The 12 zodiac signs, with which many people are likely familiar today, were created during this Ancient Greek period. The signs of Aries (approximately March 21-April 19), Taurus (April 20-May 20), Gemini (May 21-June 20), Cancer (June 21-July 22), Leo (July 23-Aug. 22), Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22), Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22), Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21), Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21 These Western, or tropical, zodiac signs were named after constellations and paired with dates based on their apparent relationship to the sun’s position in the sky.
By 1500 BC, the Babylonians had divided the zodiac into 12 equal signs, with constellation names that were similar to those we know today, such as The Great Twins, The Lion, and The Scales, and these were later adopted into Greek divination. These 12 signs were popularized by the astronomer Ptolemy, author of the Tetrabiblos, which became a key work in the history of Western astrology.
“Ptolemy codified the idea that there were 12 signs of the zodiac that were 30 broad, and that the sun travelled through these signs on a regular basis throughout the year,” adds Odenwald. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “zodiac” derives from the Greek, from a term for “sculpted animal figure,” and the sequence in which the signs are normally enumerated also stems from that time period.
In This Article...
What month do the zodiac signs fall under?
- Aries is the first sign of the zodiac (March 21April 19)
- Taurus is the sign of the bull (April 20May 20)
- Gemini is a sign of the zodiac (May 21June 20)
- Cancer is a disease that affects people (June 21July 22)
- Leo is a sign of the zodiac (July 23August 22)
- Virgo is the sign of the Virgin (August 23September 22)
- Libra is a sign of the zodia (September 23October 22)
- Scorpio is a zodiac sign that (October 23November 21)
- Sagittarius is the sign of the eagle (November 22December 21)
- Capricorn is a sign in the zodiac that (December 22January 19)
- Aquarius is the sign of the water bearer (January 20February 18)
- Pisces is a water sign (February 19March 20)
When did astrological signs become popular?
Astrology is the study of celestial bodies’ movements and relative placements, which are thought to have an impact on human affairs and the natural world. The 12 zodiac signs, one of the earliest notions of astrology, were devised by the Babylonians around 1894 BC.
What is the order of the 12 zodiac signs?
Did you know that there are 88 constellations in the night sky? Humans have cataloged and labeled them all over the period of thousands of years. However, only 12 are exceptionally well-known and continue to play a role in modern astrological systems. The zodiac signs are a set of 12 constellations that correlate to the various months of the year.
Starting at the vernal equinox, one of the intersections of the ecliptic with the celestial equator, each of these takes up a sector of the sky that makes up 30 of the ecliptic. Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are the astrological signs in the following order: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Here is a list of all the zodiac signs and their associated dates. Your zodiac sign is determined by your birthdate falling inside one of those dates.
Granted, current science has proven astrology to be an ancient fallacy, a method of correlating celestial motions to events and behaviors on Earth. However, given their lack of understanding of human psychology, astronomy, and the reality that Earth was not the center of the universe, such patterns were vital for ancient humans.
Aries, who should you marry?
Libra (opposites attract), Sagittarius, and Leo are the most compatible signs for Aries in friendship and romantic relationships (fellow fire signs will speak their same passionate language).
What is the best way to figure out my zodiac sign?
When people inquire about your zodiac sign, they usually mean your Sun sign. And, to be honest, everyone knows what their Sun sign is. It’s easy to check it up now that we have the Internet, and at the very least, everyone has been intrigued about what the stars have to say about them. Some people completely identify with their Sun sign, while others find it completely incomprehensible.
There are a number possible explanations, including your Moon sign and Ascendant, which I’ll discuss later. Even if you don’t exactly relate to the attributes of that zodiac sign, from the perspective of the sky, you will find patterns that correlate due to planetary motions at any given moment, thus I always urge people to read for the Sun sign in daily/monthly/yearly horoscopes.
Your Sun sign is determined by your birthday. If you were born on a day when the Sun changed signs, you may need to consult a personal natal chart because you may be one sign over the other. Because you can’t have two Sun signs, cusps don’t exist (despite pop culture magazines’ best efforts; Karen, stop trying to make them a thing!).
What are the signs of the zodiac that I belong to?
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are the 12 zodiac signs in order. Each zodiac sign has a symbol that dates back to Middle Ages Greek manuscripts. Let’s look at the zodiac symbols, constellations, and qualities in more detail.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
The ram is the constellation that represents Aries, the first of the twelve zodiac signs. You are adventurous, active, ambitious, and competitive if you were born under this sign. Aries are recognized for their agility and leadership abilities, as well as a tendency to be impetuous and blunt (due to the “fire” aspect).
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Taurus is the second of the twelve zodiac signs, and the constellation Taurus represents it. You are dedicated, dependable, focused, and creative if you were born under this sign. Tauruses are noted for their intelligence, trustworthiness, and stubbornness (the sign is a bull, after all). Tauruses are notorious for questioning authority and seeking pleasure.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
The constellation Gemini, which is made up of the Dioscurithe twins, Castor and Pollux, represents Gemini, the third of the twelve zodiac signs. You are active, expressive, intellectual, and playful if you were born under this sign. Geminis are recognized for their gregarious personalities and diverse interests, yet they have a (probably undeserved) reputation for being duplicitous.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
The constellation Cancer, which is most typically pictured as a crab, represents Cancer, the fourth of the twelve zodiac signs. If you were born under this sign, you are brave, empathetic, protective, and perceptive. Cancers are noted for their tendency to be remote and passive-aggressive, as well as their caring nature.
