Top 12 Myths Behind Zodiac Signs

In the land of Croneus, there was a king named Athamas. He had a wife named Nephele - the daughter of the cloud goddess, who bore him two children, a boy named Phrius and a girl named Helle. Living with Nephele for a while, Athamas grew disloyal and decided to marry Ino - the daughter of King Cadmus of Thebes. Ino, who also had two children with the king, harbored intentions to harm Nephele's children to secure her own offspring's succession. In those days, millet was the main crop. Ino, cruelly, manipulated the millet to not sprout and bribed the royal oracle to blame Nephele's children for the calamity, stating that they were the cause of the destruction of crops. To remedy the situation, the king was forced to sacrifice Nephele's children. Fortunately, Zeus bestowed upon Nephele a ram with a fleece of gold known as Aries. On the day of sacrifice, the ram carried Phrius and Helle away across the azure ocean. Unfortunately, Helle fell into the sea, now known as the Hellespont, and perished, while Phrius was left stranded in the land of Colchis.

Due to the delay, the king and queen there accepted Phrius as their son and later married him to a princess. To express gratitude to Zeus, Phrius sacrificed the golden-fleeced ram and placed it in a special position. Zeus, in turn, placed Aries in the sky to honor the creature's bravery. Eventually, the golden fleece became a treasure of the Colchian dynasty. It was this fleece that an explorer named Jason spent much effort and time searching for. The entire journey of Jason's crew aboard the ship Argo is recounted in the story of their heroic quest. The ram with the golden fleece (Aries) was the beloved creature of the supreme god atop Mount Olympus - Zeus. The deity gifted the ram to Queen Nephele. Legend tells of the ram's feat in rescuing the queen's children from the deadly trap of the king's second wife, Ino, who falsely accused the queen's children, causing the crops in the kingdom to fail. In gratitude to Zeus, the queen's son sacrificed the ram and hung its fleece in a special place in Colchis. Zeus then placed the ram in the sky as a constellation called Aries, symbolizing courage and perseverance.

Gemini represents the bond of brotherhood and friendship, intertwined with two completely contrasting personalities. The legend tells of twin brothers, Castor and Pollux, the sons of Zeus. The two brothers shared an exceptionally strong bond and always sought to help each other. However, in a battle, Castor was killed, and out of boundless grief, Pollux attempted to take his own life. Yet, Pollux, being an immortal warrior due to inheriting his father's lineage, could not die. Zeus agreed to allow them each to live one day alternately and ascend to the heavens. The two brothers transformed into the constellation Gemini - the Twins. The constellation has two stars representing the two brothers, with one star shining brightly each day, and the other dimmed. According to Greek mythology, atop Mount Olympus ruled 12 gods, with Zeus as their sovereign. Zeus married the queen of Sparta and fathered twin sons: Castor and Pollux.

This twin pair exhibited bravery and resilience from a young age, inseparable and united in their endeavors. They achieved remarkable feats together, notably during the grand voyage of the Argo. Their bond was unbreakable, a mystical connection that rendered them deeply attuned to each other, charging into battles side by side. However, in one fateful battle, Castor succumbed to fatal wounds, leaving Pollux to bear witness to his brother's demise, enduring immense anguish. Despite numerous attempts, Pollux could not end his own life due to his immortal bloodline. Overwhelmed by grief, he pleaded with his father to allow him to die in Castor's place. Touched by his son's sorrow, Zeus granted their ascension to the sky, transforming them into the Gemini constellation, where they would alternate living each day. Thus, Gemini became a symbol of sacred and eternal brotherly love.

The myth tells of Zeus, a god known for his fascination with beauty, who set his eyes on the beautiful maiden Europa while she was frolicking with her friends by the seaside. This zodiac sign emerges from the image of a large white bull, a guise adopted by Zeus to captivate Europa and make her his lover. Zeus elevated the image of the bull's head to the heavens, symbolizing the Taurus constellation where it represents love, strength, and beauty. Zeus, the ruler of the gods, was known for his penchant for women, both mortal and divine. However, due to the watchful eye of his wife Hera, he often transformed into animals to approach his chosen women more easily.

One day, Zeus set his sights on the beautiful servant girl Europa as she played with her friends by the seaside. To allay any fears, he transformed into the white bull Taurus (Taurus) and used the allure of the creature to enchant Europa. As she enjoyed playing with the animal, drifting away from her friends, Zeus lay down for her to mount his back and rode into the sea despite her cries for help. Arriving at the island of Crete, Zeus revealed his true form, taking Europa as his lover, and she bore him three sons. Zeus hung the image of the bull in the heavens, where it symbolizes love, strength, and beauty.

The Leo constellation also relates to the twelve labors of Hercules. It involves the first labor where he battled the Nemean Lion - a beast with impenetrable skin. In the fight, Hercules strangled it with his bare hands. As the creature perished, its spirit ascended to the heavens, becoming the Leo constellation, symbolizing strength, wisdom, and indomitable will. The Leo constellation represents a demonic lion named Nemean Lion. In Greek mythology, Hercules, the hero appearing in numerous Greek myths, was tasked by King Eurystheus of Tiryns to complete twelve extremely perilous labors, later becoming the legend of Hercules' twelve labors. The first task among them was to subdue a man-eating lion in the Nemean forest.

