Post by bluefedish on Dec 9, 2007 16:31:00 GMT -5
The term zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the constellations that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. The zodiac is the first known celestial coordinate system. There are two apparently independently created zodiacs. Babylonian astrology, inherited by Hellenistic and Indian astrology, developed the zodiac of twelve signs familiar in the West. In Chinese astrology, months and years pass through a cycle of twelve animals that imply certain fortunes or misfortunes related to events occurring within those signs. The Chinese zodiac is not linked to constellations, however.
The etymology of the term zodiac comes from the Latin zōdiacus, from the Greek ζwδιακός [κύκλος], meaning "[circle] of animals", derived from ζwδιον, the diminutive of ζwον "animal". However, the classical Greek zodiac also includes signs (also constellations) that are not represented by animals (e.g., Libra, Virgo, Gemini). Another suggested etymology is that the Greek term is cognate with the Sanskrit sodi, denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the Sun travels.
The zodiac is also understood as a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, and therefore encompasses the paths of the Moon and the naked eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The classical astronomers called these planets wandering stars to differentiate them from the fixed stars of the celestial sphere (Ptolemy). Astrologers understood the movement of the planets and the Sun through the zodiac as a method to explain and predict events on Earth.
History
By 2,000 BC, the Egyptians and Mesopotamians marked the seasons by the constellations we now call Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. However, the marking of seasons by constellations may go back to 5,000 BC. The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates perhaps in Babylonian ("Chaldean") astronomy as early as the 1st millennium BC (likely during Median/"Neo-Babylonian" times).
Zodiacal Constellations
The precise origins of the twelve constellations of the zodiac are unknown. In particular the reasons for the prominence given to animals is unclear (it is in fact a feature of all the constellations, not just those of the zodiac). The shape of the constellations themselves were probably not the main factor, as most of them bear little or no resemblance to the mythical characters after which they are named. Their origins are more likely to be in the belief of early peoples that events on earth were mirrored in the heavens above them. It followed then, that important mythical beings in the earth's affairs must have a matching image in the sky. Therefore over time a process probably developed whereby various important archetypal characters in ancient myth were linked to the sky by the 'discovery' of a pattern of stars (or 'constellation') in their image.
Because of their important location, the stars along the path of the ecliptic would have been given particular attention, and the constellations there ascribed to especially significant mythical beings or symbols. As the concept of the zodiac developed, these constellations gave their names to the celestial zones they inhabited, and so by extension to the zodiac signs. Jupiter is the most important planet within the signs.
The original Babylonian zodiac consisted of eighteen signs; however the twelve sign zodiac developed later on to become the permanent form, probably as twelve was the number of months in the Babylonian year. The present day names of the Western constellations and signs of the zodiac were first described by the Greek astronomer and astrologer Ptolemy who lived between 120-180 AD.
The following are the twelve constellations with their Latin names which gave their names to the zodiac signs, which are still used by astronomers today.
1. Aries (The Ram)
2. Taurus (The Bull)
3. Gemini (The Twins)
4. Cancer (The Crab)
5. Leo (The Lion)
6. Virgo (The Virgin)
7. Libra (The Scales)
8. Scorpius (The Scorpion)
9. Sagittarius (The Archer)
10. Capricornus (The Sea-goat)
11. Aquarius (The Water-bearer)
12. Pisces (The Fish)
The signs of the Indian zodiac are essentially the same as the Western ones, with the names in Sanskrit instead of Latin.
Zodiac in Astrology
Astrologers use astronomical observations of the movements of the night sky for divinatory purposes. The zodiac remains in use in modern astrology, though the issue of tropical astrology (used mainly by Western astrologers) and sidereal astrology (used mainly by Indian astrologers) is central. At issue in the debate is whether the signs should be defined in terms of zones derived from nodal points defined by Earth's motion during a tropical year , or whether the signs should be defined in terms of signs roughly aligned with the constellations of the same name (for sidereal astrologers). This matters because of an astronomical phenomenon called the precession of the equinoxes, whereby the position of the stars in sky has changed over time. Therefore, over the centuries the twelve zodiacal signs in Western astrology no longer correspond to the same part of the sky as their original constellations, or their Indian counterparts. In effect, in Western astrology the link between sign and constellation has been broken, whereas in Indian astrology it remains of paramount importance.
Zodiac in Astronomy
In astronomy the zodiacal constellations are a convenient way of marking the ecliptic (the sun's path across the sky). The zodiac is also a way for astronomers to mark the path of the moon and planets , as their movements also remain within these constellations. Apart from this role, the zodiacal constellations have no extra significance to astronomers than any other constellation.
Unlike the zodiac signs in astrology, which are all thirty degrees in length, the astronomical constellations vary widely in size. The boundaries of all the constellations in the sky were set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1930. This was essentially a mapping exercise to make the work of astronomers more efficient, and the boundaries of the constellations are not therefore in any meaningful sense an 'equivalent' to the zodiac signs. Along with the twelve original constellations, the boundaries of a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, were set by astronomers within the bounds of the zodiac.
