LIBRA - The Scales
September 24 - October 23
Gemini by KAGAYA
CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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. |
SCORPIO
(October 24 - November 22)
Scorpio by KAGAYA
CLICK TO ENLARGE
THE PLEIADES
(Seven Sisters)
Pleiades by KAGAYA
CLICK TO ENLARGE
|
The eighth constellation
of the Greek zodiac is called Scorpio. The story of the scorpion
is connected with different versions of stories that involve the
mighty hunter Orion - a hero who is represented by another
familiar group of stars.
Orion was said to be the tallest and the most handsome man of
the then known world. He was often seen hunting in the woods and
hills of ancient Greece with his pack of dogs.
His constellation shows him striding across the heavens
flourishing a gleaming sword on his bejeweled belt. Many of the
stories concerning the constellations of Orion and Scorpio
reflect the annual rising and setting of their constellations,
which appear to pursue each other across the sky.
One story tells how Gaia (Mother Earth) had sent the scorpion to
sting Orion, in order to punish him for being too boastful,
claiming that he was so mighty that he could easily rid the
whole earth of all beasts and creatures. As soon as the scorpion
was released from the breast of Gaia, it immediately stung Orion
and its deadly venom sent him straight to his death.
The scorpion was set up on the sky by Gaia to mark her victory,
while goddess Artemis, who had loved Orion, placed his image on
the sky as well, forming his own constellation.
Because Orion had cared so much for his hunting dog, Artemis
also put up a star for his dog: This is Sirius, the brightest
star in the heavens.
There is another story about Orion and the scorpion. One day,
when Orion was out in the woods, he caught sight of seven
beautiful sisters, the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Orion
loved them all at first sight and began to chase after them.
The sisters, however, were terrified and cried out to Zeus to
save them. Zeus heard their pleas and helped them by turning
them first into doves, so they could fly away from Orion, and
then into the seven stars which are now called Pleiades.
According to myth, Orion was stung by the scorpion as a
punishment for chasing the seven sisters. Zeus decided that the
constellations of Orion and the Pleiades were arranged in the
heavens, so that it seemed that Orion was in constant pursuit of
the seven sisters, without ever becoming successful, just as the
Scorpio seems always to be chasing Orion, without ever touching
him.
Continued on PAGE FIVE |
[PAGE ONE] [PAGETWO]
[PAGE THREE] [PAGE
FOUR] [PAGE FIVE] [PAGE
SIX]
    
[HOME] [MYTHOLOGY'S
EFFECTS ON MODERN SOCIETY][OLYMPIANS]
[GALLERY] [MAJOR
GODS] [MINOR
GODS] [HEROES]
[CONTACT]
[LOVE STORIES]
[MYTH OF THE
MONTH] [FUN
STUFF] [CREATURES]
Web, myth narration and graphics created and
maintained by Nick Pontikis
Copyright © 1995 Nick Pontikis
Thanasi's Olympus Greek
Restaurant
Copyright 1999 mythman.com
greekmythologytoday.com
mythmaniacs.com
The Myth Man persona copyright 1988 Nick Pontikis
|
