Mythology through the Zodiac
Mythological Characters Associated with Aries and Taurus
Aries is the first of the Zodiac signs. The name is derived from the Latin word aries, meaning Ram, which symbolises spring, the season in which new shoots begin to appear, birds return to their breeding grounds and animals multiply.
Aries the Leader
The lamb is often referred to in biblical literature as a sacrificial offering. In Leviticus 5, the lamb is sacrificed if the soul sins; in Exodus 29 the Lord explains to Moses how a ram should be prepared as a burnt offering. Christ was known as the ‘Lamb of God’ who himself was sacrificed on the cross for man’s sins. This is symbolic of Aries the Leader, aware of his aims and purposes in life and willing if necessary to sacrifice his own personal desires for the good of mankind.
In Greek mythology Ares is the God of War whilst Mars (ruler of the sign Aries) was the Roman God of War. Most festivals related to these gods were carried out in March. Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera and was quite cruel and bloodthirsty in character. There was a temple to him at Athens and it is said that human sacrifices were offered in his honour.
New Cycles
The first sign of the Zodiac represents the beginning of a new cycle of experience and so the Aries individual is very much aware of himself and his human ambitions. Aries will surge forward in life and will butt anything which might get in his way. This symbolises the strength of character to overcome obstacles but there can also be a destructive force in that strength and this may demand conscious control!
Taurus in Mythology
Thousands of years ago, the island of Crete in the Mediterranean was a thriving centre of Greek civilisation. The island’s mythological King Minos was famous as a law-maker and as the inventor of the first navy.
The Sea God, Poseidon had sent King Minos a beautiful white bull to sacrifice to the gods but Minos decided to keep that bull for himself and sacrificed another. He was punished for this by the gods in that his wife, Pasiphae, fell in love with the bull. As a result of their union, the Minotaur, a monster with the head of a bull and the body of man was born. King Minos built a labyrinth to hide him in until he was killed by Theseus, one of the many youths the king collected to feed to the Minotaur!
Constellation of Taurus the Bull
Many of the names of the star constellations are derived from Greek mythology and among these is the constellation of Taurus the Bull. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, the Roman Goddess of Love, although the original Greek Goddess, Aphrodite, who was fabled to have sprung forth from the sea-foam, was much purer than her Roman counterpart! To this Venus influence, however, can be attributed the Taurean’s artistic and musical potential as well as their strong appreciation for the many good things in life.
