Learn about Zodiac Signs and their Beginnings

There is so much to learn about zodiac signs, their origins and meaning that are separate from Astrology as a whole.

About Zodiac Signs -History

Astrology has a long history. It been around for more than 5,000 years.

Almost all Greek and Roman mythology connects with astrology.

We know that the Babylonians started the art or science of astrology and that the Romans improved on that by naming the zodiac signs.

They watched the stars and saw that the stars were different each Season. They noted that it was a yearly cycle so they separated the year into 12 divisions.

They noted what stars were there and they began to name them for whatever they had a likeness to. They found that these stars resembled things they used or certain animals.

Aries the Ram
these people got their Signs name because the ancients thought the stars looked like a drawing or a ram.

Aries governs the head and it's element fire, you might call Aries a hot-head...Haha.
The also dive head first into anything they try to do, like a ram.

Taurus the Bull

These people got their name the same way, the look of the stars. They are the Element Earth.

We go season to season group to group and end up at the end of the year having gone through all the zodiac signs.

About Zodiac Signs - in Different Cultures:

The pagans (Gentiles) regarded the stars as alive, able to shape the fate and fortunes of human beings.

The ancient Hebrews belief that the Stars and Planets took part in the matters of human beings is manifest in scripture, as, for instance:

Genesis 1:14: "And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years."

Genesis 37:9: "Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it." Listen, I have had another dream," he said. "The Sun, Moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!"

Psalm 8:3: "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained."

More About Zodiac Signs and their Connection to the 12 Tribes

The original Twelve Tribes of Israel represented by Jacob's 12 sons, who represent the 12 kinds of the people in this world.

Aries is Gad, Jacob's 7th son.

Born of Jacob's paramour. His adopted mother was Leah and she called him Gad.

She stated "A troop is coming or A troop Cometh ", and it signifies being fortified and readied.

Jacob blessed Gad stating: "Raiders will raid Gad, but he will raid at their heel".

The tribe of Gad settled in the east bank of the River Jordan in Gilead.

Taurus is Asher, Jacob's 8th son, his mother's name was Zilpah and she was a concubine.

His adoptive mother Leah, called him Asher meaning " I am happy or happy I am".

Jacob blessed Asher stating: "From Asher will come the richest food". Asher's tribe colonized the north Mediterranean seacoast going all the way up to the city of Tyre.

Gemini is Issachar, Jacob's 9th son, his mother was Leah. Issachar's name means "man of reward".

Issachar relocated his tribe to Egypt because of the famine in Holy Land Jacob blessed Issachar stating:

“bends his back to the load, working like a slave".

Issachar's tribe later settled just below the Galilean Sea, east of the River Jordan River.

Leo is Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob. Jacob’s preferred wife, Rachel was his mother. Joseph was loved more than the other sons.

Joseph became the father of 2 of the 12 tribes they were:

Manasseh and Ephraim, they were adopted as his own by Jacob.

Manasseh stands for, "God has made me forget (nashani) completely my hardship and my parental home."

Ephraim, means, "God has made me fertile (hiprani) in the land of my affliction". Their tribes were in Israel and the northern part of the kingdom of Israel and called the "House of Joseph."Jacob then blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob gave the lengthiest blessing to Joseph.

Cancer is Zebulun, Jacob's 10th son with Leah.

Leah gave him his name saying, "God has provided me with a good dowry". Jacob blessed saying: "Zebulun shall settle the seashores; he will be a harbour for ships; his border shall reach Sidon.

"Zebulun's tribe was located in the center of the Galilee, west of Issachar's tribe.

Virgo is Benjamin/Benyamin, Jacob's 12th son by Rachel. Benjamin came into this world after the time that Joseph was betrayed into bondage. Benjamin was also loved very much by Jacob, like Joseph.

His first name given was Ben-oni meaning "son of my affliction" by Rachel because her life was perishing while bringing him to the world.

His name was changed later to Benjamin or Ben Yamin, signifying "son of my right hand", i.e. of good luck.

This name was given to ward off a malefic foreshadowing.

Jacob blessed Benjamin pronouncing Benjamin "a vicious wolf, devouring the prey in the morning, and dividing the spoil at night".

Benyamin's tribe was centrally located in land that was part of Jerusalem and Jericho.

His first name given was Ben-oni meaning "son of my affliction" by Rachel because her life was perishing while bringing him to the world.

His name was changed later to Benjamin or Ben Yamin, signifying "son of my right hand", i.e. of good luck.

This name was given to ward off a malefic foreshadowing.

Jacob blessed Benjamin pronouncing Benjamin "a vicious wolf, devouring the prey in the morning, and dividing the spoil at night".

Benyamin's tribe was centrally located in land that was part of Jerusalem and Jericho.

Libra is Reuven/Reuben is the first son of Jacob and his wife Leah.

Reuven's name derives from the Hebrew signification: "Look, a son.

"Reuven had carnal knowledge of Bilhah Jacob’s concubine.

Jacob saw red Jacob, this betrayel probably lead to Jacob damning instead of blessing Reuven.

Reuven's tribe was located due east of the River of River.

Scorpio is Simeon, Jacob's 2nd son by Leah.

His name stands for "God has heard that I was unloved".

Along with Levi, Simeon assailed Shechem, Jacob dammed his tribe to be scattered.

Simeon's tribe is linked to with southern part of Israel.

Sagittarius is Levi, Jacob's 3rd son by Leah, in having Levi Leah thought that he would connect Jacob to her more. She had already given Jacob 3 sons and she called him Levi.

Along with Simeon, Levi betrayed the men of Shechem.

Jacob gave the punishment that his tribe would be dispersed throughout Israel.

Capricorn is Judah, Jacob's 4th son by Leah.

When Leah gave birth to him she stated, "Now I will praise God" or " The Praise of the Lord ". His name derives from the word gratitude.

Judah's tribe occupied Jerusalem while the kings Solomon and David ruled. This land was later known as the kingdom of the southern tribes.

Aquarius is Dan, Jacob's 5th son by Rachel. Rachel thought she couldn't have kids and called out, "God has judged me"; this is one account of how his name came to be. Jacob blessed Dan saying: "Dan shall judge his people". Dan's tribe occupied the southern region of Israel.

Pisces is Naphtali, Jacob's 6th son by Rachel.

Rachel said, "With great wrestlings have I wrestled my sister". Jacob blessed Naphtali saying: "a running deer". Naphtali's tribe occupied the northern part of the Holy Land (Canaan).

Find out more about the 12 Tribes at the Jewish Virtual Library.

The Chaldeans, The Phoenicians, The Egyptians, The Persians, The Hindus, and The Chinese all have zodiacs that are alike generally. They have all been accredited as the place of origin for star divination and astronomy.

The Native Americans also have a zodiac, but the images and figures of the Signs have many more different details than the others.