Zodiac

Zodiac signs are the icon images that are assigned to the individual sections of the divided into twelve parts zodiac. Through an imaginary division of the ecliptic by ancient astrologers into twelve (originally eleven) equal parts, starting from the vernal equinox, which to this day known and common Zodiac sections emerged. These were individually assigned to each of the constellation and named after this, which was located in this subsection. Due to the precession of the zodiac signs are they are no longer congruent moved to the position of the constellations of the same name, but at about 30 ° since the initial designation. On the ecliptic is also the thirteenth constellation Ophiuchus. It was not recorded as 13 zodiac signs section in the loop, because only twelve sections correspond to the twelve months of a year.

The Zodiac

As a Zodiac or Zodiac (lat. / Gr. Zodiakos of, ζῳδιακός, " creatures circle " ), an approximately 20 degree wide zone is referred to the ecliptic, the apparent paths run from the sun, moon and planets within the. The center line of the invisible main road of the sky, the Greeks called the ecliptic, because in it the eclipses, the solar and lunar eclipses take place. The ecliptic serves as a measuring circuit for determining the position of the constellations and the astrological intersections Medium Coeli (MC ), Ascendant, Moon's Nodes and first point of Aries.

Tropical and Sidereal Zodiac

There are two different astrological analysis methods that use the same zodiac, but split it differently. Therefore, the position of a star, for example, the sun, the same in both systems, it is only described differently. In the ephemeris the respective positions of the constellations in the zodiac signs are listed daily running -related.

Tropical Zodiac

The tropical zodiac ( tropical, on the spring equinox based ) belongs to the predominantly west facing astrology methods. It is organized as a measuring circle into twelve equal sections. The sections carry, in addition to numbering 1 to 12 a zodiac sign, are used for each case also names of the constellations. The assignment of characters to the constellation reflects the situation around 300 BC contrary, when the system was completed in Hellenistic Alexandria embossed, today reveals a shift. As the year points the sun had been mainly considered the first level of four candidate characters: Spring point for Aries, summer point for cancer, autumn and winter balance point for point for Capricorn. In the second century BC, the vernal equinox was ( the intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial equator ) in the constellation Aries, which is why it is also called the first point of Aries. Is counted counter-clockwise. In conjunction with the civil calendar (one year with 365 days, distributed to twelve months) one year birthday is associated with a particular zodiac sign.

Sidereal Zodiac

The sidereal zodiac ( " sidus " respect for " star " on the star ) belongs to the predominantly Indian -oriented methods. Use this zodiac as a measuring scale, as even the Babylonians. The measuring circuit is in twelve different sized sections, based on the arbitrarily determined size of the respective constellations, divided. The constellations change their position in the zodiac due to the precession. Just like a toy top makes the earth a swaying movement. Thus, the earth's axis changed ( by about 1 ° in 72 years ) and therefore the view of the constellations. The vernal equinox or first point of Aries, with his mind " attached " Zodiac, moves clockwise against the background of different sized constellations. Currently he is in transition from the constellation Pisces the constellation Aquarius. Sidereal astrology recognizes various classifications.

Interpretation

Interpretation ( Tropical Zodiac)

Horoscope Similar systems were later than the second millennium BC in Ancient Egypt as Tagewählkalender into account, on the same principle also in Mesopotamia.

Interpretations back to one in the ancient Egyptian Late Period (about 664-332 BC) was the merger of the Babylonian and Egyptian constellations that BC were already in the third millennium in the ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Sumerian Astronomy mythological in use.

Herodotus described the middle of the fifth century BC, the standing with the constellations associated horoscope similar statements:

" Furthermore, it has also been noted by the Egyptians first, what month and day the individual gods is holy and what fates which end and what character those born on this or that day will have. Greek poets have also adopted these things. And sign the Egyptians have a lot more figured out than all other nations. If anything unusual happens, they pay attention to the consequences and write them down. In a similar incident in the future they will think that it would have to re-enter the same consequences. "

Around the second century BC acquisitions of this system are in ancient Greece detectable, in the first century BC, the ancient Egyptian zodiac of Dendera was created as an evolution.

