Scorpio Sign

Jahangir Coin

2008-11-18T03:15:00.000-08:00

Scorpio sign Zodiac coin dated to 1605 - 1627 C.E. which was minted by Nur al-Din Muhammad Jahangir, who was a Muslim Indian ruler (the Koran words on the reverse) but who was also influenced by Hinduism (the Zodiac signs on the obverse).

Picture is courtesy of Scott Semans.

Hours book

2008-11-15T08:27:00.000-08:00

Scorpio sign appears on the bottom of the 15th century illuminated manuscript The Hours book (maybe owned later by Henry VIII). Artist: Jean Poyer. Picture shows ploughing and sowing, the agricultural works of October-November.

Zodiacal Horse

2008-11-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

Scorpio rules the genitals of a horse according to a most interesting 15th century pen drawing from an Italian Manuscript (Livro de la Menscalcia de li cavalli).

Beit Alpha 2008

2008-11-13T21:04:00.001-08:00

Scorpio sign appears on artist Judith Weinshall Liberman’s work titled: THE ZODIAC SERIES I, which was inspired by the 6th century mosaic floor wheel of the zodiac excavated at the synagogue in Beit Alpha, Israel.

Judith wrote to me:

I have completed my first Zodiac series (there will be more). The series consists of 12 separate mixed media works, each one devoted to one of the signs. I have arranged the 12 works in rectangular formation so you can get an idea what they look like when seen together. The arrangement goes row by row from the top row to the bottom row, and each row begins at right so it is read the way Hebrew is read (right to left). The top row represents spring (green), the second row represents summer (yellow), the third row represents fall (red) and the bottom row represents winter (blue).

Heavens of Salamanca

2008-11-12T04:33:00.000-08:00

Scorpio sign appears at the center (right under Libra)

Spanish Early Renaissance Painter Fernando Gallego (1440-1507) painted the Zodiac and other sky “members” at the ceiling of the old library (Sala Calderón de la Barca) at Salamanca University, Spain, which was founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of Leon. Picture is courtesy of “muuranker” from Flickr.

Dante

2008-11-11T03:59:00.000-08:00

American Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) translated Dante (1265-1321) Alighieri's Divine Comedy in 1867. Dante wrote in Purgatorio about Scorpio:

That cold animal which with its tail doth smite among the nations

It seems that Dante didn’t like Scorpio’s…

The Symbol of The Wolf

2008-11-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

Charlotte R. Long wrote in her book The Twelve Gods of Greece and Rome (p. 295) that the 1st century C.E. altar, found in Gabii in 1793 by Gavin Hamilton shows the twelve heads of the Roman gods in relation to the zodiac signs relieves that run along the side of the cylinder with their symbols. Mars rules Scorpio and his symbol is the Wolf.

I copied this picture from Wikimedia Commons. It was Uploaded by Jastrow (2006) entry: Image:Altar twelve gods Louvre Ma666.jpg

Passionate Determined

2008-11-09T09:40:00.001-08:00

Scorpio sign and glyph appear on a humoristic 2007 Australian Zodiac stamp designed by
Mitch Vane along with the interpretation of two personality traits associated with this sign.

Israeli Lottery Ticket

2008-11-04T02:19:00.001-08:00

Scorpio sign appears on an Israeli lottery ticket along with the Hebrew words for Good Luck. The word for luck in Hebrew is also the word for astrological sign. We see Scorpio sign on the left and Libra, Aries on the right.

Ceramic Scorpio Sign

2008-11-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

This ceramic wall-hanging blue Scorpio Sign picture is courtesy of Israeli artist Sabina Saad, who bought it at Ramla Market. Diameter: 6 cm. Copyright: Sabina Saad 2008. I guess the artist who made this medallion didn't pay attention to the connection between this sign and "its color", which is brown.

Palazzo Ducale, Venice

2008-10-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign appears on a marble capital along with the planet Mars and Aries sign at the Palazzo Ducale (1309 to 1424) in Venice:

Picture is cropped from Wikimedia commons entry: Category:Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 18 - uploaded by Giovanni Dall'Orto

Bhima River is Connected to Scorpio

2008-10-30T06:03:00.000-07:00

The Twelve important Indian Rivers are connected to the Zodiac Signs:

Ganges is connected to Aries; Reva river is connected to Taurus; Saraswati is connected to Gemini; Yamuna is connected to Cancer; Godavari is connected to Leo; Krishna is connected to Virgo; Kaveri is connected to Libra; Bhima River is connected to Scorpio; Radhya Saga is connected to Sagittarius; Tungabhadra is connected to Capricorn; Indus is connected to Aquarius; Pranahitha is connected to Pisces;

Pushkaram is a celebration near each river once in every 12 years. Millions of people participate in each Pushkaram, taking a dip in the river in order to purify physically and mentally.

14th century Arab Illustration

2008-10-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign appears on a 14th century C.E. illustration from an Arabic manuscript , which is dedicated to astrology, astronomy and geomancy and which was compiled by Abd al-Hasan Al-Isfahani

I copied this image was from Wikimedia Commons, entry: Category: Kitab al-Bulhan; uploaded by: “Peacay”.

The Farnese Atlas

2008-10-29T09:03:00.001-07:00

Scorpio sign is covered by the left hand of Atlas, but all the other signs appear clearly on the Farnese Atlas, which is kept at the Museo Archaeologico Nazionale in Naples, Italy. It is a Roman marble statue depicting 41 ancient Greek constellations, which are shown in relief. The diameter of the globe is 65 cm. Art historians date the statue to the second century C.E., but actually it is a Roman copy from a much earlier Greek original.