Selected Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac
www.mouserunner.com
The etymology of the term zodiac comes from the Latin zōdiacus, from the Greek ζwδιακός [κύκλος], meaning "[circle] of animals", derived from ζwδιον, the diminutive of ζwον "animal". However, the classical Greek zodiac also includes signs (also constellations) that are not represented by animals (e.g., Libra, Virgo, Gemini). Another suggested etymology is that the Greek term is cognate with the Sanskrit sodi, denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the Sun travels.
The zodiac is also understood as a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, and therefore encompasses the paths of the Moon and the naked eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The classical astronomers called these planets wandering stars to differentiate them from the fixed stars of the celestial sphere (Ptolemy). Astrologers understood the movement of the planets and the Sun through the zodiac as a method to explain and predict events on Earth.
History
By 2,000 BC, the Egyptians and Mesopotamians marked the seasons by the constellations we now call Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. However, the marking of seasons by constellations may go back to 5,000 BC. The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates perhaps in Babylonian ("Chaldean") astronomy as early as the 1st millennium BC (likely during Median/"Neo-Babylonian" times).
Zodiacal Constellations
The precise origins of the twelve constellations of the zodiac are unknown. In particular the reasons for the prominence given to animals is unclear (it is in fact a feature of all the constellations, not just those of the zodiac). The shape of the constellations themselves were probably not the main factor, as most of them bear little or no resemblance to the mythical characters after which they are named. Their origins are more likely to be in the belief of early peoples that events on earth were mirrored in the heavens above them. It followed then, that important mythical beings in the earth's affairs must have a matching image in the sky. Therefore over time a process probably developed whereby various important archetypal characters in ancient myth were linked to the sky by the 'discovery' of a pattern of stars (or 'constellation') in their image.
Because of their important location, the stars along the path of the ecliptic would have been given particular attention, and the constellations there ascribed to especially significant mythical beings or symbols. As the concept of the zodiac developed, these constellations gave their names to the celestial zones they inhabited, and so by extension to the zodiac signs. Jupiter is the most important planet within the signs.
The original Babylonian zodiac consisted of eighteen signs; however the twelve sign zodiac developed later on to become the permanent form, probably as twelve was the number of months in the Babylonian year. The present day names of the Western constellations and signs of the zodiac were first described by the Greek astronomer and astrologer Ptolemy who lived between 120-180 AD.
The following are the twelve constellations with their Latin names which gave their names to the zodiac signs, which are still used by astronomers today.
1. Aries (The Ram)
2. Taurus (The Bull)
3. Gemini (The Twins)
4. Cancer (The Crab)
5. Leo (The Lion)
6. Virgo (The Virgin)
7. Libra (The Scales)
8. Scorpius (The Scorpion)
9. Sagittarius (The Archer)
10. Capricornus (The Sea-goat)
11. Aquarius (The Water-bearer)
12. Pisces (The Fish)
The signs of the Indian zodiac are essentially the same as the Western ones, with the names in Sanskrit instead of Latin.
Zodiac in Astrology
Astrologers use astronomical observations of the movements of the night sky for divinatory purposes. The zodiac remains in use in modern astrology, though the issue of tropical astrology (used mainly by Western astrologers) and sidereal astrology (used mainly by Indian astrologers) is central. At issue in the debate is whether the signs should be defined in terms of zones derived from nodal points defined by Earth's motion during a tropical year , or whether the signs should be defined in terms of signs roughly aligned with the constellations of the same name (for sidereal astrologers). This matters because of an astronomical phenomenon called the precession of the equinoxes, whereby the position of the stars in sky has changed over time. Therefore, over the centuries the twelve zodiacal signs in Western astrology no longer correspond to the same part of the sky as their original constellations, or their Indian counterparts. In effect, in Western astrology the link between sign and constellation has been broken, whereas in Indian astrology it remains of paramount importance.
Zodiac in Astronomy
In astronomy the zodiacal constellations are a convenient way of marking the ecliptic (the sun's path across the sky). The zodiac is also a way for astronomers to mark the path of the moon and planets , as their movements also remain within these constellations. Apart from this role, the zodiacal constellations have no extra significance to astronomers than any other constellation.
Unlike the zodiac signs in astrology, which are all thirty degrees in length, the astronomical constellations vary widely in size. The boundaries of all the constellations in the sky were set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1930. This was essentially a mapping exercise to make the work of astronomers more efficient, and the boundaries of the constellations are not therefore in any meaningful sense an 'equivalent' to the zodiac signs. Along with the twelve original constellations, the boundaries of a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, were set by astronomers within the bounds of the zodiac.
Selected Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac
www.mouserunner.com
