promised to find death that could alleviate the fate of Chiron. During his wanderings, Hercules discovered the unfortunate Prometheus, forever chained to a rock, where an eagle was devouring his liver. The supreme god Jupiter cursed Prometheus: the hero’s torment was 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 the courageous centaur among the stars, and he became the constellation Sagittarius.
Capricorn

The tenth sign of the Zodiac is Capricorn, an animal with strong hooves that climbs up mountain slopes, 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 you can see Capricorn with a fish tail, and in some astrology 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 lands and crops began with the flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Because of this, people believed in the existence of an underground ocean. God lived in this ocean. He came out of the underground reservoir every day to bring his wisdom to people, and returned back at night.
During the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, Capricorn became associated with the god Pan, a cheerful and lustful creature, ruler of forests and fields, herds and shepherds. Above the waist the lord was a man, and below he was a goat. He had goat ears and horns.
Pan loved music and became famous for his playing of the pipe. His shepherd's pipe was actually a nymph who rejected his sexual advances. Pan turned her into a musical instrument, declaring that if he could not possess her in her original form, she would still belong to him in a new form.
Pan gained fame as the god of nature. Some features of the pan - sexuality, shamelessness, love of nature - were 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 Khap, who personified the Nile River. Hap carried a pair of water vessels, symbolizing the southern and northern Nile. This god was considered the guardian of life. All living things would die without hepa water.
In ancient Greek literature, Aquarius was sometimes associated with Jupiter, by whose will water flowed from heaven to earth. This sign also perpetuates the memory of Deucalion, the only person who was 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; The river beds were filled with wine and honey. Then Pandora opened the box of disasters, and disease and other misfortunes befell 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 - righteous people who zealously worshiped the gods. They found refuge on Mount Parnassus, and when Jupiter saw them, he remembered the exemplary behavior of the spouses. Jupiter caused the waters 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 turned into 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 opposing emotions and secret depths.
The constellation Pisces was known by this name two thousand years BC. In Babylon it bore the name kun, which translated means tails (of fish). Kun is also interpreted as a ribbon or leash (with which two fish are connected). Two fish-goddesses on a leash, Anunitum and Symmachus, symbolized the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
In Greek mythology, fish are associated with the myth of Aphrodite and Eros. The terrible monster Typhon with a hundred dragon heads, spewing fire from his eyes, shook the air with a menacing howl, in which the hissing of snakes, the roar of a bull and the roar of a lion could be heard.
One day, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was walking along the banks of the Euphrates with her son Eros. Suddenly a typhon appeared in front of them. Ominous tongues flickered in his mouth, his eyes blazed with fire. 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 brave fish jumped out of the river and carried Aphrodite and Eros on their backs to safety. Pallas Athena (the virgin goddess) took these fish to the sky as a sign of gratitude, where they became a constellation.

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 there are stars that form groups, called constellations in ancient times. To the first explorers of the sky, these constellations seemed similar to the outlines of animals, so the belt of constellations is known as the Zodiac - from the Greek word "Zodiacos", meaning "circle of animals".

The zodiac consists of twelve constellations, each of them 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 conventional concept (it is generated by the consciousness of the person who highlighted it in the sky), but the stars located 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 the Ram, is the first sign of the Zodiac. In myths, the ram always appears as a courageous, enterprising, agile, energetic animal, capable of overcoming obstacles and mountain steeps.

The story of the ram 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, Gella.

After some time, Nephele got tired of Athamas. He left her and married Ino, who gave him two sons. Ino was a jealous schemer who hated her adopted children Phrixus and Gella. She planned to destroy them.

First of all, Ino persuaded the women of her country to dry the seeds prepared for sowing. That year nothing sprouted in the usually fertile fields. The Greeks were facing famine. The king sent an embassy to sacred Delphi to ask the oracle about the reason for the barrenness of the earth. It did not occur 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 king's envoys, 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 Gella to the god Jupiter. The gullible king decided to kill his son and daughter to save his people.

Frixus and Hella were meanwhile tending sheep. In the herd was the golden-fleeced Aries, a gift from the god Mercury to their mother Nephele. Having heard about the impending crime, Nephele asked Aries to save her children. Aries, in a human voice, warned Frixus and Gella about the danger that threatened them, ordered them to climb onto his back and flew with them over the sea. Over the Dardanelles Strait, which separates Europe from Asia, Gella became dizzy, lost consciousness and slipped off Aries’s back. Hella fell into the sea and drowned. Since then, the sea where Gella died began to be called the Hellespont - the sea of Gella.

Her brother Phrixus reached Colchis safely. Ino's vile plan failed, but this did not save the Greeks from hunger and did not bring Athamas to his senses.

The ungrateful Phrixus sacrificed the golden-fleeted Aries to Jupiter, who sent Aries to the stars for his brave deed.