Image was copied from Wikipedia entry Farnese Atlas Uploaded by Gssq

Scorpio Sign - Origin

2008-10-27T23:39:00.000-07:00

Even though astrology/astronomy started in the Near East (Sumer, Babylon, Egypt) the signs of the zodiac as we use them today find their complete explanation in the context of Greek mythology. An excellent website brings a few versions of the same basic story. Here's the story that appears in the 1^st century C.E. book titled Catasterismi (Greek: placing among the stars), which is a collection of ancient Hellenistic sources. In The Astronomy Fragment 4 there, which was translated by Evelyn-White, Greek poet Hesiod (from the 8^th century B.C.E.) is quoted as saying that:

Orion went away to Crete and spent his time hunting in company with Artemis and Leto. It seems that he threatened to kill every beast, there was on earth; whereupon, in her anger, Ge (the Earth) sent up against him a Scorpion of very great size by which he was stung and so perished. After this Zeus, at the prayer of Artemis and Leto, put him among the stars, because of his manliness, and the Scorpion also as a memorial of him and of what had occurred.

Other sources add that this story about the enmity between Scorpion and Orion explains why they are never seen in the sky at the same time: one of them sets as the other rises.

Sign and Date

2008-10-22T21:48:00.001-07:00

Colorful Scorpio Sign and date picture is courtesy of “kptattoo” from Flickr

Tattooing the sign alone is like giving away your ID number, adding the date (for those who know some astrology) is like giving away your ID card!

Calf Tattoo

2008-10-22T06:51:00.001-07:00

Scorpio glyph calf tattoo picture is courtesy of “neilkod” from Flickr

Roman Mosaic

2008-10-21T21:39:00.001-07:00

Scorpio sign appears on a Roman Mosaic from the third century C.E., which is showed now at the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

To the best of my knowledge this is the only Roman Mosaic that contains both the zodiac signs and the hexagram.

Armenian Silver Zodiac Coin

2008-10-19T22:26:00.001-07:00

Scorpio sign and glyph appear on a Silver Zodiac Coin, which was issued by Armenia in 2007

Design: U. Walerzak

Cook-Island Coin

2008-10-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Scorpio Sign and glyph appear on an Elizabeth II Coin issued in Cook-Islands in 1977 along with the 11 other astrological signs of the zodiac

French President 1890-1970

2008-10-19T22:04:00.001-07:00

Scorpio is De Gaulle’s Zodiacal Sign. This stamp belongs to series with famous people and their astrological Signs, which was issued by Fujeira in 15 March 1973.

Israeli Art

2008-10-19T13:09:00.001-07:00

Unproportionally big Scorpio Sign

Hebrew word on top means Scorpio

Design: Sabina Saad from Israel

Glyphs

2008-10-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Silver necklace with Scorpio glyph made by C. Lago. Picture is courtesy of "ametistagirl" from Flickr

Glyphs (Internationally known hieroglyphics / symbols used in Western astrology to represent the 12 signs of the Zodiac) are a surprisingly late astrological development- they were used for the first time only circa 10th century C.E.:

Aries: curved horns of the ram or the letter T

Taurus: circle with horns on top

Gemini: like the roman symbol for the 2 (II)

Cancer: like 69 (horizontal)

Leo: small circle connected to lion’s tail

Virgo: looks like the letter M plus the letter V

Libra: pair of scales

Scorpio: looks like the letter M with an erect tail

Sagittarius: looks like an arrow aiming upward

Capricorn: curved tail of a fish or first two letters in the Greek word tragos, which means "goat."

(Source: The Alpha and the Omega by Jim A. Cornwell)

Aquarius: two zigzags one above the other - looks like water

Pisces: back-to-back half circles connected by an horizontal line in the middle

Sundial

2008-10-16T02:29:00.000-07:00

14^th century Scorpio sign from Italy, Milan-Duomo (Cathedral), where at midday, a ray of sun hits the right zodiacal sign.

Picture is courtesy of mixedmediaexpressions.com from Flickr.

Maldive Islands

2008-10-15T21:43:00.001-07:00

Scorpio sign glyph and constellation appear on a 1974 postage stamp among other Signs of the Zodiac in a series issued by Maldive Islands, which are located in the Indian Ocean.

Frightening Shadow

2008-10-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

Picture of “Rainbow Scorpion” is courtesy of Adelaide Archivist from Flickr. It is made by Anthea
from so colorful crystal beads that it makes one forget the real-life creature (eventhough the shadow is still frightening).

The Names of the Zodiac Signs

2008-10-15T20:59:00.001-07:00

On this postage stamp, which was issued in Greece in 2007, we see Scorpio constellation sign and glyph.

According to the dictionary most of the zodiac sign names date to 1350–1400 Middle English and are based on Latin

Aries - the Ram

Taurus - the Bull

Gemini- the Twins

Cancer – the Crab; : cancr-, akin to Greek karkínos, crab

Leo the Lion

Virgo, the Virgin, maiden (before 1000; Middle English)

Scorpio - the Scorpion

Libra- the Balance, pair of scales

Sagittarius- the Archer, from sagitta: arrow

Capricorn, the Goat; caper, goat + cornu, horn

Aquarius- the Water carrier, from aqua, water

Pisces the Fishes - from pisces, plural of piscis, fish

Foot Tattoo

2008-10-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

Scorpio Sign Tattoo on the foot

Choosing the skin of the foot as a canvas for this design is cool – people might warn you that there’s a scorpion on your foot:)

Picture is courtesy of “echelonAng3L” from Flickr.

Sunglasses

2008-10-15T00:28:00.001-07:00

Picture of Scorpio Sign sketch is courtesy of Scurzuzu from Flickr. It looks as if this Scorpio is wearing sunglasses.

Palermo, Sicily

2008-10-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign in Palermo Sicily Cathedral as part of 1690 meridian line and solar calendar (heliometer). Above there’s a small hole in the roof. on midsummer's day the light from the hole falls on Cancer and six months' later on Capricorn. Picture is courtesy of maha-online from Flickr.

Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

2008-10-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign medallion on the floor of the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. -picture is courtesy of Marjorie Lipan

Antikythera Zodiac

2008-10-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

The most surprising Antikythera mechanism (no one expected that the Greeks could build such a complicated device so early) was discovered in a ship wreck near the Greek island of Antikythera in 1901 and is dated to about 150–100 B.C.E. It is kept in Athens at the National Archaeological Museum.

The front dial has a scale with the 365 days, which surrounds a scale with the Greek signs of the Zodiac.

Picture is copied from Wikimedia entry Antikythera uploaded by Marsyas.

Inner Spiritual Astrology

2008-10-05T06:06:00.000-07:00

San Marino stamp with Scorpio sign glyph and constellation

R.S.W.Bobbette wrote in 1997 in her article Introductory Essays On Rudolf Steiner's Star-Knowledge that Steiner claimed

That the 12 levels of consciousness were related to the 12 zodiacal signs.
That the 12 zodiacal signs are characterized and drawn as the heavenly clock.

An example of Rudolf Steiner's 12 levels of consciousness is given in another article by Philosophy of Freedom where we see a diagram that attaches

Aries to Idealism

Taurus to Rationalism

Gemini to Mathematism

Cancer to Materialism

Leo to Sensationalism

Virgo to Phenomenalism

Scorpio to Dynamism [which explains the material world in terms of active forces, in contrast to the passive view of matter in philosophical mechanism]

Libra to Realism

Sagittarius to Monadism [of Gottfried Leibniz]

Capricorn to Spiritism [séances]

Aquarius to Pneumatism

Pisces to Psychism [The doctrine of Quesne]

The author of this article claims that the basis for his diagram is found in the fourth lecture of Human and Cosmic Thought where Rudolf Steiner speaks of an inner Spiritual Astrology.

Six Hexagrams, Twelve Zodiacal Signs

2008-10-04T10:47:00.001-07:00

Six hexagrams, a telescope along with the zodiacal signs and glyphs appear on a mosaic ceiling at Greenwich Town Hall, London, England, above the main door. It is not clear why the hexagrams were introduced in this context and why six. I guess it has to do with the influence of alchemy. Anyhow it’s a nice contribution to my new research about the hexagram and the Zodiac
See: www.flickr.com/groups/858932@N24/discuss/72157607482488166/

The Scorpio sign is the second from the bottom on the left column.

Picture is courtesy of a2d

Hexagram and Zodiac, Togo

2008-10-04T09:10:00.001-07:00

Scorpio sign and a few other zodiacal signs and a hexagram appear on this Togo Postage Stamp, which was issued in 1973 to commemorate 500 years since Nicolaus Copernicus.

The connection between the zodiac and the six-pointed star is the subject of my new research.

Photo is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

Elegant Ring

2008-10-02T23:28:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign on an elegant ring

Picture is courtesy of “gizzmo2z”

I’m searching for similar pictures of rings of the other zodiacal signs. In case you have one don’t hesitate to send it to me.

Prometheus Statue by Paul Manship

2008-10-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign and glyph (along with Leo Virgo and Sagittarius) are seen in this picture of Paul Manship’s (1885 - 1966) Prometheus sculpture, which was created in 1934 at the Rockefeller Center in New York.

Courtesy of “wallyg”.

Zoom in by clicking the “all sizes command above the picture in Flickr.

The Council of Twelve

2008-10-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

The design of Merréll O'Brian's book cover shows that there is a connection between the zodiac and the six-pointed star. this is also the subject of my research.

Merréll O'Brian designed the Zodiac signs, each on a separate Star of David, on the cover of his book The Council of Twelve. He wrote to me that

The Council of Twelve has been in existence for 26000 years since The Creator placed Adam, Aries,"the First" as a high priest of the tribes; Adam created with the sun and moon…

Tibetan Astrology: Desires And Feelings

2008-09-29T05:22:00.000-07:00

The 12 signs of the zodiac may be interpreted as stages of spiritual development, starting from

slavery and ending in freedom. Take for example Roeland de Looff who wrote on his web page a beautiful piece about Tibetan Astrology. Here are some points:

Aries is symbolized by a drawing of a blind man. Aries is hasty and that's why it stumbles.

Taurus is symbolized by a drawing of a potter. Taurus’s will shapes its future by its deeds.

Gemini is symbolized by a drawing of a restless monkey. Gemini is restless and is jumping between projects.

Cancer is symbolized by a drawing of a ship with two voyagers (consciousness & body) and a navigator (true self).

Leo is symbolized by a drawing of a house with windows representing the six senses: eyes, nose, ears, tongues, body and mind.

Virgo is symbolized by a drawing of two figures making love (representing contact).

Libra is symbolized by a drawing of a figure with an arrow in his eye (representing too much information).

Scorpio is symbolized by a drawing of a woman who is giving beverage to a man (representing desires and feelings).

Sagittarius is symbolized by a drawing of a woman that collects fruit in a basket (representing satisfaction through earthly objects).

Capricorn is symbolized by a drawing of two people making love in a cabin (representing new start)

Aquarius is symbolized by a drawing of a birth (representing new life).

Pisces is symbolized by a drawing of a burial. (Representing loss of material-life and release from the Wheel of Life.

Scorpio Key Holder

2008-09-28T07:12:00.001-07:00

My son got this Scorpio Key Holder (made in Israel) for his birthday, almost a year ago.

Since zodiacal signs are personal and intimate there’s naturally always a demand for zodiacal artifacts – and where there is a demand there is a supplier.

Bel Temple at Palmyra, Syria

2008-09-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Scorpio and the other zodiacal signs appear on this massive relief carved from a single stone at the Bel Temple, Palmyra, Syria. The zodiac signs surround Bel and the other planet-gods Helios, Selene, Ares, Hermes, Aphrodite and Cronos. Picture is courtesy of “spdl_n1”

Palmyra (aka Tadmor) is 215 km northeast of Damascus. Bel’s Greek name is Zeus and his Roman name is Jupiter. This temple is dated to the reign of Tiberius in 32 C.E.

