The zodiac circle has long had different designations for each sign. We will present below what symbols of the zodiac signs look like, and at the same time we will consider the prerequisites for which such a system of signs has developed.
As you know, the total signs of the zodiac in classical Western astrology, as well as in its Vedic predecessor, are twelve. They are symbolized either by animals or mythical characters. Not everyone knows, but such designations of zodiac signs in astrology are not accidental. Each of them corresponds to a certain legend, which connects the heroes of folk tales with certain constellations. For people of Western culture, this connection is defined and determined by Greco-Roman mythology. The classical designation of the zodiac signs is built on it.
Aries
The first sign is Aries. It is also called a ram. According to legend, during his lifetime it was a gold-wounded ram, which Hermes gave to the pious woman Nefela. The latter was the wife of the unreasonable king Afamant, until he left her for a new lover named Eno - an insidious woman with a jealous heart and cruel disposition. Ino hated the two children of Afamant - Frix and Gella, whom he had from Nefela, and tried in every possible way to get rid of them. In the end, during a crop failure and famine, through intrigues and bribery, she was able to convince the king that the gods would have mercy and save the country from death if he sacrificed his offspring. The trusting king ordered to prepare an altar for the sacrifice, which Nefela learned about and, of course, decided to save her children. To do this, she asked the very gold-headed sheep to transport them to a safe place, which he did. On the way, however, Gella fell into the sea and drowned, and the ungrateful Frix, having reached a safe haven, killed a ram, sacrificing it to Zeus. The father of all gods took him and for courage showed him a place in heaven. The sign denoting this constellation is the following symbol: "♈".
calf
The next sign is Taurus. This sign is the image of Zeus himself, who took the guise of a beautiful bull to charm young Europe - the most beautiful daughter of the Phoenician king. Having carried her on his back to Crete, he made her his mistress. From this connection, they had three children. The symbol of this sign is “♉”.
Twins
At the heart of this sign is also the story of the love affairs of Zeus. This time, in the form of a swan, he seduced Leda - the wife of Tsar Sparta. From this affair, Leda gave birth to two eggs, of which a pair of twins came out. It is believed that two girls were from her legal spouse, and two boys from Zeus. Their name was Pollux and Castor. And so they loved each other, that when Castor died in the war, Pollux promised to sacrifice himself if Zeus returns his brother’s life. As a reward for such love, loyalty and willingness to sacrifice, the lord of the gods gave them an inheritance in heaven, where other signs of the zodiac were located. Designations for Gemini are based on paired anthropomorphic images. And schematically, the symbol of this zodiac looks like this: "♊".
Cancer
In legends, cancer seems more like a negative character - Hera sent him to stop Hercules from killing the Lernean hydra. But the hero crushed the cancer. Nevertheless, for his obedience, he received from Hera a place in the sky, and he was accepted to himself by the signs of the zodiac. The designations for cancer symbolize that the sun in this place slows down. Its symbol is “♋”.
a lion
The constellation of the lion recalls yet another heroic deed of Hercules - the battle with the Nemean lion. The demigod defeated this invulnerable beast, and his memory was immortalized in the eponymous constellation. Symbol of the lion: "♌".
Virgo
The signs of the zodiac, the designations of which usually contain zoomorphic motifs, also have such an interesting image as a virgin. Its roots go back to the myth of Pandora's box, from which numerous curses fell on the earth, and the gods left the earth. So, the constellation Virgo is the goddess Astrea, the last of the gods who went to heavenly heights. Sign of the Virgin: "♍".
Libra
Libra continues the previous mythological plot. Under this constellation lies Themis - the goddess of justice and the mother of Astrea. According to legend, when humanity reaches a golden age in its development, Themis and Astraeus will return to earth.
The designation of zodiac signs is usually zoomorphic, sometimes anthropomorphic, but Libra is the only constellation personified by an inanimate object. His symbol: "♎".
Scorpio
This constellation represents the very scorpion who killed Orion - the son of the god of the seas Poseidon. There are many versions of how this happened, but ultimately both of them - both Orion and Scorpio - fell into heaven, becoming constellations. The sign of Scorpio looks like this: "♏".
Sagittarius
The zodiac signs, the designations of which were presented above, represent either an animal or people. The exception is Libra - neither an animal nor a person, and this is the constellation of Sagittarius - both an animal and a person at the same time. Under his guise lies the centaur Chiron. He went to heaven as a reward for nobility, replacing Prometheus on a rock, to which the latter was chained for giving fire to people . The symbol of Sagittarius is as follows: "♐".
Capricorn
Under the name of Capricorn, the image of the cheerful god Pan is immortalized in the zodiac, although most often it is depicted in the form of his distant prototype - the Babylonian god Ea, who had the body of a goat with a fish tail. Schematically, this constellation is depicted as follows: "♑".
Aquarius
The constellation of Aquarius perpetuates the memory of the Greek Noah - the righteous Deucalion, who was the only one saved with his wife during the Great Flood. For his piety, he was honored to become a constellation. His symbol: "♒".
Fish
Zodiac signs, the designations of which make up the celestial circle, end on the constellation Pisces. These creatures in this case mean the goddess of love Aphrodite and her son Eros, who were turned into fish by Zeus in order to save them from the terrible monster Typhon. Athena Pallas ascended them to heaven. This constellation is designated as follows: "♓".