The first records about the horoscope appeared from the 7th century BC, when several ancient civilizations were dedicated to the observation of the sky. Its populations believed that the stars could influence human life – especially the fate of newborns. However, the version of the horoscope that we know today – a mixture of influences from ancient Babylonian astrology, mathematical knowledge from the Egyptians and Greek philosophy – probably emerged around the 5th century BC, with the creation of the zodiac. In its Greek origin, this word means “circle of animals” and indicated the great celestial belt that marked the path of the Sun at that time. Within this trajectory, each constellation through which the star passed symbolized a sign. The number of constellations and the figures that indicated them varied for each civilization.
The 12 sets of stars that represent today’s signs were standardized in antiquity, based on the influence of images from the mythology of Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. By defining a fixed reference for the observation of the stars, the zodiac spurred the emergence of individual horoscopes with an astral map, an analysis of the sky at the time of birth that, supposedly, brings revelations about the person and his destiny. Even at the beginning of the Christian Era, ancient civilizations defined the profile of each sign, taking into account, for example, the peculiarities of the seasons. “Other influences, such as simply observing the temperament of people born in the same period, also modified the characteristics that each sign currently presents”, says astrologer Bárbara Abramo.
With the changing of the solar trajectory over the centuries, the direct correspondence between astrology and astronomy is no longer so precise. The Sun today passes through constellations that are not part of the zodiac and illuminates others at periods different from those observed in antiquity. But, in some respects at least, the horoscope has adapted with changes over time. “This is the case of some relatively recent innovations on a historical scale, such as the discovery of the planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which brought new elements to the astrological interpretation of the sky”, says historian David Pingree, from Brown University, in the United States.
eclectic mythology
ARIES
In Greek mythology, Phrixus, son of King Atamas, was going to be murdered by his stepmother when he was saved by a ram with golden wool, sent by his mother. The ram was sacrificed and its wool buried in the orchard of Ares, god of war, who gave the sign its name.
BULL
4,000 years ago, it was the first sign of the zodiac. It coincided with spring and marked the beginning of the year. The image of the bull comes from a Greek myth in which Zeus, the head of the gods, would have assumed the form of the animal to attract a princess.
TWINS
The brothers Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus, fell in love with two engaged girls and challenged their rivals. Castor died in combat and Pollux asked Zeus to kill him too. In memory of the children’s friendship, the father placed the image of the twins in the sky
CANCER
In Latin, cncer means crab, an animal that appears in one of the 12 works of Hercules. Sent by Hera, the official wife of Zeus, the crab was killed by the hero, but the animal’s courage earned him a heavenly image for all eternity
LION
Another creature killed by Hercules. The hero not only strangled the beast with his bare hands, but made a cloak out of its skin. In honor of the great feat, Zeus drew the shape of the animal in the sky with stars.
VIRGIN
For the Romans, the constellation represented Virgo, the goddess of justice. Sick because of men’s mania for war, Virgo would have been the last celestial being to ascend to the abode of the gods. Minerva, goddess of wisdom, would have placed an image in the sky in her honor.
LB
Identified by the Romans, it symbolizes the scales used by Virgo to weigh the souls of men on their way to the underworld or to heaven, determining eternal pleasure or pain.
SCORPION
This constellation appears in the episode of the death of the giant Orion. Apoi, Greek god of proteania, was jealous of his sister Artemis’s friendship with the giant and sent a scorpion to bite him. Zeus put the animal and star Orion in the sky as a reminder of history
SAGITTARIUS
In Greek mythology, Chiron was the wisest of the centaurs, a half-man, half-horse creature. He was killed by being accidentally hit by an arrow of Hercules and was honored by Zeus with a constellation.
CAPRICORN
In Greek legends, the goat that symbolizes the sign has a fish tail. It is a representation of Pan, god of nature who, to escape the titan Typhon, threw himself into the water. Pan died because, while turning into a fish, he was halfway out of the water.
AQUARIUM
It is one of the water signs of the Babylonians, alongside Capricorn and Pisces. In the Middle East, the month of Aquarius would correspond to the rainy season, which gave rise to the symbol of the sign: a man turning over a jug of water.
FISH
According to Greek legend, Aphrodite, goddess of love, and her son Eros would have turned into fish to escape the titan Typhon, who could not stand water. Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom, created the constellation to remember escape
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