I The MUL.APIN was a comprehensive tableof the risings and settings of stars.

Modern-day Aries was known as ^MULLÚ.ḪUN.GÁ, “The Agrarian Worker” or “The Hired Man”.

The earliest identifiable reference to Aries as a distinct constellation comes from the boundary stones that date from 1350 to 1000 BCE.

On several boundary stones, a zodiacal ram figure is distinct from the other characters present. The shift in identification from the constellation as the Agrarian Worker to the Ram likely occurred in later Babylonian tradition because of its growing association with Dumuzid the shepherd. By the time the MUL.APIN was created—by 1000 BCE—modern Aries was identified with both Dumuzi’s ram and a hired laborer. The exact timing of this shift is difficult to determine due to the lack of images of Aries or other ram figures.

 

In ancient Egyptian astrology, Aries was associated with the god Amon-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”.  In ancient Greek mythology, the constellation of Aries is associated with the golden ram that rescued Phrixos and Helle on orders from Hermes.

The identification of the constellation of Taurus with a bull is very old, certainly dating to the Chalcolithic, and perhaps even to the Upper paleolithic. Michael Rappenglück of the believes that Taurus is represented in a cave painting at the Hall of the Bulls in the caves at Lascaux (dated to roughly 15,000 BC), which he believes is accompanied by a depiction of the Pleiades.  The name “seven sisters” has been used for the Pleiades in the languages of many cultures, including indigenous groups of Australia, North America and Siberia. This suggests that the name may have a common ancient origin.

In Babylonian astrology, the constellation was listed in the MUL.APIN asGU₄.AN.NA, “The Heavenly Bull”.  As this constellation marked the vernal equinox, it was also the first constellation in the Babylonian zodiac and they described it as “The Bull in Front”.

In early Mesopotamian art, the Bull of Heaven was closely associated with Inana, the Sumerian Goddess of sexual love, fertility, and warfare. One of the oldest depictions shows the bull standing before the goddess’ standard; since it has 3 stars depicted on its back (the cuneiform sign for “star-constellation”), there is good reason to regard this as the constellation later known as Taurus.

The same iconic representation of the Heavenly Bull was depicted in the Dendera Zodiac, an Egyptian bas-relief carving in a ceiling that depicted the heavens. In these ancient cultures, the orientation of the horns was portrayed as upward or backward. This differed from the later Greek depiction where the horns pointed forward.  To the Egyptians, the constellation Taurus was a sacred bull that was associated with the renewal of life in spring. When the spring equinox entered Taurus, the constellation would become covered by the Sun in the western sky as spring began. This “sacrifice” led to the renewal of the land.  To the early Hebrews, Taurus was the first constellation in their zodiac and consequently it was represented by the first letter in their alphabet, Aleph.

In Greek mythology, Taurus was identified with Zeus, who assumed the form of a magnificent white bull to abduct Europa, a legendary Phoenician princess. In illustrations of Greek mythology, only the front portion of this constellation are depicted; this was sometimes explained as Taurus being partly submerged as he carried Europa out to sea. A second Greek myth portrays Taurus as Io, a mistress of Zeus. To hide his lover from his wife Hera, Zeus changed Io into the form of a heifer. Greek mythographer Acusilaus marks the bull Taurus as the same that formed the myth of the Cretan bull.

those with ascendant in Taurus may appear placid, steady, reliable, stubborn, sensual, practical, or pushy.

In babylonian astrology, the stars Castor and Pollux were known as the Great Twins (MUL.MASH.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL). ‘The Twins were regarded as minor gods and were called Meshlamtaea and Lugalirra, meaning respectively ‘The One who has arisen from the Underworld’ and the ‘Mighty King” according to Gavin White. Meslamtaea is mentioned in Sumerian mythology as Nergal and the same tablet states the ‘Mighty King’ is Ninazu both were born to Ninlil in the underworld whilst pregnant with Nanna the moon.

Ninazu corresponds with Ningishzida both are healing Gods connected to the underworld., in Sumerian mythology, he appears in Adapa’s myth as one of the two guardians of Anu’s celestial palace, alongside Dumuz /Tammuz /Damuzzid.  Ningishzida is sometimes referred to as the son of Ninazu although his parents were Anu and Ereshkigal.  Perhaps this signifies Ninazu and Nergal as the Great twins and Ningaishzida and Tammuz as the little twins.

The constellation of Gemini contained two Babylonian constellations.

MASH.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL = tu’amu rabûtu“The Great Twins”; alpha and beta Geminorum

MASH.TAB.BA.TUR.TUR”The Little Twins”; zeta and lamda Geminorium

Ningishzida is described in a temple hymn as ‘The prince who stretches out his pure hand the holy one of heaven’. In ‘Ningaishzida’s journey to the netherworld’ he is made divine throne bearer.  It would appear that Nergal and Tammuz represented aspects of the spirit / soul being resurrected / returned to life whilst Ninazu & Ningishzida represent healing and long life.