Leo (July 23-August 22)
The lion is the constellation that represents Leo, the fifth of the twelve zodiac signs. You are vivacious, extroverted, and fiery if you were born under this sign. Leos are recognized for their warm personalities and great self-esteem, although they can be proud or jealous at times.
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
The virgin is the constellation that represents Virgo, the sixth of the twelve zodiac signs. You are practical, analytical, and sophisticated if you were born under this sign. Virgos are recognized for their generosity and meticulous attention to detail, yet they may also be introverted and have unrealistic expectations for themselves and their loved ones.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
The scales, the only inanimate constellation, represents Libra, the seventh of the twelve zodiac signs. You are thought to be balanced, social, and diplomatic if you were born under this sign. Libras are recognized for their selflessness and camaraderie, although they can be overly pragmatic and insecure at times.
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
Scorpio is the eighth of the twelve zodiac signs, and it is symbolized by the scorpion constellation. You are loyal, resourceful, and dedicated if you were born under this sign. Scorpios are recognized for their boldness and pioneering spirit, but they may be abrasive and walled off to strangers.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
The archer is the constellation that represents Sagittarius, the ninth of the twelve zodiac signs. If you were born under this sign, you are cheerful, self-reliant, and intellectual. Sagittariuses are noted for their magnetic qualities and generosity, yet they can also be arrogant and direct.
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Capricorn is the tenth of the twelve zodiac signs, and it is symbolized by the sea goat constellation. If you were born under this sign, you are patient, hardworking, and disciplined. Capricorns are recognized for their tenacity and fondness for boundaries and regulations, but they may be stubborn and too concerned with perfection.
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Aquarius is the eleventh of the twelve zodiac signs, and it is symbolized by the water carrier constellation. If you were born under this sign, you are thought to be creative, loyal, and unique. Aquariuses are recognized for their rebellious temperament and ingenuity, but they can be aloof and unyielding with loved ones.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Pisces is the last of the twelve zodiac signs, and it is symbolized by the fishes constellation. You are intuitive, artistic, and sympathetic if you were born under this sign. Pisces are famed for their empathy and artistic abilities, yet they can also be overly sensitive or delusional.
How to get a clearer picture
After you’ve determined your sun sign, you’ll need to look through your astrological charts, which are made up of three elements. The Sun sign, which is most people’s dominant zodiac sign, is the part of your horoscope that represents your ego. Then there’s your Moon sign, which influences your emotional outlook; finally, there’s your rising sign, which is your public face. This is a more difficult yet accurate method of estimating. With that said, you should be aware that the planets can impact or lessen every aspect of your horoscope.
Compatibility of zodiac signs in a love relationship
Many sites on the internet use a pair of matching signs, such as Gemini and Aries, to describe zodiac sign compatibility. But what if you’re looking for a compatible zodiac mate but aren’t sure what sign they belong to? Based on your zodiac sign, here are some traits of your possible interest:
- Aries is a self-assured achiever who can keep up with them.
- Someone who is self-assured, secretive, and capable of keeping them on their toes is a Leo.
- Sagittarius is a free-spirited, open-minded soul who does not strive to change others.
- Taurus is a devoted and amorous sign with only them in mind.
- Someone who is smart, complex, ambitious, and devoted is a Virgo.
- Capricorn is a sophisticated, fashionable, and intriguing spirit who can keep their mind occupied while being faithful.
- Gemini: a person with a sharp mind, a good sense of humor, and enough diversity to keep things interesting.
- Libra is a person with good looks, intelligence, and self-assurance.
- Aquarius: a dedicated but fun-loving individual with a wicked sense of humour and a culinary talent.
- Cancer is a sensuous, clever, and affectionate person with an empathic heart.
- Scorpio is attracted to people who can test them and feed off their passion and intensity.
- Pisces: someone with self-assurance, a creative intellect, and the capacity to connect with others.
What Are the Most Compatible Zodiac Signs for Friendships?
Friendships are an important aspect of one’s life. Nothing beats having a friend at your side with whom you can share everything and who will always be there for you. Astrology has a lot to say about compatibility, especially in nature; reading someone’s zodiac sign can give you an idea of their friendship. The zodiac sun sign pairs that are the most compatible are:
Who invented the zodiac?
According to NASA, the Babylonians had already constructed a 12-month calendar based on the phases of the moon when they created the zodiac. Despite the fact that they identified 13 constellations that make up the zodiac, they decided to leave one out so that the zodiac signs would coincide better with their 12-month calendar.
But, before all of you Aries, Cancers, and Leos start making fun of your new Ophiuchus friends, keep in mind that the addition of this 13th constellation shifts every zodiac sign’s time frame slightly, which means that, while I’ve loved my life as a textbook Pisces, I discovered that I’m now an Aquarius after doing my research. (Gasp!)
Although 3,000 years old, this information reappeared this year when NASA disclosed scientific data regarding the Earth’s axis, which has moved and no longer points in the exact same direction as it previously did, affecting the amount of time each constellation is visible in the sky.
The astrology community (and Twitter) went crazy, and many ardent followers assumed NASA was involved “added a sign to the zodiac, causing havoc with the signs we’re all familiar with. That, however, is not the case. NASA omitted an astrological symbol from the design. They wrote a Tumblr blog entry about it “I’ve just done the math. If you want to point the finger, it should go to the ancient Babylonians for leaving Ophiuchus out of the picture in the first place.