According to NASA, when the Babylonians created the zodiac, they had already created a 12-month calendar that was based on the phases of the moon. Even though they discovered 13 constellations that make up the zodiac, they decided to leave one out so the zodiac signs would better align with their 12-month calendar.
The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates in Babylonian astronomy during the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The zodiac draws on stars in earlier Babylonian star catalogues, such as the MUL. APIN catalogue, which was compiled around 1000 BC.
Twelve groups of stars form a band around the whole sphere of the sky. The groups are called constellations, a word that means star groups. Many centuries ago star gazers thought that all of these groups except one looked like animals, men or women, and they called the band the zodiac.
The word zodiac comes from the same Greek source as our word zoo, and the 12 groups of constellations in our sky are indeed like a collection from the menagerie.
The constellations of the zodiac are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius and Pisces. Only Libra, the scale, isn't based on a living creature. Through this collection of stars pass our planets, the moon and sun.
Hipparchus, the great Greek astronomer, charted and divided the zodiac about 2,000 years ago. He came up with 12 divisions which he called signs and these signs receive the names we still use today.
Hipparchus noted, as astronomers had before him, that the sun stays, roughly, in one of these divisions during one month of the year. when astronomers in those days said that the sun was in a particular sign, he meant that it was in a certain constellation. He knew that it only seemed to move against a certain group of stars since it was known that the planets and the sun were much closer to earth than any of the stars.
Modern astronomers today do not use the signs for reference in scientific astronomy although the signs are still used by those who follow astrology. Millions of people today in various degrees of seriousness, feel that the zodiac sign of a person's birth has an effect on the way his life is patterned.
Different peoples of the world have developed their own signs or symbols for the zodiac through the centuries. The Chinese and Egyptians, for instance, have signs that are different from ours.
The Chinese zodiacal signs are completely different from ours, being based on rather common animals. Their collection of zoo creatures include the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, hen, dog and pig.
Most of the constellations picked out by star watchers around the world are seen in the form of animals.
As a professional astrologer, people ask me all types of questions. Of the most common curiosities is "what are the best zodiac signs?" along with its evil twin, "what are the worst zodiac signs?" While I appreciate any and all astrological inquiries, including zodiac signs compatibility, let me set the record straight: In astrology, there are no winners or losers. In fact, when you enter the metaphysical realm (the world of stars, tarot cards, tea leaves, etc.), that black-and-white binary goes straight out the window. In this magical, mystical domain, we work with nuance.
Every sign is a powerful, vital piece in the puzzle that is the zodiac. The four elements — air signs, fire signs, water signs, earth signs — all work together to create a comprehensive whole, which shows up in your life as your unique personality traits. Although astrology is an extremely complex study, the most fundamental principle of astrology centers on the 12 familiar star signs of the zodiac. Over the centuries, each sign has developed its own associations — including myths, animals, and colors — and its own characteristics. Every sign is illuminated by its own point of view, complete with powerful strengths and exhausting weaknesses.
From an astronomical perspective, we know that the Sun doesn't move, as its stability anchors the entire solar system. But from our vantage here on planet Earth, the Sun is in constant motion. We can depend on its daily performance (including inspiring sunrises and dramatic sunsets), as well as its location in the sky. The position the Sun occupied at your exact moment of birth is known as your "sun sign" (sometimes referred to as "star sign" or "birth sign"), and it's the cosmic launching pad for both beginners and professional astrologers. (Your Rising Sign is another very important placement, and you can read about it here). Your sun sign is determined by your date of birth and represents your core personality, sense of self, basic preferences, romantic compatibility, and ways in which you move through the world. This astrological placement sheds light on your innate gifts, as well as your hard-to-see blind spots. Your joys, wishes, flaws, and fears make you special and, when your sun sign is combined with the other planets and placements in your birth chart, it creates a distinctive celestial profile that serves as your cosmic fingerprint.
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