In the Hellenistic period was the idea, the individual zodiac sections to assign certain basic interpretations, its sequel. The different approaches from the Mesopotamian region ( Altbabylonien ) mingled with the meanings of the already long been in Egypt (see Egyptian Calendar and Book of Nut ) practiced division of the zodiac into deans and degrees. Later these developed the standalone Dean and degree astrology. Each degree section was assigned an additional meaning. Were supplemented interpretations to the four- element theory (water, air, fire, earth ), which had been formed from the 6th to 5th century BC and was part of Greek life thinking:

The four- element theory followed by 500 BC, the harmony of the Pythagoreans ( founded by Pythagoras, 570-510 ). They dedicated themselves including geometry and number symbolism. With Zählsteinen they put geometric figures (eg trines and squares). The Tetrad ( Tetraktys ) was of great importance, because the totality of the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, the sum 10. Furthermore, the contrast between even and odd numbers and were made between female and male. This resulted in the assignments: just for unlimited and female, as well as odd for limited and male.

Aristotle ( 384-322 BC) extended the four- element theory with the assignments dryness or moisture and heat or cold. The resulting visual compilation resulted in an order with the following combination:

Astrologers could be ' encourage additions of the four- element theory and Aristotle, and put them in relation to the zodiac. They were helped a scientific, physical approach, by keeping on the annual course of the sun. The sun enters into the sign of Aries in the spring, summer in which the cancer in the fall in the the balance and in winter in the Capricorn. The intersections of the lines connected to the four seasons produces a square. It has according to Pythagoras based on the sum, 1 2 3 4 = 10, is of great importance. Between the intersections each time three consecutive zodiac signs, which play a tiered meaning: the first character is strong ( cardinal ), the second medium strong (fixed and Community), the third variable (falling, moving).

The once begun assignments were compacted in the course of the following centuries, more and more, which they related to traditions and styles from earlier times, such as geography, meteorology and medicine, the beginnings of Hippocrates (c. 460-370 BC) can be found.

There came the distribution of the stars (sun, moon and planets), animals, plants, precious stones and metals, and later the tribes of Israel and the four apostles, su Evangelist symbols, personality traits, careers and partnerships and life stages to and astrological medicine ( Iatroastrologie ) from the head to the feet then assigned the limbs of the human body to the twelve signs of the zodiac, like shown in the picture of the zodiac sign man, Homo signorum. In this way, eventually reflected all physical life on earth to resist in the zodiac.

The following two tables created the astrologer Antiochus of Athens (2nd century AD); Supplements can be found in Claudius Ptolemy ( 100-160 AD) and Vettius Valens ( 120-175 AD):

Calendar interpretation, astrology calendar

Given the increasingly complex design of the zodiac with interpretations and classifications, supplemented, inter alia, to tables for favorable or unfavorable, fateful and ominous and neutral days as well as annual, monthly and daily regent, an independent zodiac astrology began to establish itself at the time of Christ. In practice it was limited to the birthday as a basis whereby they transformed for the exclusive calendar interpretation. As a precursor, the "Tabula Bianchini ," a star divination board, a astromantisches Dice Board, developed by third - second century BC, are considered.

With the actual, serious astrology (see below), whose self-image is one of the conscientious calculations of the positions of the sun, moon and planets, they had no resemblance, but helped himself still their names, perhaps to appear more meaningful.

The calendar interpretation, mixed with folk superstitions and customs, favored the beginning of the simplified, superficial lay and entertainment Astrology. She blossomed within a few centuries to undreamed- size, year pictures, month pictures, planet children were added, including the arts in painting, architecture, sculpture, literature and music greatly contributed, which itself reflects the idea of the Zodiac everything earthly and Human resist inspire creative let (examples: Albrecht Dürer, 1471-1528, Melencolia I / Melancholia and illustration to Theodoric Ulsenius ' syphilis poem; collection Aby Warburg, and monthly pictures in the Palazzo Schifanoia, also many frescoes, wall and ceiling paintings, marble plates, elaborate woodcuts for manuscripts).

Your imaginative representatives they met in illustrious circles as well as on roads, county fairs and the circus; also eloquent charlatans and swindlers came there, trying to impress the credulity of the people with their ambiguous, vague and general, but believable acting divination texts. The calendar interpretation had for every taste and offered descriptions, all of which are assigned to the Barnum effect.