In Greek mythology, Gemini was associated with the myth of Castor and Pollux.  When Castor died, because he was mortal, Pollux begged his father Zeus to give Castor immortality, and he did, by uniting them together in the heavens.

Those with their ascendant in Gemini may appear hyperactive, chatty, sociable, flighty, nervous, flirtatious, open-minded and changeable.

The creation of the constellation is explained in Greek mythology by the short-lived association of the crab Karkinos with one of the twekve labours of Hercules, in which Hercules battled the multi-headed Lernaean Hydra. Hera had sent Karkinos to distract Hercules and put him at a disadvantage during the battle, but Hercules quickly dispatched the crab by kicking it with such force that it was propelled into the sky. Other accounts had Karkinos grabbing onto Hercules’ toe with its claws, but Hercules simply crushed the crab underfoot. Hera, grateful for Karkinos’ effort, gave it a place in the sky.

In the Egyptian records of about 2000 BC it was described as Scarabaeus (Scarab), the sacred emblem of immortality. In Babylonia the constellation was known as MUL.AL.LUL, a name which can refer to both a crab and a snapping turtle. On boundary stones, the image of a turtle or tortoise appears quite regularly and it is believed that this represents Cancer, Cancer as a conventional crab has not so far been discovered on any of these monuments. There also appears to be a strong connection between the Babylonian constellation and ideas of death and a passage to the underworld, which may be the origin of these ideas in much later Greek myths associated with Hercules and the Hydra.

Those with ascendant in Cancer may appear sensitive, moody, quiet, shy, introverted, nurturing, caring or insecure.

Nergal represent the sun of noontime and of the summer solstice that brings destruction, high summer being the dead season in the Mesopotamian annual cycle.

Standard iconography pictured Nergal as a lion, and boundary-stone monuments symbolise him with a mace surmounted by the head of a lion.  In the late Babylonian astrology Nergal is related to the planet Mars. As a fiery god of destruction and war, Nergal doubtless seemed an appropriate choice for the red planet, and he was equated by the Greeks either to the combative demigod Hercules or to the war-god Ares(Latin Mars) — hence the current name of the planet. In Assyro-Babylonian ecclesiastical art the great lion-headed colossi serving as guardians to the temples and palaces seem to symbolise Nergal.

To the Greeks and Romans Leo represented the Nemean Lion killed by Hercules who wore his skin.  Zeus placed the lion in the sky as the constellation Leo.

Those with ascendant in Leo may appear warm, vibrant, dramatic, bold, heroic, humurous, entertaining, loyal or over-the-top.

Babylonian Mul.Apin this constellation was known as “The Furrow”, representing the goddess Shala’s ear of grain or corn.  One star in this constellation, Spica, retains this tradition as it is Latin for “ear of grain”, one of the major products of the Mesopotamian furrow. The constellation was also known as AB.SIN and absinnu. For this reason the constellation became associated with fertility. According to Gavin White the figure of Virgo corresponds to two Babylonian constellations – the ‘Furrow’ in the eastern sector of Virgo and the ‘Frond of Erua’ in the western sector. The Frond of Erua was depicted as a goddess holding a palm-frond – a motif that still occasionally appears in much later depictions of Virgo.  In Sumerian mythology it is also connected to the cereal Goddess Ninlil.   Shala was an ancient Sumerian goddess of grain and compassion. The symbols of grain and compassion combine to reflect the importance of agriculture in the mythology of Sumer, and the belief that an abundant harvest was an act of compassion from the Gods.  Erua was the Goddess of pregnancy and childbirth.

The Greeks and Romans associated Virgo with their goddess of wheat/agriculture, Demeter / Ceres who is the mother of Persephone. Alternatively, she was sometimes identified as the virgin goddess Astraea, holding the scales of justice in her hand as the constellation Libra.  Virgo was sometimes associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Those with ascendant in Virgo may appear caring, considerate, intelligent, hard-working, analytical, nurturing or over critical.

In some old descriptions the constellation of Libra is treated as the Scorpion’s claws. Libra was known as the Claws of the Scorpion in Babylonian (zibānītu (compare Arabic zubānā)) and in Greek (χηλαι).