Taurus

The second sign of the Zodiac is Taurus, or the bull, an animal that is both fierce 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 the heavens, other gods and people. Loving Jupiter had many affairs, wives and mistresses. One of his lovers was the beautiful Europa, daughter of the king of Phenicia.

Europa lived as a recluse in her father's palace and knew nothing of the outside world. One day she had a prophetic dream - an unknown woman stretched out her hands to Europe and said: “I will take you to Jupiter, since fate wants to make him your lover.”

And indeed, when that day Europa and her friends went to the meadow by the sea to pick roses and hyacinths, Jupiter saw the beauty and was struck by lightning. He decided to take over Europe.

Jupiter understood that the 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, kind 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 carried Europa to the island of Crete. There he resumed 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, Venus said, 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. Europa gave birth to three children to Jupiter, and he himself remained in heaven in the guise of a bull.

Twins

Gemini is the third sign of the Zodiac and the first whose symbol is people rather than animals.

The myth of the twins, like the previous one, is associated with Jupiter and the weakness that he had for pretty women. In this story, the object of his passion is the beautiful Leda, the wife of King Tyndareus of Sparta. Lustful Jupiter, apparently not wanting to repeat the trick with the bull, this time turned into a magnificent swan. The details of their meeting have been preserved 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. From a pair of eggs four children were born: two brothers, Castor and Pollux, and two sisters, Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. It remains unclear whose father Jupiter was. According to one version, Castor and Pollux were the immortal descendants of God. According to another, the children of Jupiter were Castor and Helen.

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 above the heads of the twins, and the elements magically calmed down. Because of this incident, Castor and Pollux are considered the patrons of all those sailing the seas. (During a storm, these lights still flicker near the ends of masts and high 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.)

Geminis were considered courageous young men. 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 sacrifice himself.

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 Gemini next to each other.

Cancer

The Egyptians called this constellation "water stars" and symbolized it with a pair of turtles. (This may be due to the fact that the constellation was observed at dawn, when the water level in the Nile reaches its minimum; at this time of year the Nile is teeming with turtles.) According to many astrologers, the cancer is a cross between the Egyptian river turtle and the Babylonian waterfowl allulus, apparently closely related to the turtle. There are important similarities between these three species—the turtle, the allulus, and the crayfish. They are similar in structure, have a hard shell and move slowly (like the sun in the sign of Cancer).

According to ancient Greek myth, a giant crayfish dug its claws into the leg of Hercules when he fought the nine-headed monster Hydra. Hercules, the son of Jupiter and a woman named Alcmene, was tasked with performing twelve heroic deeds known as the Labors of Hercules. One of these feats was to be the destruction of the formidable snake Hydra. At the time of the cancer's attack, Hercules knocked down the Hydra's heads with a club, but in the place of each knocked-down head, two new ones grew.

The cancer attack was inspired by Juno, the jealous wife of Jupiter, who wanted the death of Hercules. However, cancer doomed itself to death. Having crushed him, Hercules continued the fight with Hydra.

Nevertheless, Juno was grateful to the cancer for trying to carry out her orders. As a reward for obedience and sacrifice, she placed an image of a 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 beasts. The mythology of the lion is traditionally based on the story of the battle of Hercules with the Nemean lion.

Hercules was the son of the great god Jupiter and an ordinary woman Alcmene. Jupiter's wife Juno, who was not without reason jealous of her husband for his many lovers, began to pursue Hercules from the first day of his life. Young Hercules was forced to perform twelve dangerous heroic deeds, which went down in history as the Labors of Hercules.

The first labor of Hercules was to destroy the fierce and fearless lion that 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 - undoubtedly, we can assume that the hero got off lightly.

Having killed the beast, Hercules tore off its magical skin. He made breastplates from it, and a protective helmet from the jaw of a lion. This new armor proved to be very valuable in the following feats.

The constellation Leo perpetuates the courage of Hercules, shown during single combat with the mighty Nemean lion.

Virgo

The legend of the Virgin is found in the ancient Greek creation myth. According to it, before people and animals, there lived titans on earth - giants who ruled the world. Two titan brothers, Prometheus and Epimetheus, were given the task of creating people and animals. When this was done, Epimetheus began to give 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 reserve, 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 keep warm, make tools, and eventually engage in trade 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. Jupiter also sent a curse to the earth, delivered by the first woman. Her name was Pandora, which means “endowed with all gifts.”

Pandora brought a box to earth that she was forbidden to open. One day, succumbing to curiosity, she lifted the lid. From the box scattered all those misfortunes that haunt humanity to this day: physical illness and death, as well as mental vices - anger, envy and the thirst for revenge. At the bottom of the box there was only one hope left.

After this incident, terrible times came and the gods, one after another, left the earth to live in heaven. The last to fly away was Astraea, the goddess of innocence and purity. She found refuge among the stars in the form of the constellation Virgo. Legend states that one day the golden age will begin again and Astraea (Virgo) will return to earth.

