Did you know that the night sky has 88 constellations? 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 with the vernal equinox one of the crossings of the ecliptic with the celestial equator each of them occupys 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 birthday 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.
The zodiac was first used in Babylon in the second millennium BCE, and it was later influenced by Hellenistic (Ancient Greek), Roman, and Egyptian civilization. The 12 zodiac symbols were related with the 12 Houses diverse spheres of experience associated with the twelve planets and the four classical elements, resulting in a mix of traditions (Earth, Wind, Water and Fire).
In essence, astrology holds that celestial phenomena are linked to human action, and hence the signs are thought to symbolize specific behavioral and personality traits. Ptolemy formally detailed astrology in his work Tetrabiblos in the 2nd century AD, and it is what we know today as astrology.
During the Roman Empire, this book was responsible for the dissemination of astrology as we know it across Europe and the Middle East. These customs have remained mostly constant for over seventeen centuries, while some changes have been made as a result of the subsequent discovery of other planets in our Solar System.
