The Twelve Signs
What follows is a list of the twelve signs of the modern zodiac (with the ecliptic longitudes of their first points), where 0° Aries is understood as the vernal equinox, with their Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and Babylonian names (but note that the Sanskrit and the Babylonian name equivalents denote the constellations only, not the tropical zodiac signs). Also, the "English translation" is not usually used by English speakers. The Latin names are standard English usage.
| № | Symbol | Long. | Latin name | English translation | Greek name | Sanskrit name | Sumero-Babylonian name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ♈ | 0° | Aries | The Ram | Κριός (Krios) | Meṣha (मेष) | MUL LU.ḪUŊ.GA "The Agrarian Worker", Dumuzi |
| 2 | ♉ | 30° | Taurus | The Bull | Ταῦρος (Tauros) | Vṛiṣabha (वृषभ) | MULGU4.AN.NA "The Steer of Heaven" |
| 3 | ♊ | 60° | Gemini | The Twins | Δίδυμοι (Didumoi) | Mithuna (मिथुन) | MULMAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL "The Great Twins" (Castor and Pollux) |
| 4 | ♋ | 90° | Cancer | The Crab | Καρκῖνος (Karkinos) | Karkaṭa (कर्कट) | MULAL.LUL "The Crayfish" |
| 5 | ♌ | 120° | Leo | The Lion | Λέων (Leōn) | Siṃha (सिंह) | MULUR.GU.LA "The Lion" |
| 6 | ♍ | 150° | Virgo | The Maiden | Παρθένος (Parthenos) | Kanyā (कन्या) | MULAB.SIN "The Furrow"; "The Furrow, the goddess Shala's ear of corn" |
| 7 | ♎ | 180° | Libra | The Scales | Ζυγός (Zugos) | Tulā (तुला) | MULZIB.BA.AN.NA "The Scales" |
| 8 | ♏ | 210° | Scorpio | The Scorpion | Σκoρπιός (Skorpios) | Vṛścika (वृश्चिक) | MULGIR.TAB "The Scorpion" |
| 9 | ♐ | 240° | Sagittarius | The (Centaur) Archer | Τοξότης (Toxotēs) | Dhanuṣa (धनुष) | MULPA.BIL.SAG, Nedu "soldier" |
| 10 | ♑ | 270° | Capricorn | "Goat-horned" (The Sea-Goat) | Αἰγόκερως (Aigokerōs) | Makara (मकर) | MULSUḪUR.MAŠ "The Goat-Fish" of Enki |
| 11 | ♒ | 300° | Aquarius | The Water-Bearer | Ὑδροχόος (Hudrokhoos) | Kumbha (कुम्भ) | MULGU.LA "The Great One", later qâ "pitcher" |
| 12 | ♓ | 330° | Pisces | The Fish | Ἰχθύες (Ikhthues) | Mīna (मीन) | MULSIM.MAḪ "The Tail of the Swallow", later DU.NU.NU "fish-cord" |
Read more about this topic: Zodiac
Famous quotes containing the words twelve and/or signs:
“The fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Four colly birds,”
—Unknown. The Twelve Days of Christmas (l. 13–15)
“The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Deuteronomy 26:8.