Libra was known in Babylonian astrology as MUL Zibanu (the “scales” or “balance”), or alternatively as the Claws of the Scorpion. The scales were held sacred to the sun god Shamash, who was also the patron of truth and justice.  It was also seen as the Scorpion’s Claws in ancient Greece.  Since these times, Libra has been associated with law, fairness and civility. In Arabic zubānā means “scorpion’s claws”, and likely similarly in other Semitic languages: this resemblance of words may be why the Scorpion’s claws became the Scales.  It has also been suggested that the scales are an allusion to the fact that when the sun entered this part of the ecliptic at the equinox, the days and nights are equal.  In Roman mythology, Libra is considered to depict the scales held by Astraea (identified as Virgo), the goddess of justice.

Those with their ascendant in Libra may appear romantic, sociable, fair, open-minded, just, elegant, graceful or indecisive.

The Babylonians called this constellation MUL.GIR.TAB – the ‘Scorpion’, the signs can be literally read as ‘the (creature with) a burning sting’.

In Greek mythology the myths associated with Scorpio almost invariably also contain a reference to Orion. According to one of these myths it is written that Orion boasted to goddess Artemis, that he would kill every animal on the earth. Although Artemis was known to be a hunter herself she offered protection to all creatures. Artemis and her mother Leto sent a scorpion to deal with Orion. The pair battled and the scorpion killed Orion. However, the contest was apparently a lively one that caught the attention of the king of the gods Zeus, who later raised the scorpion to heaven and afterwards, at the request of Artemis, did the same for Orion to serve as a reminder for mortals to curb their excessive pride. There is also a version that Orion was better than the goddess Artemis but said that Artemis was better than he and so Artemis took a liking to Orion. The god Apollo, Artemis’s twin brother, grew angry and sent a scorpion to attack Orion. After Orion was killed, Artemis asked Zeus to put Orion up in the sky. So every winter Orion hunts in the sky, but every summer he flees as the constellation of the scorpion comes.

In another Greek story involving Scorpio without Orion, Phaeton went to his father, who had earlier sworn by the River Styx to give Phaeton anything he should ask for. Phaeton wanted to drive his father’s Sun Chariot for a day. Although Helios tried to dissuade his son, Phaeton was adamant. However, when the day arrived, Phaeton panicked and lost control of the white horses that drew the chariot. First, the Earth grew chill as Phaeton flew too high and encountered the celestial scorpion, its deadly sting raised to strike. Alarmed, he dipped the chariot too close, causing the vegetation to burn. By accident, Phaeton turned most of Africa into desert and darkened the skin of the Ethiopian nation until it was black. Eventually, Zeus was forced to intervene by striking the runaway chariot and Phaeton with a lightning bolt to put an end to its rampage and Phaeton plunged into the River Eridanos.  This could be connected to the Sun becoming weaker and lower in the Northern hemisphere as it nears the winter solstice.

Those with a Scorpio ascendant may appear intense, passionate, deep, intriguing, mysterious,poker-faced, emotional or secretive.  They are unlikely to show whether your opinions mean anything or not.

Sagittarius corresponds with the God Pabilsag who has strong connections to the lost city of Larak as its patron deity.  Pabilsag was called the warrior of Enlil and had the body of a Scorpion and the upper portion of a man.  The meaning of his name like everything else about Pabilsag is uncertain. Much of his mythology is unknown and yet to be discovered.  His name may mean chief ancestor and he may be connected to Ninurta.  Ninurta often appears holding a bow and arrow, In the astral-theological system Ninurta was associated with the planet Saturn, or perhaps as offspring or an aspect of Saturn. In his capacity as a farmer-god, there are similarities between Ninurta and the Greek Titan Cronus, whom the Romans in turn identified with their Titan Saturn.  If Ninurta is indeed a son of Saturn this would equate him with Jupiter ruler of Sagittarius.  The name of Chief ancestor may be connected to early hunter gather ancestors common to all of humanity.

The wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! My king, the wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! Pabilsaj, the wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! His house, the house of Larag, is noble, his house is noble! His city, a mighty city, is abundant, and his house is noble! The warrior’s house is the house of Larag; Lord Pabilsaj’s city is a mighty city ……. His birthplace was the shrine Nibru ……. The place where he drank good milk was the house ……. From the place, the pure place, ……. Isin, the unique house ……. The place which the bull embraces ……. Like a scorpion rising up from among the thorns, he is a fearsome scorpion; like a wolf rising up from his lair, he is likely to growl; like a lion rising up in the pathway, he is likely to beat …….

In Greek mythology, Sagittarius is usually identified as a centaur: half human, half horse. However, perhaps due to the Greek’s adoption of the Sumerian constellation, some confusion surrounds the identity of the archer.Some identify Sagittarius as the centaur Chiron. However, Chiron is in fact represented by the constellation Centaurus, the other heavenly centaur. An alternative tradition is that Chiron merely invented the constellation Sagittarius to help in guiding the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece.