With the invention of the printing press in the 15th century their dissemination possibility grew by leaps and bounds. Your millions of treatises are through publications on Zuckerwürfelchen, fair cards, stamps, coins, amulets and textiles of all kinds, in newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, cheap guidebooks, leaflets, booklets, brochures, calendars of all kinds, books, TV and radio broadcasts, and Internet services to today unabated. It has become part of everyday life internationally, as well as the Chinese astrology, which is also assigned to the calendar interpretation because it requires no calculations of the positions of the sun, moon and planets.

Reception

The believing in astrology section of the population holds the calendar astrology for astrology actually correct. In 1975, a statement was published with the title " Objections to Astrology ". Introduction states that " scientists from various disciplines have dealt with the increasing popularity of astrology in many parts of the world. We, the undersigned - astronomers, astrophysicists and scientists from other disciplines - the public want to warn of an unchecked confidence in the predictions and advice, make and give the astrologers private and public. Who wants to believe in astrology, you should keep in mind that there is no scientific basis for their teachings. " Declaration signed 186 scientists, including 18 Nobel Prize winners.

1997, he published " The Act Astrology" by Gunter Sachs Sachs ' employees, consisting of mathematicians and statisticians, verified more than 20 million Swiss, English, German and French data. His statement that there were significant correlations between the zodiac and various behaviors, such as marriage, career choice, travel behavior or tendency to suicide, has been assessed by various other scientists ( mathematicians, statisticians ) opposite. Some confirmed Sachs, others disagreed because they assessed the statistical power of the study differently.

An influence of the location of the birth in the annual cycle on the character of a people can not be excluded, but does it affect the sequence of different living conditions in the formative first months and years of life from. Certain, however, that these conditions have nothing to do with the mythological significance of the once arbitrary names of constellations and stars.

With the Zodiac astrology dealt also the Danish- German research team led by Peter Hartmann in a large-scale study. It evaluated the data of more than 15,000 people from statistically and found: a link between birth - and thus the zodiac sign in which the date of birth of the sun is - and personal factors could not be demonstrated.

Demarcation to mathematically oriented astrology

Many people astrology is understood as calendar interpretation and has only entertainment value. The seriously -powered, mathematically and psychologically oriented astrology, however, is less in the public eye. The reputable astrologers used the Zodiac as a measuring circuit for the chart to be created to fill in the positions of the sun, moon and planets as well as intersections. In particular, the constellations are analyzed according to precise specifications and verified comparing with facts as to its accuracy. Therefore astrology particularly good basic knowledge requires, inter alia, in mathematics, geometry, trigonometry, geography and astronomy. It is taught in small schools. A rising spread can not be seen. Their relatively short runs (100 to 500 copies ), without public response, confirm this

Zodiac signs and civic calendar

The tropical zodiac with its twelve equal-sized sections, the zodiac, the occidental horoscope serves as a measuring circuit. As a sign of the zodiac that of a person is called, at the time of her birth in which the sun was (birth mark ), sometimes is a supplement if time of birth and place of birth are known, also referred to as the position of the ascendant in a zodiac sign. Example: Sun is in Cancer and ( supplementary) Ascendant in Scorpio.

Since the sun from one zodiac sign changes rarely at midnight to the next, which often found general classification according to calendar days is not entirely accurate. The exact date of transition varies from year to year because the solar year is not exactly 365 days long. Astrologers calculate the transition therefore exactly in zodiac sign books and newspaper horoscopes but the indication of calendar days is common.

The zodiac signs also play a role in the end of the 20th century became fashionable lunar calendars, which date back to early forms of the Middle Ages.

The twelve signs of the zodiac

* Performed the sun passages through the zodiac as sections of the ecliptic, not to be confused with the constellations. See also the article in Ekliptiksternbilder Zodiak, with the comparison times of the sun passes through the constellations today.

Zodiac in India and China

The Earthly Branches ( " Chinese zodiac " ) have nothing to do with the night sky, but are a numbering system of the Chinese calendar, which is based on the astronomical calendar, the actual path of the sun. You will probably go back to the ancient Dodekaetris.

In Indian astrology, the 30 degree large zodiac signs are tied to the constellations and walk with them gradually through the seasons. This type of astrology is called sidereal astrology in contrast to tropical astrology with tied to the vernal equinox characters.

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