What are Constellations?
Constellations are groups of bright stars that make up imaginary shapes. The stars that make up constellations appear close together but are actually quite far about in space. Many societies saw patterns in the stars that they related to their gods, goddesses or characters from their culture. Most familiar constellations come from ancient Greece. Due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun the constellations have to be divided into two different groups, circumpolar and seasonal. Circumpolar constellations are the ones that rise and set. All the other constellations are seasonal. The northern and southern hemispheres see different circumpolar and seasonal constellations.
Constellation uses throughout history
People have used the stars and constellations for many different reasons. These reasons have changed over the years
The first use of the stars was most likely religious. People believed that their gods and goddesses lived in heaven and had created the stars. Many cultures thought that the positions of the stars were the gods’ way of telling them stories. It would have seemed normal to these people to recognize the patterns, give them names and tell stories about them. Different cultures developed their own interpretations of the stars.
A more practical use of constellations was for agriculture. Before calendars were invented farmers relied on the stars to determine when to sow and harvest their crops. Constellations made the patterns of the stars easy to remember. Ancient farmers knew that when, for example, the constellation Orion was fully visible that winter was coming soon. Constellations allowed farmers to plan ahead.
Constellations were also used by people who were travelling long distances by ship as a navigation tool. Constellations allowed people to determine their latitude as well as which direction was north, south, east or west. This allowed ships to travel across the globe easier.
The first use of the stars was most likely religious. People believed that their gods and goddesses lived in heaven and had created the stars. Many cultures thought that the positions of the stars were the gods’ way of telling them stories. It would have seemed normal to these people to recognize the patterns, give them names and tell stories about them. Different cultures developed their own interpretations of the stars.
A more practical use of constellations was for agriculture. Before calendars were invented farmers relied on the stars to determine when to sow and harvest their crops. Constellations made the patterns of the stars easy to remember. Ancient farmers knew that when, for example, the constellation Orion was fully visible that winter was coming soon. Constellations allowed farmers to plan ahead.
Constellations were also used by people who were travelling long distances by ship as a navigation tool. Constellations allowed people to determine their latitude as well as which direction was north, south, east or west. This allowed ships to travel across the globe easier.
The Signs of the Zodiac
The zodiac is made up of twelve different ‘star signs’. There is a constellation that corresponds with each of the signs. A person’s birthdate determines which star sign they are. The constellation that is directly above the sun as it sets on a person’s birth date is the star sign that they are.
Each sign of the zodiac is believed to have certain traits, habits or a certain personality. People can get a daily, weekly or monthly horoscope which, from the positions of the stars and planets astrologers work out, amongst other things, which traits or qualities will be more dominate for that particular period of time (day, week, month).
For example the horoscope for the zodiac Leo on the 16 September 2012 was:
Primary qualities to lead with today are good looks and charm. You will be able to look more desirable, interesting, intriguing and generally presentable, and that will be your wedge into every conversation, your foot into every social door. So, don't hesitate to spend a little extra emphasizing that. (taken from astrology.com.au see bibliography)
Each sign of the zodiac is believed to have certain traits, habits or a certain personality. People can get a daily, weekly or monthly horoscope which, from the positions of the stars and planets astrologers work out, amongst other things, which traits or qualities will be more dominate for that particular period of time (day, week, month).
For example the horoscope for the zodiac Leo on the 16 September 2012 was:
Primary qualities to lead with today are good looks and charm. You will be able to look more desirable, interesting, intriguing and generally presentable, and that will be your wedge into every conversation, your foot into every social door. So, don't hesitate to spend a little extra emphasizing that. (taken from astrology.com.au see bibliography)
The Signs of the Zodiac and Dates each falls under
Myth about the star sign Leo
The constellation of Leo the Lion is between Cancer and Virgo and contains the star Regulus. The myth associated with this star sign is ‘Hercules' very first labour, the capture of the Nemean Lion’.
Hercules first task (or labour) was to kill the Nemean Lion. The Nemean Lion was a giant beast that would roam the hills of the Peloponnesian villages and cause havoc. Hercules had a great difficulty killing the lion, his arrows bounced harmlessly off its body, his sword bent in two and his wooden club smashed to pieces.
According to the myth, Hercules had to wrestle the beast to the ground and finally killed it by strangling it to death. Then Hercules skinned the lion and took its pelt to wear. The lion’s skin couldn’t be penetrated by any known weapon of the time so Hercules was protected from his enemies.
After the lions death it was said that the lion was put on the sky by Zeus. The lion then became the constellation of Leo shown below.
Hercules first task (or labour) was to kill the Nemean Lion. The Nemean Lion was a giant beast that would roam the hills of the Peloponnesian villages and cause havoc. Hercules had a great difficulty killing the lion, his arrows bounced harmlessly off its body, his sword bent in two and his wooden club smashed to pieces.
According to the myth, Hercules had to wrestle the beast to the ground and finally killed it by strangling it to death. Then Hercules skinned the lion and took its pelt to wear. The lion’s skin couldn’t be penetrated by any known weapon of the time so Hercules was protected from his enemies.
After the lions death it was said that the lion was put on the sky by Zeus. The lion then became the constellation of Leo shown below.
Bibliography For This Page
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