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Constellation Leo Myth
It is interesting to note that Greek mythology singled him out from birth, since it also labeled him as the twin of Iphocles. Karl Kerényi, one of the founders of modern studies in Greek mythology, gave up his early views of myth, in order to apply Jung's theories of archetypes to Greek myth.
Aires
Aires or the Ram is the first sign of the zodiac (March 21- April 19).The Greek Myth for Aires is about the king of Thessaly. He was married to a wicked woman who beat her step-children, his son and daughter-Phrixus and Helle. Hermes a god was furious at this and sent a ram to carry the children to safety.
Tragically, Helle slipped fell from the ram into the sea. Phrixus, her brother made it to shore of the Black Sea. He had to sacrifice the ram to give it's fleece to a dragon. It was Jason and his Argonauts who later re-claimed the fleece and took it back to Thessaly.
Amphilochus
Amphilochus, the son of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle was asked by his father to avenge his father's forthcoming death along side his brother Alcmaeon. His ridiculous mother had been talked into making her husband, Amphiaraus take part in the Seven Against Thebes raid by Polynices, who offered the silly woman the necklace of Harmonia.
During the fated battle, Amphiaraus sought to flee from Poriclymenus, the son of Poseidon, who wanted to kill him, but Zeus threw his thunder and the earth opened, enveloping Amphiaraus together with his chariot.
The sons parted ways, Alcmaeon killed his mother and went into exile. Amphilochus evolved into a talented seer, finding many oracles, in particular the oracle of Apollo at Colophon.
Ares
Ares (who some claim was the father of Eros or Cupid)was more than just the god of War...he was a brutal warmonger. He was often portrayed in Greek art as an older bearded warrior in battledress or a beardless youth in a helmet and carrying a spear.
He was never trusted by the Greeks because of his ruthlessness and bloodlust. His half-sister Athena was also thought of as a warring diety, but she based her wars on strategy and not just blind violence.
He came from the warlike Thracians and returned after his affair with Aphrodite.
Eros
Eros in Greek mythology, was the primordial god of lust, love, and intercourse; whereas his mother Aphrodite ruled the love between men and women. He was referred to in Roman culture as Cupid..and associated with love and desire.
His statue could be found in the palaestrae or wrestling schools, one of the principal venues for men to associate with their beloveds. It was to Eros that the Spartans sacrificed before battle.
His mating with Psyche (whose name means Soul) forever linked love and soul.
Gemini
In classical Greek mythology, the stars in the constellation of Gemini were named Castor and Pollux, known collectively as the "Dioscuri" or "Sons of Zeus."
Although Leda was mother to both, the twins had different fathers. Pollux was the son of the chief Olympian God, Zeus, who had changed himself into a swan in order pursue the lovely Leda. Thus, Pollux was immortal. Castor was the son of Leda's husband, Tyndareus, King of Sparta, and thus destined to die.
According to legend, they were hatched from an egg and were were brothers to the beautiful Helen of Troy (over whom the Trojan War was fought) and also brothers to Clytemnestra, Queen of Mycenae.
Castor and Pollux were known to be well-educated, strong and daring, while remaining gentle individuals. They were celebrated as healers, physicians and protectors of humankind.
Castor and Pollux were also Argonauts, being among the crew who sailed with Jason in the Quest for the Golden Fleece. During that voyage, a fierce storm threatened the mission but abated as a pair of stars appeared over the heads of the twins. Since that time, seamen have called upon the brothers for protection from peril and the eerie
lightning phenomenon sometimes called Saint Elmo's Fire has long been regarded as the spirits of the twins playing in the sails. It is considered by sailors to be a most favorable omen.
Castor and Pollux were also counted among the number who fought at the Siege of Troy.
Castor (a horseman) and Pollux (a boxer) fell in love with beautiful sisters, daughters of Leudippus, who were already betrothed to suitors. According to the myth, these suitors, named Idas and Lynceus, were reputed cousins of Castor and Pollux by virtue of Poseidon, God of the Sea, who was rumored to be their father. The twins challenged Idas and
Lynceus in battle and slew their rivals, but Castor was mortally wounded by Idas in the process. Overcome with grief, Pollux wanted to commit suicide.
