The Zodiac
Constellations
 Constellations are subdivisions of the heavens,
predominantly named according to some outline traced among
the principal stars within the area. There is no sharp
line of demarcation between the various contiguous
constellations. Twelve of these groups lie along the
ecliptic, and are thus known as The Zodiac
Constellations.
Around the beginning of the Christian era, these
constellations coincided with the divisions of the ecliptic
based on the point of the Vernal Equinox, where the ecliptic
intersects the celestial equator. At no time did the ancient
astrologers attribute the influences which repose in the twelve
30-degree arcs of the Earth's annual revolution around
The Sun, to the background of stars against which celestial
positions are measured. Thus, the name of the
constellations were appropriated and attached to the zodiac of
signs based upon the points of the Equinoxes and the
Solstices.
The symbology of the constellations along the ecliptic is
interesting in that it is most probable that the astrological
significances preceded the naming of the constellations, which
were named to symbolize the influences ascribed to the
different arcs.
Nicholas de Vore's Encyclopedia of
Astrology
To prove
this point, ancient records indicate that the Babylonians and
the Egyptians, who founded the cosmological concept, believed
that the ancient and archetypal concept of a "world soul,"
ruled by divisions or sectors came first. Then came the naming
of the actual constellations in the sky.
Upon the Greeks "borrowing" this idea, plus a few of the
same figures and symbols, they then created their own unique
names and explanations as to how the different figures came to
be in the sky. As a result, there is no absolute, rock-solid
basis for the Greek or subsequent Roman names for the 12
constellations contained in the zodiac. Like anything
concerning the ancient Greeks and Romans; there are differing
versions, stories, and legends.
Originally, the Ancient Greeks gave us 48 constellations. Since
then, more constellations have been added while some of them
have been removed. As a result, we currently enjoy a total
of 88 constellations divided into eight "
family's." They are:
- The Zodiacal Family
- The Ursa Major Family
- The Perseus Family
- The Hercules Family
- The Orion Family
- The Heavenly Waters
- The Bayer Group
- The La Caille Family
You can "click" on any of the following links
to review the desired page.
- The Constellation Aries
This is the page for the Constellation Aries. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Taurus
This is the page for the Constellation Taurus. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Gemini
This is the page for the Constellation Gemini. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Cancer
This is the page for the Constellation Cancer. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Leo
This is the page for the Constellation Leo. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Virgo
This is the page for the Constellation Virgo. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Libra
This is the page for the Constellation Libra. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Scorpius
This is the page for the Constellation Scorpius. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Sagittarius
This is the page for the Constellation Sagittarius. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Capricornus
This is the page for the Constellation Capricornus. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Aquarius
This is the page for the Constellation Aquarius. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
- The Constellation Pisces
This is the page for the Constellation Pisces. Here, the mythological characters and stories leading to its existance are presented.
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