History of the Zodiac
History of Astrology
The Babylonians are generally credited with the birth of astrology. Their astrological charts enabled them to predict the recurrence of seasons and certain celestial events. So in the beginning and for more than 2,000 years, astrology and astronomy were the same science.
Babylonian astrology was introduced to the Greeks early in the 4th to 6th century B.C. and, through the studies of Plato, Aristotle, and others, astrology came to be highly regarded as a science. This view was embraced by the Romans and the Arabs (the Roman names for the zodiacal signs are still used today,) and ultimately spread throughout the entire world.
While early astrology offered explanations and perhaps order, it was soon utilized to predict weather patterns, primarily for agricultural purposes as well as other practical uses. It was eventually broadened to include forecasts of natural disasters and war.
The Zodiac:
The Zodiac (which is derived from the Greek word meaning “circle of animals”) is believed to have developed in ancient Mesopotamia from 3,200 – 2800 B.C. and later adopted by the Babylonians. Early astrologers had observed it took 12 lunar cycles (i.e., months) for the sun to return to its original position. Using this knowledge, they identified 12 constellations that they observed and thought were linked to the progression of the seasons and assigned them names of certain animals and persons (in Babylonia, for example, the rainy season was found to occur when the Sun was in a particular constellation which was then named Aquarius, or water bearer).
The signs of the zodiac are subdivided into four groups:
• Fire Signs: Aries, Sagittarius, Leo
• Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
• Air Signs: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini
• Earth Signs: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
Each of these four groups is inscribed in its own quadrant, or group of “houses,” on a circle. The division of the four houses is based on Earth’s daily rotation and relates to such circumstances as relationships, finances, travel, etc. The division of the 12 signs of the zodiac, on the other hand, is based on the earth’s year-long rotation around the Sun and relates to character traits and areas of life (e.g., Venus represents affection, Mercury represents speech and writing, etc.). Each planet is associated with two signs, and the Sun and Moon with one each.
Approximately 2000 B.C., Babylonian astrologers believed that the Sun, Moon, and the five planets known at that time (Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, and Venus) possessed distinct powers. Mars, for example, appeared to be red and was associated with aggression and war.
Old Testament
Knowledge of the Babylonian Zodiac is also reflected in the Old Testament and in other Jewish biblical works. Some scholars have linked the twelve tribes of Israel with the twelve signs. Some scholars have argued that the arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle (reported in the Book of Numbers) corresponded to the order of the Zodiac, with Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan representing the middle signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio, respectively.
Additionally, the Old Testament states that God created the stars and how the stars were created in a thoughtful order. Many people, today, believe that this order is what the Zodiac signs are. The Zodiac signs were incorporated in the architecture, design and mosaics of numerous synagogues starting in Israel in 2nd to 3rd century A.D., and later in Europe and the Americas, through the modern era.
From Mesopotamia in 3000 B.C. and other cultures such as India starting in 1000 B.C., and Greece in 600 B.C. the Zodiac Signs were used in farming, calendars, astronomy and astrology, continuing for millennia into the 20th Century.
The Zodiac signs are seemingly logical, however, mystical at the same time. The stars held the answers to many physical issues on Earth and also held the answers to the more existential questions/difficulties that man had long ago and still have today. The Zodiac signs have offered a balance between practicality and spirituality for thousands of years. The Zodiac signs offer more than mere symbols, they offer answers, comfort, practicality, and spiritual divinity. It is this balance between the practical and mystical nature, and rich history, that make the Zodiac signs so special.