In order to see the signs clearly I'm afraid you'll have to zoom in by clicking the All Sizes command above the picture

Artemis of Ephesus

2008-09-28T05:32:00.001-07:00

Scorpio sign appears in the center of (Diana) Artemis’ chest along with the other signs of the zodiac around her neck on a 125-175 C.E. statue exhibited in Ephesus Museum, Turkey. Picture is courtesy of AWWS.

In Greek mythology Hellenic goddess Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo.

Dormition Church, Jerusalem, 1945

2008-09-27T06:04:00.001-07:00

Zodiac Signs appear on the 1908 floor of the Roman Catholic Dormition (“Falling Asleep” of the Virgin) Church in Jerusalem along with names of Prophets Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel and a verse from Proverbs 8, 23-25. The three intersecting circles in the center symbolize the Trinity. Designer of the church was Heinrich Renard.

Picture is courtesy of “Black and white archive” From Flickr

Picture was taken in 1945 by James George (1921 - 2006)

Looks Like a Lizard

2008-09-26T23:17:00.000-07:00

Scorpio that looks like a lizard. The picture is courtesy of “gorgeoux”. it is one of 12 zodiacal sign reliefs at Calella, Catalonia , Spain (50 kilometers north of Barcelona).

Colum Hourihane wrote in his book Time in the Medieval World that Scorpio was connected in medieval art to October, viewed from above, could have a long tail starting from the head, or could look like a dog, or a tortoise with shell (because the artists in Europe didn’t have a model of a real Scorpio in front of their eyes).

The full details of this book are: Occupations of the Months and Signs of the Zodiac in the Index of Christian Art, Princeton University Dept. of Art and Archaeology. Index of Christian Art, Penn State Press, 2007

Scorpio Rules The Desert

2008-09-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Tha late Rabbi S.Z. Kahana quoted on his web page from Lekach Tov to Genesis 1: 14

(And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years”)

Aries- Persia and Madai

Taurus- Chaldaeans

Gemini- Khazari

Cancer- Armenia

Leo - Edom

Virgo: Ashkenazi, German

Scorpio- desert

Libra- Africa

Sagittarius- Negro

Capricorn- Eretz Israel

Aquarius - Egypt

Pisces- Hondea

It seems that the idea of zodiac signs ruling geographical areas was not originally Jewish since

1st century CE Roman poet and astrologer Marcus Manilius already wrote in his Astronomica that Scorpio ruled over Carthage, Libya, Egypt, Sardinia.

Comics

2008-09-26T20:52:00.001-07:00

Scorpio comics picture is courtesy of natashahohoho and it shows Scorpio sign, glyph, dates and quite negative traits: secretive, vindictive, forceful, sullen

Scorpio of Pain Tattoo

2008-09-25T22:21:00.001-07:00

Scorpio Tattoo (“Eylcia and the Scorpio of Pain”) picture is courtesy of Glandrid who shot it on the beach at a North Provincial Park party on a vacation at Lake Ontario. It is not entirely clear to me if the pain we are talking about here is the pain of Scorpios or the pain of Eylcia in the process of getting a tattoo... or both.

Babylonian Cuneiform Tablet

2008-09-25T03:28:00.001-07:00

This Cuneiform tablet picture is courtesy of Nickmard Khoey who published it on Flickr with the following caption:

This is the last datable cuneiform tablet in the British Museum. It gives the monthly positions of the planets in the zodiac signs and the dates of their characteristic phenomena. Dates of solstices, equinoxes and eclipses are also given. The text also refers to the rising of Sirius, and especially bright star used as calendar markers by various cultures across the ancient world.

61 C.E., Babylon, Iraq
P.S.
Nickmard Khoey added:
It is the "last" dated Cunieform tablet. It has been dated because of the Zodiac information on it. Cunieform was still in use until the 1st Century AD. It was used for more than 3,000 years in various forms by different near eastern empires.

It’s a pity that I can’t read cuneiform letters. It would have been much more friendly if we could see the known zodiac-signs scattered between these strange letters, but it seems that these were invented latter.

Tetractys Zodiac And Six-Pointed Star

2008-09-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

The Tetractys shows the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 as dots, each in a separate line.

The Tetractys is connected to the six-pointed Star, like we see here in the following drawing.

It is also connected to the zodiac as Clare Martin showed in her book "Mapping the Psyche", London, 2005:

Pythagoras devised the Tetractys as a mathematical model that shows how numbers describe the nature of the universe as well as the nature of any system, including the human being…

These numbers are not simply quantitative, but are also archetypes of number, with ‘oneness’, ‘twoness’, ‘threeness’ and ‘fourness’ being understood as wholes or unities in themselves, each with their own qualitative meaning.

1- There is one zodiac

2- The signs are active or passive (Scorpio is passive)

3- The signs are cardinal, fixed or mutable (Scorpio is fixed)

4- Each sign belongs to one of the elements: fire, earth, air, water (Scorpio is water)

Gregorian calendar

2008-09-22T00:48:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign appears on a 1982 German Zodiac signs stamp issued to mark four hundred years of the Gregorian calendar.

2004 Russian Postage Stamp

2008-09-21T21:43:00.001-07:00

Scorpio name sign glyph and constellation appear on a Russian stamp issued on the 21st of April 2004.

Cleveland Museum of Art

2008-09-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign statue at Cleveland Museum of Art picture is courtesy of stu_spivack from Flickr.

