It is difficult to disagree with the fact that when a map of the starry sky catches your eye, and we carefully look at the dots and lines that form the framework of the constellations, the question involuntarily arises: what is the story behind each of them? Of particular interest are the zodiac constellations. However, it should be noted that the signs of the zodiac known to us have nothing to do with the zodiac constellations and are used only when compiling horoscopes and natal charts. In order to take a closer look at such zodiac constellations as Aries, Leo, Cancer and Gemini, you will need a map of the starry sky of the northern hemisphere, because they are located there. The time that the Sun abides in the constellation lags behind that to which we are accustomed, by almost a month. If the astrological year begins on March 21, then the Sun enters the constellation Aries only on April 19.
What are the zodiac constellations?
Astronomers divide the zodiac constellations into northern, equatorial and southern. The northern ones are the constellations of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo. The southern constellations of Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius. At the equator are the constellations of Virgo and Pisces. In order to see their location, you will need a starry sky map like the one you can see below.
Secrets of Aries, Taurus and Gemini
The history of many constellations is directly related to the myths of ancient Greece. Aries, according to ancient Greek legends, was the same Zlatorunnoy ram, in search of the skin of which Jason and the Argonauts once went. Taurus is the embodiment of the loving thunder god Zeus, who kidnapped the daughter of King Phenicia of Europe and delivered her to the island of Crete. In the constellation Taurus is the brightest star Aldebaran. Also, the map of the starry sky of the Northern Hemisphere shows that there is also the zodiac constellation Gemini. His story is also related to the time of Jason and the Argonauts. Myths tell us that the twins of Dioscuri, Pollux and Castor are prototypes of this constellation.
What are Leo, Virgo and Cancer silent about?
The constellation of Cancer also has an interesting story, identifying it with the very cancer that opposed Hercules when he fought with the Lerne Hydra. According to legend, while the rest of the animals helped the hero, he jumped out of the water and bit his leg, but was crushed. However, the goddess Hera, who hated Hercules, appreciated the act of cancer and turned it into a constellation. Everyone who catches your eye with a map of the starry sky will be struck by the magnificent Leo, located next to Cancer, which is also one of the zodiac constellations. According to ancient history, here also could not have done without the ancient Greek hero Hercules, who defeated the Nemean Leo, which this cluster of stars represents in the sky. The Virgo constellation is no less interesting, if only because neither historians nor the ancient Greeks themselves could decide who it should represent. Nevertheless, it is believed that in the form of the Virgin before us appears the ancient Greek goddess of fertility Demeter, the mother of Persephone, the wife of the god of the underworld Hades.
History of Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius
The constellation of Libra took shape as an independent formation from the celestial bodies rather late, and for a long time it was called nothing more than the claws of Scorpio. Now he is considered a perpetuated attribute of Themis, the blind goddess of justice. And Scorpio, from whom Libra was separated, is, according to the plot of the myth, the killer of the hunter Orion, whom the goddess Artemis sent after a quarrel to him. That is why both of these constellations - Orion and Scorpio - are not together in heaven. When Scorpio appears, Orion disappears. The moving map of the starry sky very well demonstrates this interesting phenomenon. Sagittarius, the neighbor of Scorpio, is depicted as a centaur, no exact data on the origin of which is unknown. According to some, his name was Krotos. Other sources say that it was Chiron - the inventor of the globe for the journey of the Argonauts behind the Golden Fleece.
What do Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces hide?
The Capricorn constellation holds many secrets, as well as the map of the starry sky. In ancient times, this creature was called the “goat fish” because of its fish tail instead of hind hooves. There is a widespread version that this is the nurse of Amalfei who nourished Zeus. Aquarius, located next to her, got several roles at once: these are Ganymede, a young butler who came from Troy, Deucalion and the ancient Attic king Kekrop. The last of the constellations, Pisces, personifies the goddess of love Aphrodite and her son Eros, who turned into fish, who fled to Egypt from the monster Typhon.
Surprisingly, as you can see, each of the 12 zodiac constellations has its own story and an interesting legend. And the next time you see a map of the starry sky with constellations, it will no longer be considered as a collection of beautiful pictures. And all because now you know what is behind each of these star clusters.