| Aries | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Other Names |
Crius Chrysomallus, Krios Khrysomallos, Golden-Fleeced Ram |
|
First Appearance |
Greek Myth |
|
Created by |
Greek Myth |
Origin[]
Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It is located in the Northern celestial hemisphere between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. The name Aries is Latin for ram. Its old astronomical symbol is (♈︎). It is one of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.
Aries is one of the six positive signs of the zodiac and it is one of the four modality cardinals of the zodiac. Aries is one of the three fire signs in the zodiac, along with Leo and Sagittarius. The ruling planet is Mars. Individuals born while the Sun is in this sign may be called Ariens The color for Aries is red. The opposite zodiac sign to Aries is Libra.
In Greek Mythology, the symbol of the ram is based on the Chrysomallus, the flying ram that rescued Phrixus and Helle, the children of the Boeotian king Athamas and provided the Golden Fleece. Beyond the association to the planet Mars, there is no link between Aries and Ares, the god of war.
In ancient Egyptian astronomy, Aries was associated with the god Amun-Ra, who was depicted as a man with a ram's head and represented fertility and creativity. Because it was the location of the vernal equinox, it was called the "Indicator of the Reborn Sun". During the times of the year when Aries was prominent, priests would process statues of Amun-Ra to temples, a practice that was modified by Persian astronomers centuries later. Aries acquired the title of "Lord of the Head" in Egypt, referring to its symbolic and mythological importance.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
All published appearances of Aries before January 1, 1930 are in the public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
- Catalogues of Women
- The Aegimius
- Odes
- Greek Lyric III Simonides
- The Library
- The Argonautica
- The Library of History
- Geography
- Description of Greece
- Philostratus the Elder, Imagines
- Philostratus the Younger, Imagines
- Callistratus, Descriptions
- Dionysiaca
- Fabulae
- Astronomica
- Metamorphoses
- Fasti
- Heroides
- Elegies
- Medea
- Troades