Toulouse

2008-09-21T05:57:00.001-07:00

Scorpio sign in a modern design

Picture is courtesy of “iko” from Flickr who took it in Toulouse, France

Zodiac in French

Les signes du Zodiaque

Aries Le Bélier

Taurus- Le Taureau

Gemini Les Gémeaux

Cancer- L’Écrevisse

Leo- Lion

Virgo- La Vierge

Libra- La Balance

Scorpio- le Scorpion

Sagittarius- Le Sagittaire

Capricorn- Le Capricorne

Aquarius- Le Verseau

Pisces- Les Poissons

Wishing Bridge, Jaffa, Israel

2008-09-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

Nearby there's a big sign notifying that an ancient legend has it that if you touch your Zodiac sign and make a wish while looking at the sea - your wish will come true. To me it looks like a modern legend invented to attract tourists - why didn't they mention the source of the legend?

Picture is courtesy of "binarydreams" from Flickr

Mithraic Bas-relief from Modena

2008-09-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

Scorpio with the other signs of the zodiac appears on a Bas-relief, which is kept now in the Estense Museum in Modena, Italy.

From: The Mysteries Of Mithra by Franz Cumont, Chicago, 1903 p. 223

At Housesteads on Hadrian's Wall, Britain, there was found a A bronze image of Mithras surrounded by the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac. This is the earliest artifact showing the Signs of the Zodiac in the north-west provinces of the Roman Empire.

Mithraism was brought to Rome by Roman soldiers from Persia in the first century C.E.

Hercules’ Twelve Labors Connected to the Zodiac

2008-09-20T06:15:00.001-07:00

Picture of Amphora

from Psyakos, 520 BC, Breskia Museum Italy

on a Greek stamp depicting Hercules killing the Nemean Lion

There are many references to the connection between Hercules' 12 Labors and the Zodiac. Alice A. Bailey even dedicated a whole book to this issue (The Labours of Hercules: An Astrological Interpretation, 2000).

Here’s a digest from: http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/HeraclesLabours.html

The Lernean Hydra - Cancer

The Nemean Lion -Leo

The Erymanthian Boar - Cancer

The Apples of the Hesperides- Scorpio

The Cerynian Hind- Libra

The Stymphalian Birds- Sagittarius

The Stable of Augeas- Capricorn

The Mares of Diomedes- Aquarius

Cerberus- Pisces

The Girdle of Hippolyte - Aries

The Cretan Bull- Taurus

The Cows of Geryon- Gemini

The Origin of the Zodiac

2008-09-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

Donald A. Mackenzie claims in his book Myths of Babylonia And Assyria (1915, project Gutenberg, Chapter XIII- Astrology and Astronomy, Table XIII.1 that our signs are derived from ancient Babylonia:

Constellation Aries

Babylonian Equivalent: The Laborer or Messenger

Constellation Taurus

Babylonian Equivalent: A divine figure and the "bull of heaven"

Constellation Gemini

Babylonian Equivalent:

The Faithful Shepherd and Twins side by side, or head to head and feet to feet

Constellation Cancer

Babylonian Equivalent: Crab or Scorpion

Constellation Leo

Babylonian Equivalent: The big dog Lion

Constellation Virgo

Babylonian Equivalent: Ishtar, the Virgin's ear of corn

Constellation Libra

Babylonian Equivalent: The Balance

Constellation Scorpio

Babylonian Equivalent: Scorpion of darkness

Constellation Sagittarius

Babylonian Equivalent:

Man or man-horse with bow, or an arrow symbol

Constellation Capricorn

Babylonian Equivalent: Ea's goat-fish

Constellation Aquarius

Babylonian Equivalent: God with water urn

Constellation Pisces

Babylonian Equivalent: Fish tails in canal

In addition Donald A. Mackenzie wrote that according to the Babylonian Creation Legend (British Museum “The Seven Tablets Of Creation" from the Library of Ashur-bani-pal at Nineveh) Merodach fixed three stars for each month of the Zodiac… Mr. Brown, junior, calculated that the signs of the Zodiac were fixed in the year 2084 B.C.E (Primitive Constellations, 1899, vol. 2, pp. 147)

Scorpio Man from 12th century B.C.E

2008-09-20T04:55:00.001-07:00

A Scorpion Man with bird feet aiming with a bow and arrow.

Found near Abu Habbah.

Picture was copied from Myths of Babylonia And Assyria written by Donald A. Mackenzie, 1915 (project Gutenberg) Chapter XIII. Astrology and Astronomy, Figure xiii.1.

Symbols of deities as astronomical signs: Sculptured on limestone recording privileges granted to Ritti-Marduk by Nebuchadnezzar I.

It is kept now in the British Museum.

King Nebuchadnezzar I lived in the 12th century B.C.E

Stones, Colors, Tribes and the Zodiac

2008-09-18T20:35:00.003-07:00

Marc Chagall created 12 painted windows at The Synagogue of the Hadassah Medical Center in 1962. The Windows represent the 12 Tribes of Israel, arranged in FOUR groups of three, and the choice of colors was inspired by the description of the breastplate of the High Priest in Exodus 28:17-21.

Picture is courtesy of “tevnin” From Flickr

In his book (De Vita Mosis 3, 209) Philo (20-50 C.E.) interpreted the names on the 12 stones of the high priest as the signs of the zodiac.

Josephus Flavius (37-100 C.E.) gave a similar explanation to the 12 stones in his book (Antiquities of the Jews Vo 3 chapter 7)

The stones were placed in FOUR rows like the zodiac signs which are arranged in FOUR groups according to the four elements: earth water fire and air.

The translation of the names of the stones from Hebre

w to English has many variations. Here’s one:

Ruby- Reuven

Topaz - Shimon

Emerald - Levi

Turquoise - Yehuda

Lapis Lazuli - Yissachar

Quartz - Zevulun

Jacinth - Dan

Agate - Naphtali

Amethyst- Gad

Chrysolite -Asher

Onyx - Yosef

Jasper - Binyamin

Now, since each stone had a different color the comparison between a certain stone and a certain tribe was also a comparison between a certain color

and a certain tribe.

