Astrology and the connection of its signs with Greek mythology (video in English)

The history of astrology spans over four thousand years, its origins date back to ancient Greek mythology: each sign of the zodiac represents a Greek god or an important mythological figure.

Astrology appeared with the first great civilizations of the world, who used the constellations to predict the change of seasons and climatic phenomena. The constellations were part of their religious outlook.

The names of the constellations of the Western zodiac come from the twelve Olympian gods of Greek mythology. Each of them is the protector of their own sign, and each sign denotes a type of personality with its own strengths and weaknesses. The signs are influenced by a planet or star and are named after characters in ancient Roman mythology who have an equivalent in Greek mythology: Venus is Aphrodite and the Sun is Helios.

Aries

The first astrological sign is Aries, it is represented by the ram, which symbolizes rebirth and beginning. Ruled by the planet Mars, Aries is associated with the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. The ram was originally intended to be a sacrifice to Mars, but Zeus took it and placed it in the sky in his honor.

Taurus

Taurus is represented by a bull, symbolizing fertility. It is ruled by the planet Venus. The constellation Taurus is associated with the Greek myth of Europa, which was abducted by Zeus, who took the form of a white bull.

Twins

Gemini is the third astrological sign, represented by two twin brothers, they symbolize duality, the antagonism of body and soul. The sign is ruled by the planet Mercury. The twins are associated with the Greek myth of Castor and Pollux, the sons of Leda. She was seduced by Zeus after he took the form of a swan. One brother was immortal, the other was not. When Castor was killed, Pollux asked Zeus to reunite him with his fallen brother. Zeus agreed, turning them both into the constellation Gemini.

Cancer

The fourth astrological sign symbolizes family and is ruled by the Moon. Cancer is associated with a crab sent by Hera to fight Hercules. Zeus’ wife despised Hercules because he was born as a result of Zeus’ affair with Alcmene. Hera cast a spell of madness on Hercules that caused him to kill his own children. Hercules was sent to perform the twelve labors as penance for his crime. One of his tasks was to kill the snake-like beast Hydra. Hera sent a crab to help the Hydra in the battle with Hercules, but he easily killed him by crushing him with his foot. Hera immortalized the crab’s efforts by turning it into a constellation.

a lion

The fifth astrological sign, symbolizing the power of life, is Leo, represented by a lion’s mane and ruled by the Sun. The constellation Leo is associated with the mythical lion Nemea. Heracles was tasked with killing Nemea as the first of his twelve labors. He strangled the lion, and after his death he took off his skin and turned it into armor, which he then wore. Zeus rewarded the lion for his bravery by giving him a constellation.

Hercules fighting the Nemean lion. Wikipedia/Public domain.

Virgo

The sixth astrological sign, symbolizing labor, is Virgo, ruled by the god Mercury and represented as a woman. Because of this, the Virgin was associated with various goddesses such as Artemis and Aphrodite. In Greek mythology, the constellation is represented by the goddess Astrea, a symbol of innocence and purity. Astrea helped her Titan father by being a bearer of lightning during the war between the titans and the gods. Zeus respected her loyalty and decided to take her to heaven, placing her among the stars and creating the constellation Virgo.

Scales

The seventh astrological sign symbolizes harmony. Libra, represented by the Scales of Justice, is ruled by Venus. Libra, like Virgo, is associated with the goddess Astrea. When Zeus lifted Astrea into the sky and placed her among the stars, the scales of justice she carried became a constellation.

Scorpion

The eighth astrological sign is represented by Scorpio. This creature symbolizes destruction and rebirth. The constellation is ruled by the planets Mars and Pluto. The origin of the constellation goes back to the Greek legend of Orion. He was a hunter who arrogantly declared that he would kill every animal on earth. Artemis, goddess of the hunt, sent a scorpion to kill him in response to the threat. He pursued Orion until he bit and killed him. The gods placed Orion and the scorpion at opposite ends of the firmament. This was deliberate: when the constellation of Scorpio rises above the horizon, the constellation of Orion hides, fleeing the animal that caused his death.

Constellation of Orion. Wikipedia/Public domain.

Sagittarius

The ninth astrological sign symbolizes higher consciousness. It is represented by the archer’s arrow and is ruled by Jupiter. The constellation is associated with the centaur Chiron – an intelligent, wise and good-natured creature, unlike most of its kind. He lived in a cave on Mount Pelion in Thessaly. The centaur was the great educator and mentor of several of the most prominent heroes of Greek mythology such as Achilles, Asclepius, Jason, Aristeo and Actaeon.

Capricorn

The tenth astrological sign is represented by the goat, symbolizing wisdom. Capricorn is ruled by the god Saturn. Capricorn is associated with the myth of Amalthea, a woman who assumed the form of a goat. She raised the infant Zeus after his mother Rhea hid him in the mountains to protect him from his titan father Kronos. When Zeus became an adult, he fought the Titans wearing goatskin armor to honor her.

Aquarius

The eleventh astrological sign symbolizes wisdom and revolution. Aquarius, represented by the water bearer, was traditionally ruled by the planet Saturn, but has since changed to the planet Uranus. The Aquarius constellation is associated with Ganymede, who was considered the most beautiful mortal man. Zeus kidnapped Ganymede and took him to Mount Olympus to make him a butler.

Fish

The twelfth astrological sign symbolizes the separation, personified by Aphrodite and Eros in the form of two fish swimming in opposite directions. Pisces is ruled by Neptune and Jupiter. Typhoon, a giant water serpent, was one of the most formidable titans during the war between the titans and the gods. Many gods took on the form of animals in an attempt to escape his wrath. Eros and Aphrodite fled in the form of fish and were subsequently caught by a fisherman.

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