Mythology of Libra, Virgo, Pisces, and Aquarius
Libra is one of the younger signs in the Zodiac, and its origins are a bit unusual. In the early days of the Zodiac, as developed by the ancient Babylonians, there were only eleven signs. At that time, Scorpio took up a larger portion of the sky, and directly next to it was Virgo. There was no Libra yet.
In mythology, Virgo has always been represented by a maiden, though which one varies depending on the myth. Some cultures associate her with Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love and war. Others see her as Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, or Astraea, the Roman goddess of innocence and justice. Each of these goddesses represents themes of purity, fertility, or justice, all of which are common themes tied to Virgo.
But here’s where things got interesting—at some point, the claws of Scorpio, known as Chelae, were cut off from its constellation and added to Virgo to create Libra. This transformed Virgo into a blindfolded goddess of justice, holding scales that represented balance and fairness. Even then, though, Virgo became oversized, occupying an unfairly large portion of the sky.
To fix this imbalance, the Romans eventually separated the scales from both Virgo and Scorpio entirely, creating a new constellation and sign: Libra. Libra became the symbol of balance and justice, and it’s the only sign of the Zodiac that isn’t represented by a person or an animal—just an abstract concept: scales.
The constellation Pisces has always been depicted as two fish, and while it’s a faint constellation in the night sky, its mythology is vibrant. In Greek mythology, Pisces is connected to the story of Aphrodite and her son Eros. When the monstrous Typhon, a beast so powerful it frightened the gods, attacked Mount Olympus, Aphrodite and Eros transformed into two fish to escape. To make sure they weren’t separated in the chaotic escape, they tied their tails together. Many representations of Pisces show a connection between the two fish, symbolizing their unity and partnership.
Though Pisces’ origins are tied to this myth of divine escape, the fish have long represented themes of transformation, survival, and connection, making the sign a symbol of fluidity and adaptability. The bond between Aphrodite and Eros, and their survival from Typhon, speaks to the enduring nature of love and protection.
Finally, Aquarius is one of the oldest signs in the Zodiac and is closely associated with the myth of Ganymede. According to Greek mythology, Ganymede was a beautiful mortal prince who caught the eye of Zeus. In an act of divine fascination, Zeus transformed himself into an eagle and swooped down from Olympus to abduct Ganymede, carrying him to the heavens. There, Ganymede was granted immortality and became the cup-bearer of the gods, serving them in the same way a mortal servant might, but in a much grander context.
Ganymede’s association with water comes from his role as a bearer of ambrosia and nectar—the divine beverages of the gods. Aquarius, the water-bearer, is forever linked to the idea of service, generosity, and the flow of life. In the sky, Aquarius is surrounded by water-related constellations such as Pisces (the fish), Eridanus (the river), Delphinus (the dolphin), and Cetus (the sea monster), cementing Aquarius’ position as a sign associated with water and fluidity, despite its air element in astrology.
Together, Libra, Virgo, Pisces, and Aquarius tell stories of transformation, justice, survival, and service, each constellation intricately woven into the mythological fabric of the night sky.
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