Eurystheus wanted him to bring back the lion's skin to the city as proof of completion. Hercules found the lion and attempted to kill it with a bow and arrow, then with a sword, but the weapon was repelled by the lion's hide, and the sword broke. Being a supernatural lion, immune to arrows and swords, Hercules was gripped tightly by it around the neck with all its monstrous strength. Unable to free himself, Hercules had to rely on his own strength to kill it. Afterwards, he skinned the lion and presented it to Eurystheus. Euystheus fled in fear upon seeing the lion's carcass. The king ordered Hercules to leave it outside the city gates. Heracles fashioned a cloak from the lion's hide and a helmet from its head. The lion's spirit was then placed in the sky, forming the Leo constellation. The ancient Egyptians worshipped the lion because the Sun resided in this constellation during the inundation of the Nile river's floodplain.

As you may know, the hero Hercules had to complete all 12 tasks required by Eurystheus. Among Hercules' 12 labors was one where he had to slay the multi-headed sea monster Hydra. When the Hydra, with its many fearsome heads, lunged at Hercules, he systematically cut off each head. The Hydra was actually Hera's pet, and she sent a crab to hinder its demise, but even the crab couldn't save itself. The crab's sacrifice is commemorated today as its image was placed in the sky to become the constellation Cancer, symbolizing the boundless love of a mother for her child. The crab in the constellation Cancer was once a companion of the sea monster Hydra.

The story of the crab in the constellation Cancer appears in the myth of Hercules' 12 labors during the time when he was enslaved to Eurystheus for killing his wife and children in a fit of madness caused by the goddess Hera. This time, Hercules had to eradicate the Hydra at Lerna. When the multi-headed Hydra attacked Hercules and wrapped itself around him, Hercules cut off each of its fearsome heads. The situation was dire for the Hydra. Seeing his brave friend in distress, the crab cried out, 'My Hydra friend is suffering terribly,' and bravely attacked Hercules with its pincers. But against the greatest hero of Greek mythology, the crab stood no chance and was subdued immediately. Witnessing this friendship, the gods were deeply moved and placed the three characters in a constellation in the sky.

Demeter is the goddess who governs the harvest in the heavens. She has a beautiful daughter named Persephone who caught the eye of Hades, Demeter's brother. Hades abducted Persephone, causing immense grief to Demeter. She pleaded with the gods for help but to no avail. Even with the assistance of Hercules, she could not retrieve her daughter. Her longing for her daughter led her to neglect the harvest in the heavens, resulting in a famine. Zeus could not allow this to continue, so he ordered Persephone to split her time. Four months with her husband, Hades, and four months in the heavens with her mother, ensuring the world experiences a cold season and a season of blooming flowers each year. And representing this zodiac sign is like the scales of justice balancing the forces of yin and yang, the elements akin to the scales of Astraea, the Roman goddess of justice.

The constellation Libra is considered the scales by which Astraea, the goddess of Justice, can discern between good and evil. In ancient times, during the Golden Age when gods used gold to create the first humans (in Greek mythology, humans went through five ages: Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, and Iron), Astraea's scales always tilted towards justice. Humans and beasts lived happily with perpetual spring each year. As the Golden Age waned and the Silver Age dawned, humans became wicked and malevolent. The strong oppressed the weak. The gods, weary of human endurance, withdrew to the heavens as human morality dwindled. Only Astraea remained with humanity to uphold justice. Then came the Bronze Age, where humans became excessively violent with wars and killings. Astraea's scales continued to tip towards evil, making it unbearable for the goddess, who eventually withdrew from the world to the Slanper realm.

Not human, not an animal, Virgo is the image of a goddess. According to Greek mythology, in a period called the 'Golden Age,' the gods and goddesses did not live on Mount Olympus but coexisted with humans on Earth. However, when Zeus defeated his father and became the ruler of the gods, residing atop Olympus, humans were considered inferior creatures. Disagreeing with this perspective, a Titan named Prometheus defied Zeus and protected humanity. He even stole fire from the forge of the divine blacksmith Hephaistos and gave it to humans. It was from that moment that humans learned to use fire. In punishment, Zeus chained Prometheus to the Caucasus Mountains and sent an eagle to eat his liver every day. As for humans, Zeus created Pandora - the first woman - and sent her to Earth with a box with strict instructions not to open it.

However, unable to resist her curiosity, Pandora opened the box, releasing all the evils contained within, such as greed, selfishness, disasters, diseases, wars... spreading throughout the world, ending the peaceful prosperity of the 'Golden Age.' The phrase 'Pandora's box' is still used today to refer to something forbidden to reveal, something not to be opened. The letter M symbol of Virgo is an abbreviation of Mary, the Virgin Mother who gave birth to Jesus, the adjacent motif represents a sheaf of wheat. However, in Greek mythology, the symbol of the Virgo constellation is also a virgin girl but a goddess. When the gods no longer wanted to live with humans and ascended to heaven, Astraea was the last goddess to depart, and the Virgo constellation - the Virgo zodiac sign - is her symbol.