The colors of the 12 tribes according to Sefer HaTodaah of Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov:

Red: Reuven

Green: Shimon

White/Black/red: Levi

Blue: Yehuda

Dark Gray: Yissachar

White: Zevulun

Sapphire Dan

Light Red: Naphtali

Light Gray: Gad

Not specified: Asher

Black: Yosef

All the colors: Binyamin

Picture of The Jewish High Priest with the 12 stones is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer from Haifa, Israel and this item is part of his collection

The following stones are associated with Scorpio: ruby, topaz, rhodonite, rhodocrosite, sodalite, bloodstone, beryl, apache tear, aqua aura, azurite-malachite

Bronze Sea

2008-09-18T20:35:00.002-07:00

The above image appears in Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) Biblia das ist, die gantze heylige Schrifft and is courtesy of Pitt’s Theological library.

It seems that almost every mention of the number twelve was connected during history to the zodiac signs (including, so it seems, Scorpio).

1 Kings 7:23 tells about the molten sea made by King Solomon and in verse 7:25 we find:

It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

Morris Jastrow Jr., Ira Maurice Price, Marcus Jastrow and Louis Ginzberg in their entry Brazen Sea which was published in the Jewish Encyclopedia wrote that Midrash Tadshe says that the twelve oxen on which the sea rested represented the zodiac ("mazzalot"). As you may know the zodiac is divided to four groups according to the elements: earth, water fire and air.

Solomon’s temple functioned from the 10th century B.C.E until the 6^th century B.C.E.

Labor of the Month

2008-09-18T20:35:00.001-07:00

Correlation between months and the signs of the zodiac was a popular theme in medieval art. Here we see Scorpio appearing on a detail from 1556 Kalender of Shepherdes characterizing the months through the typical works that were made during each one of them.

Picture is copied from Wikipedia entry: Image:The Wheel of the Occupations of the Months and the Zodiac.JPG uploaded by Peacay.

See the whole Kalender of Shepherdes on Flickr

January: feasting, giving new years' gifts

February: warming by the fire, cutting wood, taking cattle to the market

March: sowing and ploughing, trimming the vines

April: celebrating spring

May: courting and hunting

June harvesting

July: harvesting

August: gathering fruits from trees

September: harvesting grapes

October: sowing, storing wine (Scorpio)

November preparing for winter

December: killing the pig

Scorpio Represents Punishment

2008-09-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign and gliph

(among the other signs and gliphs of the zodiac)

on an Israeli stamp issued in 1961

Picture was taken by Hayim Shtayer and the stamp belongs to his collection.

The stamp was designed by I. Blaushild.

According to Jewish tradition (Midrash Tanchumah, Ha'azinu chapter 1) man’s life passes through 12 stages like the sun’s passing through the 12 zodiacal signs:

Birth- Aries

Power- Taurus

Illusion: Gemini

Desire: Cancer

Desire grows: Leo

False innocence- Virgo

Judgment- Libra

Punishment: Scorpio

Repentance- Sagitarius

Purification-1: Capricorn

Purification-2: Aquarius

Completion: Pisces

Midrash Tanchumah is dated to the 6^th century C.E.

Manilius

2008-09-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Excerpt From a Poem by Manilius
(first century B.C.)
Translated by Thomas Creech and published in 1670

From:

http://www.cyberwitch.com/wychwood/Observatory/manilius.htm

First Aries, glorious in his Golden Wool,

Looks back and wonders at the mighty Bull,

Whose back-parts first appear: He bending lies

With Threat'ning Head, and calls the Twins to rise,

They clasp for fear , and mutually embrace;

And next (to) the Twins with an unsteady pace

Bright Cancer rolls: then Leo shakes his mane:

And following Virgo calms his rage again:

Then Day and Night weigh'd in Libra's Scales,

Equal awhile, at last the Night prevails,

And longer grown the heavier scale inclines

And draws bright Scorpio from the Winter signs:

Him Centaur follows with an aiming Eye

His Bow full drawn and ready to let fly:

Next narrow Horns the twisted Caper shows,

And from Aquarius' Urn a Flood o'erflows.

Near their loved Waves cold Pisces take their seat,

With Aries join and make the round complete.

Cheerful Image

2008-09-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

Scorpio-sign art Picture is courtesy of Deaf RED Bear from Flickr. This is certainly the most cheerful image on this collection.

It seems fit to add here a children's song:

The Ram, the Bull, the heavenly Twins,

And next the Crab, the Lion shines.

The Virgin and the Scales;

The Scorpion, Archer, and Sea goat,

The man that holds the water pot,

And Fish with glitt'ring tails

From Myths of Babylonia And Assyria by Donald A. Mackenzie, 1915 (project Gutenberg) Chapter XIII. Astrology and Astronomy

13th Century, Amiens, France

2008-09-16T04:28:00.001-07:00

Finely carved relief Scorpio sign appears on a portal of the west facade of the Cathedral of Amiens, which was built between 1218 and 1269. Picture is courtesy of Vassil from Wikimedia entry Zodiac. Medieval people ascribed agricultural (more than astrological) meaning to the Zodiac.

Medieval Lizard

2008-09-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign (looks more like a lizard) appears on a reproduction of a medieval book of astrology from the 15th century. Picture is courtesy of Fulcanelli from Wikimedia entry Zodiac.

Mars

2008-09-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign and glyph appear (bottom right) on a 1539 drawing by German Northern Renaissance engraver Beham Sebald (1500-1550). Picture is courtesy of Yellow Lion from Wikimedia entry Zodiac. Sebald was a pupil of Albrecht Durer in Nuremberg.

Constellation with Antares

2008-09-16T04:15:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign appears on an illustration of the constellation Scorpio. Picture is courtesy of Fritz Geller-Grimm from Wikipedia entry Scorpius.

Stars Atlas

2008-09-16T04:10:00.000-07:00

Scorpio constellation appears on a map made by German astronomer Johann Bode (1747-1826) published in the largest star atlas that has ever been published: Uranographia, Berlin 1801.

