Interesting facts about the Zodiac
- The original zodiac consisted of 18 signs, not twelve.
- The Zodiac was originally a natural agricultural calendar that dated the sowing of crops, harvesting, etc. by the rising and setting of the stars (especi
ally Sirius), and the Pleiades or other recognisable constellations. - The origin of astrology is thought to begin with the ancient Babylonians two centuries before the birth of Christ.
- According to astrology, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", so that the twelve signs are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression.
- Astrology is thought to be both a science and an art. It claims scientific status because it requires mathematics and an understanding of Astronomy.
- The first areas of the world that astrology spread to were China, India and Greece.
- In Western and Indian astrology, the twelve signs are associated with constellations, while in Chinese astrology there is no connection with constellations.
- The term zodiac derives from Latin zōdiacus, which in its turn comes from the Greek ζῳδιακὸς κύκλος (zōdiakos kuklos), meaning circle of animals.
- The name is motivated by the fact that half of the signs of the classical Greek zodiac are represented as animals as well as two mythological hybrids.
Zodiac signs
Aries (The Ram) (cardinal, fire, personal): In astrology Aries is ruled by the planet Mars.
Taurus (The Bull) (fixed, earth, personal): In astrology Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus and for a few modern astrologers, the dwarf planet Ceres.
Gemini (The Twins) (mutable, air, personal): In astrology Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury.
Cancer (The Crab) (cardinal, water, personal): In astrology Cancer is ruled by the Moon.
Leo (The Lion) (fixed, fire, social): In astrology Leo is ruled by the Sun.
Virgo (The Virgin) (mutable, earth, social): In astrology Leo is ruled by Mercury.
Libra (The Scales) (cardinal, air, social): In astrology Libra is ruled by the planet Venus.
Scorpio (The Scorpion) (fixed, water, social): In astrology Scorpio is ruled by the planet Pluto.
Sagittarius (The Archer) (mutable, fire, universal): In astrology Sagittarius is ruled by the planet Jupiter.
Capricorn (The Mountain-goat) (cardinal, earth, universal): In astrology Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn.
Aquarius (The Water Carrier) (fixed, air, universal): In astrology Aquarius is ruled by the planets Saturn and Uranus.
Pisces (The Fish) (mutable, water, universal): In astrology Pisces is ruled by the planets Jupiter and Neptune.