Scales

Libra is the seventh astrological sign and the only one whose symbol is not a person or animal. Libra represents balance, justice and harmony.

Like the previous sign, scales are associated with the harvest, since in ancient times grain was weighed on scales after the harvest. They also contain deeper symbolism. In the underworld, the deeds of the dead are weighed against them.

In the religion of the Egyptians, the scales of justice were solely owned by the god Anubis, the guide of souls. Anubis, who had the head of a jackal, led the dead through the underworld and made sure that they received what they deserved. He was the keeper of the scales. There is a painting called the Anian papyrus, painted one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ. It depicts a court scene. Anubis stands at the large scales used to weigh the heart of the deceased. On one bowl rests the heart, on the other sits truth, symbolized by a feather. In this painting the bowls balance each other. According to Egyptian beliefs, a dead heart (or soul) must be in balance with the truth in order to gain a second life.

Libra has also long been associated with justice and legality. We have all seen statues that symbolize 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, mother of Astraea. Themis and her daughter Astraea are represented by the constellations 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, which paralyzes its victim with poison, which it throws out through a sting located behind it.

This sign suffers from an association with Scorpio, a hated and dangerous insect. However, the scorpion was not always disgusting. In 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 protective wings on the walls of crypts.

The classic Scorpio myth begins with the death of Orion, a handsome young giant and skilled hunter, son of the god of the seas Poseidon (Neptune). Orion's agility, strength and courage are glorified in legends. The story of his death is told in several versions. According to one of them, the goddess of the dawn Eos fell in love with Orion and took him with her. The Moon Goddess Diana (Artemis among the Greeks) out of jealousy ordered the scorpion to kill her mortal lover Eos.

According to another version, Orion tried to rape Diana, and she pulled out a giant scorpion from the ground, which killed Orion with its poison.

After the death of Orion, Jupiter placed him and Scorpio 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, Orion's shine fades.

Sagittarius

One day, when the great Hercules was hunting a formidable boar, he accidentally wounded Chiron in the knee with a poisoned arrow. A terrible agony gripped Chiron, but the immortal centaur could not die. Hercules promised to find death that could ease the fate of Chiron. During his wanderings, Hercules discovered the unfortunate Prometheus, forever chained to a rock, where an eagle was devouring his liver. The supreme god Jupiter cursed Prometheus: the hero’s torment was 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 Chiron's death, Jupiter rewarded his nobility by placing the courageous centaur among the stars, and he became the constellation Sagittarius.

Capricorn

The tenth sign of the Zodiac is Capricorn, an animal with strong hooves that climbs up mountain slopes, 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 you can see Capricorn with a fish tail, and in some astrology 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 lands and crops began with the flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Because of this, people believed in the existence of an underground ocean. God Ea lived in this ocean. He came out of the underground reservoir every day to bring his wisdom to people, and returned back at night.

During the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, Capricorn became associated with the god Pan, a cheerful and lustful creature, ruler of forests and fields, herds and shepherds. Above the waist the lord was a man, and below he was a goat. He had goat ears and horns.

Pan loved music and became famous for his playing of the pipe. His shepherd's pipe was actually a nymph who rejected his sexual advances. Pan turned her into a musical instrument, declaring that if he could not possess her in her original form, she would still belong to him in a new form.

Pan gained fame as the god of nature. Some of Pan's traits - sexuality, shamelessness, love of nature - were 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 Hap, who personified the Nile River. Hap carried a pair of water vessels, symbolizing the southern and northern Nile. This god was considered the guardian of life. All living things 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 perpetuates the memory of Deucalion, the only person who was 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; The river beds were filled with wine and honey. Then Pandora opened the box of disasters, and disease and other misfortunes befell humanity. Great Jupiter looked down and decided to rid the world of people, 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 - righteous people who zealously worshiped the gods. They found refuge on Mount Parnassus, and when Jupiter saw them, he remembered the exemplary behavior of the spouses. Jupiter caused the waters to recede and the earth to dry up. He ordered Deucalion and Pyrrha to collect stones and throw them, without turning around, over their heads. 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 turned into 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 opposing emotions and secret depths.

The constellation Pisces was known by this name two thousand years BC. In Babylon it bore the name Kun, which translated means tails (of fish). Kun is also interpreted as a ribbon or leash (with which two fish are connected). Two fish-goddesses on a leash, Anunitum and Symmachus, symbolized the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

In Greek mythology, fish are associated with the myth of Aphrodite and Eros. The terrible monster Typhon with a hundred dragon heads, spewing fire from his eyes, shook the air with a menacing howl, in which the hissing of snakes, the roar of a bull and the roar of a lion could be 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 in front of them. Ominous tongues flickered in his mouth, his eyes blazed with fire. 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 brave fish jumped out of the river and carried Aphrodite and Eros on their backs to safety. Pallas Athena (the virgin goddess) took these fish to the sky as a sign of gratitude, where they became a constellation.

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