The Praetorian Guard

2008-09-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

On the Gemma Augustea cameo (10x23 cm; 10 C.E.) The Scorpio of Tiberius is engraved on a shield which is exhibited at the Vienna Kunsthistorishes Museum.

Scorpio was the emblem of the Praetorian of bodyguards.
It was used to honor the Emperor Tiberius for building the Praetorian Camp in Rome. His birth sign was Scorpio.

From: http://www.redrampant.com/roma/vexillum.html

In 31 BCE Augustus founded The Praetorian Guard in order to prevent incidences like the murdering of Julius Caesar. Scorpio appears on many Praetorian items. The Praetorian Guard existed until 312 CE.

P.S.

Andrew From www.redrampant.com sent me this coin with the following explanation:

A Roman coin issued by the emperor, Galba. You can see a picture of the emperor addressing his praetorians. In the middle there is a shield with the Scorpio.

Besides, Tiberius built the city of Tiberias, which is called after him, and which has a Synagogue with a Zodiac (probably to honor Tiberius). Now, Tiberius is called after the Tiber river in Rome. I can imagine him watching the Sea of Galilee from his porch, feeling at home (as if he's watching the Tiber).

Ukraine Postage Stamp

2008-09-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Scorpio-sign that looks like a kid and Scorpio appear on a Ukrainian Postage Stamp

Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

Romania Postage Stamp

2008-09-15T06:51:00.001-07:00

Scorpio-sign glyph and constellation appear on a 2001 Romanian Postage Stamp
Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

Kazakhstan Postage Stamp

2008-09-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

Scorpio-sign glyph and constellation appear on a Kazakhstan Postage Stamp

Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

Kazakhstan belonged to the USSR until 1991.

Switzerland Postage Stamp

2008-09-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Scorpio-sign floats over a village on a Swiss Postage Stamp
Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.
Helvetia is the second name of Switzerland.

Poland Postage Stamp

2008-09-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

Scorpio-sign with a human body on a 1996 Postage Stamp
Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

Ajman Postage Stamp

2008-09-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Scorpio-sign with a human face on an Ajamn Postage Stamp

Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

Ajmān is one of seven United Arab Emirates (UAE) and it is located at the Persian Gulf.

France 1217, Chartres

2008-09-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

Green Scorpio sign appears on the gothic (1217) Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres stained glass window. Picture is courtesy of foto Daniel from Flickr. Chartres is located 80 km from Paris. The sign is on the central medallion illustrated by a man pouring wine into a barrel.

1961 Israeli Stamp

2008-09-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

White Scorpio Sign on a pink background on a 27/02/1961 Israeli postage stamp. Designer: I Blaushild. On the tab we see all the zodiac signs. Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

Joseph Jacobs and Judah David Eisenstein wrote the Jewish Encyclopedia entry "Zodiac", where they claim that Jews adopted Babylonian names of the constellations

Zodiac signs: Hebrew Names and Meanings

Aries- the word for ram in Hebrew is Ayil but the sign is called Tale, which means lamb.

Taurus – Shor, bull

Gemini- Teomim, twins (root: fitting(

Cancer- Sartan, Cancer

Leo- Aryeh, lion

Virgo – Betulah, virgin

Scorpio- Akrav, Scorpion

Libra- Moznayim, scales

Sagittarius- Keshet, bow

Capricorn – Gdi, young goat

Aquarius – Dli, bucket

Pisces – Dagim, fishes

Joseph Jacobs and Judah David Eisenstein quote Rabbis who tried to explain the origin of these names.

Aries is a reminder of the 'Aḳedah, Isaac representing the sacrificial lamb.

Taurus is a reminder of the calf which Abraham provided for the angels.

Gemini represents Esau and Jacob, the twins.

Cancer represents Moses, who was saved from water.

Leo represents the Temple named "Ariel", "the lion of God".

They bring other sources where Rabbis explain that:

Virgo is a symbol of marriage.

Libra weighs all the deeds of man.

Scorpio is punishment and a symbol of hell.

Sagittarius represents salvation.

Aquarius represents purification.

Phone Card

2008-09-12T07:06:00.001-07:00

Picture of Scorpio glyph on a prepaid phone card used for calling from the USA to the World is courtesy of Speedypin from Wikimedia Commons entry: Telephone card. All the other astrological glyphs of the zodiac appear on the white dialing zone.

Lithuanian Artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis

2008-09-12T07:03:00.001-07:00

Picture of Scorpio glyph on a painting (from 1907) created by Lithuanian artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis (1875-1911) is courtesy of Renata3 from Wikimedia Commons entry: Image:Zodiakas.Kurklys.jpg

Mithraism, Autumn Attacks Spring

2008-09-12T04:07:00.001-07:00

Picture of a scorpion (symbolizing autumn) that attacks the testicles of a bull, which was taken by Mike Young, Wikipedia entry: Mithraic Mysteries. This is a detail from a tauroctony, a sculpture of Mithras killing a sacred bull (symbolizing spring). A tauroctony was an essential part of every Mithraic Temple. Mithraism was one of the Roman religions in the 1st to the 4th centuries C.E. This sculpture is displayed at the British Museum of London. To me it looks so poetic!

Astrological Tattoos

2008-09-12T03:57:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign tattoo picture is courtesy of “alfondc’ from Flickr. Tattoos are so ubiquitous nowadays that I expect there are thousands of people with similar Scorpio Tattoos, but unfortunately most of them don’t show their pictures on Flickr.