In Greek mythology, Scorpius constellation refers to the scorpion sent by the goddess Hera (or possibly Gaia) to kill the hunter Orion. The scorpion unexpectedly emerged from the ground and stung Orion's foot, leading to his demise. Both Orion and the Scorpion were immortalized as constellations, positioned in such a way that they can never meet. It's believed that this opposition is a divine measure to prevent ongoing enmity between the scorpion and Orion. However, in some alternate versions, it's the god Apollo who sends the scorpion to slay Orion, fueled by Apollo's growing jealousy as he sees Artemis's increasing fondness for Orion. Later, remorseful for his actions, Apollo helps Artemis hang Orion's image in the night sky.

However, the image of the scorpion was also placed in the sky, and whenever the scorpion appears on the horizon, Orion begins to sink below. Orion always has to flee from his adversary. The scorpion also appears in an alternative version of the story of Phaethon, the ill-fated son of the Sun god Helios. Phaethon begged Helios to allow him to drive the sun chariot for a day. Indulging his son too much, Helios agreed. Phaethon then lost control of the sun chariot. The horses panicked upon seeing a giant malevolent scorpion blocking their path, and they drove the chariot erratically across the sky, no longer obeying Phaethon's commands. Legend has it that the movement of the chariot's path created the Eridanus constellation. Finally, Zeus hurled Phaethon from the chariot with a lightning bolt to end the chaos.

In many ancient cultures, including Babylon, Egypt, and Greece, there was a deity known as the 'Water Bearer' or 'Water Pourer.' Water has been a source of sustenance and life, thus the power to bring forth water from the heavens was among the most revered abilities by ancient humans. In Greek mythology, Zeus is the 'Water Bearer.' In his role as the ruler of the gods, one of his crucial tasks is to create storms. The Aquarius constellation symbolizes 'Zeus the Water Bearer.' Another myth refers to Deucalion, the sole survivor of the Great Flood and the 'Iron Age' in Greek mythology.

During this era, humans became as savage as beasts, committing atrocities against each other, regardless of familial ties. The divine teachings held no value for them. Disappointed, Zeus unleashed a great flood upon the earth, wiping out all except Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha (In Zeus's final visit to earth, he saw this couple, though living in a humble hut with little food, still generously provided for him, so he spared them from the flood) and aided them in repopulating the earth with a new, stronger, and more ethical human race. Deucalion is the 'Water Bearer,' symbolized by the Aquarius constellation.

In Greek mythology, there's a tale of a being born with the head and tail of a goat - South Sun is also the name of a hero in the Titans war who panicked and leaped into the Nile River, transforming into a creature half fish, half goat to escape his enemies. And the image of the goat-fish hybrid was raised to the heavens, representing the Capricorn constellation (or the constellation of South Sun - the hero's name). Capricorn or the Seagoat is the image of the Babylonian god, Ea, a powerful deity with a body half fish, half goat. At night, the god resides in the great ocean but rises daily to guard the land.

This is a constellation under the guardianship of a fire deity and his family, so those born under this sign are deeply passionate and emotional individuals. However, Greek mythology doesn't mention the seagoat but instead refers to Pan, a demigod with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a goat. He is the son of the god Hermes and a nymph. When Pan was born, the nymph screamed in terror and fled, leaving Hermes to care for the unusual child. Hermes brought Pan to Olympus where the other gods also took a liking to the boy. From then on, Pan became the god of shepherds and flocks, bearing the responsibilities of his father. Pan did not stay on Olympus but preferred to live in the shadows of trees on the mountainside.

This is a constellation associated with the goddess of Beauty, Aphrodite, and her son, the god of Love, Eros, in Greek mythology. One day, as they were walking along the riverbank, the demon Typhon suddenly emerged from the water, intent on destroying them. Typhon, an ancient monster, was said to be the offspring of Gaia and Tartarus, or of Cronus and Hera, or of Hera alone. Regardless of his parentage, Typhon was as formidable as a Titan with eyes ablaze. Towering and fearsome, Typhon had no fingers but a hundred dragon heads sprouting from his hands. No god on Mount Olympus was powerful enough to defeat Typhon. The only way to escape him was to transform into sea creatures and swim away. Aphrodite and Eros also turned into fish, swam into a tributary, and were led to safety by two other fish.

These two fish are the Pisces constellation, their tails intertwined as a reminder of the day they saved the goddess of Beauty and the god of Love. Deep in the ocean, there's a pair of brightly colored fish, bound together by a silver cord, symbolizing those born under the Pisces sign. They mostly resign themselves to fate, disliking the pursuit of wealth. This pair of fish is content, waiting for the ceaseless waves to carry them to some unknown destination. Pisces prefers tranquil activities, finding solace in solitude. Though thoughtful, they're not always practical. It takes them a long time to bounce back from failure. Instead of learning from failure to progress, they become resentful and reevaluate their unsuccessful efforts in their minds, consuming much time and energy.