Leo
Leo Constellation Mythology: This is the Nemean Lion that Hercules battled as the first of his Labors. No weapon could pierce its skin, but Hercules killed the lion by strangling it. After killing the lion, Hercules used its own claws to skin it. Hercules wore the skin as a cloak, and it became his trademark. Hera later placed the lion in the sky as the constellation Leo.
Libra
Mythology of Libra-The Greek myth of Tiresias, the blind prophet, also has some relation to Libra. It's a curious myth, and we'll deal here with only part of it, the part that really pertains to our curious subject.
Tiresias, because he has the favour of the goddess Hera, is given the chance to observe a miracle: two serpents coupling in the goddess' sacred grove. He asks the goddess which of them experiences the greater pleasure; and because she cannot answer, she grants him the boon of spending part of his life as a woman, so that he can experience both. At the end of this ritual of transsexual initiation, he returns to his male form and is called before Zeus and Hera and asked which experiences the greatest pleasure - male or female. At first he tries diplomacy, because whichever answer he gives he knows he is bound to offend somebody. But eventually he tells the truth - that the female experiences the greater pleasure - whereupon Zeus, furious at this insult to masculine vanity, strikes him blind.
Pisces
Pisces-Greek mythology tells of a powerful and menacing god, Typhon, who aimed to overthrow Zeus as king of the gods. Typhon managed to banish all of Zeus' community of gods to Egypt, where they lived in exile.
One day, Aphrodite and her son Eros were strolling along the riverbank when they sensed Typhon pursuing them. They quickly jumped into the Nile and transformed into fishes to escape, binding themselves together by a cord to ensure that they did not become lost. Zeus eventually overcame Typhon's threat, but Aphrodite and Eros continue to flee as
fish in the night sky.
The Greeks and their Roman predecessors also associated Pisces with Poseidon/Neptune, Tyche/Fortuna, Morpheus and Thor, and the constellation is said to have historical links to Helen of Troy and the Trojan War.
Thus every year the world retreats briefly into a cold and forbidding place, until the 21st of March, when Persephone is allowed to emerge from the Underworld, bringing Spring with her.
Sagittarius
Greek Mythology of Sagittarius - Chiron the Centaur behind the Greek myth for Sagittarius was revered by the gods for his knowledge, musicality, philosophy and healing powers. The most famous centaur in ancient mythology Chiron.
He was a sort of King of Centaurs, half man and half horse, who lived with his own tribe among the wild hills and forests of Thrace Kings would send their younge princes to him to be educated.
Being half man and half horse, he had an uncanny sense of both animal and human, a knowledge most enviable.
In an unfortunate accident, Hercules pierced Chiron with a poisoned arrow. As he was immortal, he could not die..but neither would the wound heal. Chiron was in agony.
He pleaded with the gods to let him give up his immortality and replace Prometheus, who was being punished for giving mankind the secret of fire. Prometheus had been chained to a rock and each day an eagle would painfully eat his liver out...it would regenerate every night and the whole scene took place again the next day..and so on.
Jupiter allowed the transfer, with the help of Hercules' persuasion and to mark Chiron's wisdom and kindness..Jupiter placed him as Sagittarius in the summer sky.
Taurus
Mythology of the Taurus - In one myth, Theseus of Athens travels to Crete and (with the help of Ariadne) slays the dreadful Minotaur...a flesh-eating monster who had been locked in a Labyrinth and reported to have the figure of a man, but sporting a bull's head which could breathe fire.
Underworld
Greek Myth Underworld - Latin poets such as Virgil described the Underworld as a place where the wicked were punished and the good rewarded in the life after death. Virgil also assigned a geographic area to the Underworld. The path to the Underworld led to the river Acheron, as it poured into the river Cocytus.
Virgo
Myth Of Virgo The Virgin: The Goddess Astraea is the Goddess of Justice; she represents the natural order including birth, change, abundance and death. Virgo doesn't actually mean virgin..but 'self-contained'..which Astreaea was. She once lived on earth in the golden age and taught of the nature of the seasons. Astraea was the daughter of Zeus and Themis. Astraea inherited from her mother the duty of asserting justice. She was the last of the immortals to leave the earth when the Golden Age finished through a period of lawlessness and crime. She then took up her place in the Zodiac, in the constellation of Virgo.
Constellation Leo Myth
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