In Babylonian astronomy, Libra was known as MUL Zibanu (the “scales” or “balance”), or the Claws of the Scorpion. The sun deity Shamash, who was also the guardian of truth and justice, was revered for the scales.
In ancient Greece, it was also known as the Scorpion’s Claws. Libra has been connected with law, fairness, and civility since ancient times. The Scorpion’s claws became the Scales because of the similarity of words in Arabic and other Semitic languages: this resemblance of words may be why the Scorpion’s claws became the Scales. The names of the constellation’s two major stars, Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali, respectively, represent “southern claw” and “northern claw” in Arabic. The scales may possibly be an allusion to the fact that the days and nights are equal when the sun enters this portion of the ecliptic at the autumnal equinox. The equinox was given the name “First Point of Libra” because of its placement in Libra, yet due to equinox precession, its location no longer coincided with the constellation around 730 BC.
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Is Libra a weighing scale?
Libra is the only constellation in the Zodiac that represents an inanimate thing, as it is Latin meaning weighing scales. Libra is the 29th largest sign in terms of area, with 538 square degrees.
Why are Libra scales?
The sign for this constellation was most likely picked because of Libra’s location in the night sky. They were considered to represent the scales used to weigh night and day, which were perfectly balanced on the equinox date.
The two claws of the constellation Scorpius (the Scorpion) were turned into the arms of Libra by the Romans. To the poet Aratus and others of classical times, Libra was once known as “the Claws” of Scorpius the Scorpion.
In fact, two of Libra’s stars, Zubeneschamali and Zubenelgenubi, have Arabic names that indicate “Northern Claw” and “Southern Claw,” respectively. Zubeneschamali also has a subtle greenish hue, making it the only green star visible to the human eye. Scorpius’ two claws were eventually fashioned into Libra’s arms.
After I gave a night sky display and pointed out Libra to my audience, one of the long-time lecturers at New York’s Hayden Planetarium chastised me. “Listen, the correct pronunciation is “L-bra,” not “Lee-bra,” he explained. It’s important to remember that you’re going to a “L-brary,” not a “Lee-brary!”
I didn’t trust him at first, especially since I knew that the word library came from the Latin word “libraria” (which meant “book”), but Libra meant “balance” – two completely different things.
When I got home and did some research, I discovered that the World Book Encyclopedia (Field Enterprises Educational Corporation) recommended LY-bruh, while The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Houghton Mifflin Company) accepts both L and L.
Now, everytime I see Libra, I think of my former Hayden colleague, and I emphasize the L as a tribute to him.
Have you ever wondered why the term pound is abbreviated as “lb”? It’s in honor of Libra’s first and third letters, the Scales.
What is Libra star name?
During the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the zodiacal constellation Libra the Scales is visible in the evening sky (Southern Hemisphere winter). It isn’t the most flamboyant of the zodiac constellations. In any year, however, two bright stars, Spica and Antares, can be used as guides to locate Libra in a dark sky. Find two fainter stars in Libra using these two bright stars, which happen to have two of the nicest star names: Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali.
Where can I look for a constellation? Libra. The zodiac sign Libra is a constellation. As a result, you’ll know where to look for it as the sun moves across the sky.
Libra has two stars that are roughly halfway between two brilliant stars, Spica and Antares.
Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali are two Libra stars that mark Libra’s position in the skies.
Many people have pointed out that Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali sound eerily similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of only four characters to appear in all six “Star Wars” films.
Is it possible that George Lucas drew inspiration for the character’s name from these actors?
It would be fascinating to learn more.
Every year, from around October 30 to November 22, the sun passes in front of the constellation Libra as seen from Earth.
Zubenelgenubi, the Libran star, is almost exactly on the ecliptic, the sun’s yearly passage in front of the background stars. The sun is currently aligned with the Libra star Zubenelgenubi on or around November 7, almost halfway between the September equinox and the December solstice.
The date of the sun’s conjunction with Zubenelgenubi, on the other hand, varies with time.
On the Northern Hemisphere’s autumnal equinox (Southern Hemisphere’s spring equinox) more than 3,000 years ago, the sun and Libra’s star Zubenelgenubi were in conjunction.
On the December solstice (Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice or Southern Hemisphere’s summer solstice), the sun and Zubenelgenubi will align for the first time in over 3,000 years.
The sun is said to be at the first point of (the sign) Libra as it crosses the celestial equator from north to south, regardless of which constellation provides a backdrop for the sun on the September equinox.
Libra is a mythical and historical sign.
The ancient Babylonians may have associated this constellation with scales or a balance thousands of years ago, about 2,000 B.C. This relationship may have been created because the sun shone in front of the stars of Libra at the time of the autumn equinox. The planet realizes its seasonal and temporal balance at the equinox, with day and night of equal length all throughout the globe, and between the extremes of heat and cold. Libra the Scales is a long-standing metaphor for heavenly justice, harmony, and balance.
The ancient Greeks seemed to interpret Libra as the outstretched claws of the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion, in contrast to their Babylonian forefathers. In reality, the Arabic names for Libra’s two brightest stars date back to the days when Scorpius was a double or super constellation. Zubenelgenubi means “the Scorpion’s southern claw,” and Zubeneschamali means “the Scorpion’s northern claw.”
Despite inheriting much of the Greek tradition, the Romans resurrected Libra as the zodiac’s only inanimate constellation. The constellation Virgo is supposed to be the manifestation of Astraea, the Starry Goddess, holding Libra, the Scales of Justice, in Roman mythology.
Libra is the second air sign, ruled by Venus, according to astrology. Although historically connected, astronomy and astrology are currently considered independent fields. Astrology assumes that the locations of celestial bodies have particular effects on human events, which most modern astronomers believe to be untrue.
In the nighttime sky during Northern Hemisphere summer (Southern Hemisphere winter), look for the zodiac constellation Libra the Scales between two bright stars, Spica and Antares.
Why is Libra called Libra?
Because of its apparent appearance in the night sky, the Libra constellation earned its name from the Latin term for weighing scales. Libra is a faint constellation in the night sky, with no first-magnitude stars, yet it can be seen with a telescope on a clear night. Beta Librae is the brightest star in the constellation, with an apparent magnitude of 2.61 and a distance of 185 light years from Earth. Libra is the only constellation in the night sky that represents an inanimate item, and it is the 29th largest constellation in the sky, covering 538 square degrees.
What goddess is a Libra?
Astraea (daughter of Themis), who went up to heaven and became the constellation Virgo, and carried the scales of justice, which is the constellation Libra, is related to the Greek Goddess of Justice, Themis, the Greek mythology version of Atalanta (meaning balanced), and Astraea (daughter of Themis), who went up to heaven and became the constellation Virgo, and carried the scales of justice, which is the constellation Libra.
Libra is also linked to the goddesses Eris/Discordia & Harmonia/Concordia, Dike, Themis, Hera/Juno, Ishtar, Freyja, Persephone, Frigg, and Forsetti the god Xolotl.
What animal is a Libra?
They like courtship that leads to a serious relationship and hope that when they find the perfect person, their partnership will continue a long time.
The gray wolf is Libra’s spirit animal. Gray wolves, like their star sign, are devoted creatures.
In addition, Libras despise being alone and, like their spirit animal, prefer to accomplish things in couples or groups.
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Who should marry a Libra?
Fellow air signs (Gemini, Aquarius, and other Libras) are the most compatible signs for Libra friendships and sexual partnerships since they speak the same airy language.