WHAT IS THE ZODIAC?
HISTORY
The concept of the Zodiac was born thousands of years ago. By 1500BC, the Babylonians had systematically divided the Zodiac into the 12 equal signs that the Greeks later codified into the 12 signs we refer back to today. Fundamentally, the Zodiac system is predicated off the Zodiacal belt, and its corresponding constellations. Each month, the sun was observed to pass through different constellations. The collection of these core constellations were later divided into the 12 astrological signs that you may (or may not be) familiar with:
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Aquarius
Pisces
SEASONS AND STARS
Each sign was identified by the way in which its corresponding constellation was linked to the progression of the seasons. For example, the sun’s position that cyclically denoted the year’s rainy season was identified and named as “Aquarius.” Each of the twelve signs is named after the constellation it represents. The 12 signs can be further divided into four sub groups:
Fire: Aries, Sagittarius, Leo
Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Air: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini
Earth: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
Astrologically, each of these four subgroups is placed on a circle with its own quadrant, or “house.” Contrary to the twelve zodiacal signs that are based on the sun’s annual rotation, the houses are derived from the earth’s daily rotation. The zodiacal signs correspond to character traits and domains of life, while the houses correspond to circumstances and relationships.
SO...WHAT IS A HOROSCOPE?
A horoscope is, in its purest form, a zodiacal map. Illustratively, the horoscope depicts a circle with the earth at the center. At the top of the circle, the sun is represented at its highest point during the day, with the Easter and western horizons on each respective side of the earth. On any given time, day, and location, a horoscope is used to chart the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Using a combination of both art and science, astronomers use this chart to interpret the proper character traits, circumstances, and relationships of the horoscope’s subject.