LIBRA - The Scales
September 24 - October 23
Gemini by KAGAYA
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The stars that form the
golden scales of Libra lie halfway around the band of the Greek
zodiac, between Virgo and Scorpio. Day and night are equal when
the sun passes through the constellation of Libra.
The scales are a symbol of balance and equity. More
specifically, the scales were considered to be the symbol
of Dike, meaning Justice, who was a minor goddess of the
Underworld.
It has also been suggested that the scales are in allusion to
the fact that when the sun entered this part of the ecliptic at
the autumnal equinox, the days and nights are equal.
The fact that the ancient Greeks gave Libra a prominent place in
the sky, signifies that they considered justice, equity and
balance in general, to be the moral cornerstones of an ideal way
of living. Libra has been associated with law, fairness
and civility, all admirable and desirable traits of a civilized
society.
In Roman mythology, Libra is considered to depict the scales
held by Astraea (identified as Virgo), the goddess of justice,
just like the Greek goddess Dike. Libra is included by the
second century Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy in his
48 asterisms.
Libra is the only zodiac sign that does not symbolize a living
person or creature, but rather a concept - Justice. |
