The Origin of the Star Signs

The Origin of the Star Signs

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a magical force that could see the future, solve problems, or guide us when we deliberate over big life decisions? For many of us, our star sign provides that.

These days, the traditional life path no longer exists. That means that many of us are seeking reassurance elsewhere, looking to the stars to give us direction. We’ve all heard of the signs of the zodiac, but for many of us, their "power" is confined to the back pages of our favorite women’s magazines. Anyone who says they’ve never read their horoscope is probably not being fully honest; we think everyone has looked up their star sign and agreed or disagreed with how they fit the personality profile at some point. But where did the star signs originate?

The signs of the zodiac have been around for a long time, and they are deeply rooted in our history. What does each sign represent, and how does this reflect on you?

Early Signs

The Babylonians might have been the first to popularize the concept, back in around 1500 BC. They divided the year into seasons, and have also been credited with coming up with the basic units of time that we use in modern life. It was the Babylonians who realized that the sun and the planets could be used to measure time, and that their paths could divide time into 12 segments that we know as the signs of the zodiac; each is represented by a different constellation.

They noticed that there were times when the weather behaved one way - when the sun was closer to some constellations - and figured out that it took a full 12 lunar cycles before the sun reclaimed the same position. At that time, the star signs and constellations were used more for telling the time than for predicting what the future holds.

While the Babylonians take a lot of the credit, there is some evidence that they took some of the key ideology from the Egyptians, who had also noticed the link between stars and some weather conditions. Beyond that, it seems that the Greeks were the ones who made the links with destiny, giving the names to the signs of the zodiac we know today. The term "zodiac" means a “circle of animals,” which fits with the number of star signs that are represented by an animal.

A modern horoscope is a reading taken by looking at the position of the sun in relation to the stars. These snapshots are then interpreted to provide an insight for those born during each period.

What does my star sign say about me?

Aquarius

January 20th - February 18th

Independence is a key character trait of Aquarians. They are intelligent and can be sensitive. Check out our Long Sleeved White Aquarius T-Shirt.

Pisces

February 19th - March 20th

Pisceans are kind and sensitive by nature, and they are ready to show a lot of compassion.

Aries

March 21st - April 19th

Aries are known for their courage and bravery. They have a lot of ambition, and it is this focus that helps them to take risks to achieve their goals.

Taurus

April 20th - May 20th

Like the bull that represents them, Taureans can be headstrong and stubborn. They are generally loyal and reliable.

Gemini

May 21st - June 20th

Geminis are twice the fun! They are outgoing and fun, flexible and interested. Our Gemini T-Shirts are a striking representation of the sign, available in various color combinations.

Cancer

June 21st - July 22nd

Cancerians are an inquisitive bunch and are likely to be creative. They feel things deeply and usually have a lot of empathy.

Leo

July 23rd - August 22nd

Loyalty is the key trait of someone born in Leo. They are confident, which could be seen as arrogance.

Virgo

August 23rd - September 22nd

Virgos are self-critical and worry a lot. They are meticulous with a keen eye for detail.

Libra

September 23rd - October 22nd

Libras are great fun to be around. They seek perfection.

Scorpio

October 23rd - November 21st

Secrecy and privacy are important to Scorpians, and they are ambitious.

Sagittarius

November 22nd - December 21st

Sagittarians won’t mince their words; they are honest and blunt, which sometimes causes offense.

Capricorn

December 22nd - January 19th

Capricorns are patient and persistent. They want to do well and will persevere.