The Last Supper and The Apostles

2008-09-11T20:49:00.001-07:00

Michael Ladwein wrote in his book Leonardo Da Vinci, the Last Supper, 2006 ISBN 1902636759 that there were many interpretations relating the 12 apostles to the 12 signs of the zodiac, each author arranged them according to his own whim, like:

1. Bartholomew corresponds Aries

2. James the elder to Taurus

3. Andrew to Gemini

4. Judas to Cancer

5. Peter to Leo

6. John the Evangelist to Virgo

7. Thomas to Libra

8. James the younger to Scorpio

9. Philip to Sagittarius

10. Matthew to Capricorn

11. Thaddeus to Aquarius)

12. Simon to Pisces

Michael Ladwein wrote also that

1. The second-century Gnostic Theodotus was the first to suggest such a relationship.

2. A lamp found in Geneva dating to Early Christianity has the 12 apostles around a flame (the Sun, Jesus).

3. In medieval art and literature this association is frequent.

Picture was taken from Wikipedia (entry: Last Supper), and was uploaded by “Liberal Freemason”.

See Also my Last Supper stamps on Flickr

Mars rules Aries & Scorpio

2008-09-11T05:24:00.001-07:00

Mars rules Aries & Scorpio (shown at his feet) picture is courtesy of Aaron from Antiquus-Astrology.com

Czech Republic Stamp

2008-09-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Blue Scorpio Sign and yellow Scorpio Glyph on a 1998-2001Czech Republic postage stamp.

Liechtenstein Stamp

2008-09-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

Brown Scorpio Sign on a red background on a 1978 postage stamp from Liechtenstein.

October

2008-09-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Scorpio appears (on top right) in the 15th century Book of Hours (Tres Riches Heures)
Limbourg Brothers, 1412-16. Picture is courtesy of Thierry Fanovan from Flickr.

Selket with Scorpio on her Head

2008-09-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

In ancient Egyptian art scorpion-goddess Selket appeared with a scorpion on her head.

Picture from Wikimedia, entry: Selket. Courtesy of Jeff Dahl who painted it based on New Kingdom tomb paintings.

Lady of the Beautiful House

by: HEATHWITCH

I stand in the Beautiful Tent

and work My magic there

My scorpions at My heels

Beware ye, the unjust

for death shadows you

and may come swiftly

with My stinging touch

or it may be slow

with a lingering venom

under the noonday sun

From 1496

2008-09-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign appears on bottom right of a printing by Nicolas le Rouge, in the book Le grant kalendrier des Bergiers (1496, Troyes, France)

Chicago

2008-09-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Scorpio glyph appears as part of the zodiac on the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world in Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, Illinois. The Dome was renovated in the 1970s and it is valued at an estimated $35 million. Picture taken by scratch n sniff from Flickr.

From Hampton Palace, London

2008-09-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

Scorpio sign and glyph appear on the 14th century Hampton Palace astronomical Clock. picture taken by shakkai from Flickr. Hampton Palace is a former royal palace located in London. This clock was built before Copernicus and Galileo, so that it shows the sun turning around the earth.

On The Beach

2008-09-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Scorpio on the beach picture is courtesy of Johann C. Rocholl (Stuttgart, Germany) from Flickr. This seems like an original idea, and I’m sure the kid enjoyed the event not less than the photographer. I reckon this formula works for the other astrological signs as well.

Selket Scorpio

2008-09-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

We see here Egyptian ancient (1342 B.C.E.) scorpion goddess, Selket. The picture was taken at the Louvre, Paris, and is courtesy of “that james” from Flickr. Selket is also called Serqet, Serket, Selqet, Selkit, Selkis. Selket was the ancient goddess of magic and the underworld.
Giorgio de Santillana and Hertha von Dechend On their essay Hamlet's Mill claim that Scorpio is a cross-cultural image:
That fits "Mother Scorpion" of Nicaragua and the "Old goddess with the scorpion tail" of the Maya as it also fits the Scorpion-goddess Selket-Serqet of ancient Egypt and the Ishara tam.tim of the Babylonians. Ishara of the sea, goddess of the constellation Scorpius, was also called "Lady of the Rivers"

The Scorpion goddess drawing appears in the Maya Codex Tro-Cortesianus

From 1502

2008-09-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

Scorpio glyph appears on bottom right of German Artist Albrecht Durer (1471 –1528) woodcut from 1502. It shows Urania, the muse of astronomy and astrology holding the Zodiac.

Posture

2008-09-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

Picture of Scorpio Posture Potsdam, Germany, is courtesy of olaribu04 from Flickr. Imitating postures of different kinds of animals is ubiquitous in many cultures. I.e., in Yoga there’s the (Vrischika) scorpion posture in which body looks like a scorpion with its tail ready to sting.

From Morocco

2008-09-08T05:37:00.000-07:00

Picture of fake Scorpio fossil from Morocco is courtesy of katieandtommy from Flickr. On the background we see Stephen Jay Gould’s essay "The Lying Stones of Marrakech", about the fake fossil trade in Marrakech with an identical Scorpio.

Crying escorpioo

2008-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

The crying Scorpio picture is courtesy of nevesneto from Flickr. This is a personification of a Scorpio and like a human being it has eyes and tears, teeth and even shoes. As you know the only sign that doesn’t need personification is Virgo, but I’m curious to see if this artist (nevesneto) made personifications of the other 10 astrological signs…

Hoover Dam Scorpion

2008-09-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

The picture of a Scorpio from Hoover Dam, is courtesy of Deerbourne from Flickr. Hoover Dam is located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. This Scorpio is part of the 12 astrological signs framing a compass, which were all created by Norwegian-born sculptor Oskar Hansen.

Swedish Graffiti Scorpio

2008-09-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

The stencil Graffiti Scorpio picture from Gothenburg, Sweden is courtesy of Eva the Weaver from Flickr. Why would anyone make such graffiti? Probably, to celebrate his birthday…

Fremont Summer Solstice Parade

2008-09-05T06:34:00.000-07:00

The Picture of a Scorpio sign on wheels taking part in the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade is courtesy of lippert61from Flickr. This annual parade in Seattle, Washington, started in 1989 by Barbara Luecke and Peter Toms.