A competing mythological tradition, identified the Archer not as a centaur but as the satyr Crotus, son of Pan, who Greeks credited with the invention of archery.  According to myth, Crotus often went hunting on horseback and lived among the Muses, who requested that Zeus place him in the sky, where he is seen demonstrating archery.  Crotus was also connected to rhythmic beats in music.

Those with their ascendant in Sagittarius may appear sporty, athletic, musical, bold, energetic, enthusiastic, larger than life or tactless.  They are very unlikely to care about other people’s opinion of themselves.

Capricorn was connected to the ancient God Enki / Ea as symbolising ruler-ship in his name.

In Greek mythology, the constellation is sometimes identified as Amalthea, the goat that suckled the infant Zeus after his mother Rhea saved him from being devoured by his father Cronos. The goat’s broken horn was transformed into the cornucopia or horn of plenty. Capricornus is also sometimes identified as Pan, the god with a goat’s head, who saved himself from the monster Typhon by giving himself a fish’s tail and diving into a river. “Euhemerus [C4th B.C. mythographer] says that a certain Aex was the wife of Pan. When she was embraced by Jove [Zeus] she bore a son whom she called son of Pan. So the child was called Aegipan, and Jove, Aegiochus (Wielder of the Aegis). Since he was very fond of him, he placed in memory the form of a goat among the stars.”

Pan the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, and companion of the nymphs.  Is all about connecting with natural world.

Those with their ascendant in Capricorn may appear capable, practical, earthy, sensual, hard-working, steady, sensible or predictable.  They may feel others opinions of them are irrelevant.

Aquarius represented the waters of the great one to the Babylonians, Enki / Ea poured his water of life or semen upon his wife Ninhursag (lady mountain) to fertilise the land in particular the rivers of the Euphrates, Tigris and the fertile crescent is associated with the fertile waters of Enki.  Who is credited as creating the Sumerian civilisation.

To the Greeks Aquarius represented the waters of the world river and the Titan Oceanus who was a God of wisdom like Enki/Ea.

Those with their ascendant in Aquarius may appear; quirky, zany, idealistic, anarchistic, altruistic, unique, unpredictable or unreliable.  They themselves may prefer not to be pigeon-holed by others opinions.

In the Babylonian star charts (tails) Pisces the fishes represents two animals joined by a thread to the tail of the fish and the swallow.  Certainly Europeans believed that swallows instead of migrating south in winter dove into rivers and water to hibernate.  The swallow and the fish were both large constellations in Babylonian times.  The fish represented Anunitum a Babylonian variation of Inanna or Venus.  The fish may also be connected to Siduri, the barmaid (an incarnation of Venus) who lives at the lip of the sea, beyond which is the Land of Life, where Utnapishtim lives (the swallow was one of the animals sent by him to find land in the flood myth). Utnapishtim is warned to build an ark by Ea / Enki. He is also told to abandon riches and possessions and seek life and to tell the city elders that he is hated by Enlil and would go to the watery Abyss to live with Ea via the ark. As you can see the barmaid, the land of life, abandonment of riches for spiritual life are all Neptune themes.

In Egyptian mythology the swallows are connected to the stars and also the souls of the dead and show the way to the land of life.

Siduri’s advice to Gilgamesh:

Gilgamesh, whither are you wandering? Life, which you look for, you will never find. For when the gods created man, they let death be his share, and life withheld in their own hands. Gilgamesh, fill your belly. Day and night make merry. Let days be full of joy, dance and make music day and night. And wear fresh clothes. And wash your head and bathe. Look at the child that is holding your hand, and let your wife delight in your embrace. These things alone are the concern of men.

Those with a Pisces ascendant may at times appear to others as being daydreamers, mystical, illusive or dishonest.  They may actually be none of these things, and even they may struggle to understand who they really are behind all of Neptune’s illusions.

The ascendant is expressed when we are focused completely on something beyond ourselves.  For example children completely engrossed in playing or watching television lose all thought of themselves as an individual and resort to their natural state of just being. It is only when they become aware of the fact that they are being observed does the sun and other aspects of the chart kick in to protect the vulnerability of the ascendant.  The ascendant is vulnerable because it represents who we are before social conditioning and peer pressure kicked in it was our first expression as babies content in just being.  For Pisces this state of just being may be felt much easier when they lose themselves in art, religion, meditation or mysticism.

Virgo descendant, the descendant represents our peers and how we act in their presence  Those with a Virgo descendant . appear intelligent, sensitive, caring, sensible and slightly picky to their peers.  These individuals may also be very sensitive to criticism from them and especially as teenagers work hard to fit in and not stick out.

The longer we know friends the more we will relax enough to show our ascendant side of our personality.  This is also true of work and social situations where we will show our MC and look to impress others until we feel secure enough to relax.