Libra – The Ancient Greek Myth Behind the Zodiac Sign

Symbol of the Zodiac sign of Libra, the scales of justice.

September 23 – October 22

Represented by the scales; a symbol of justice and balance, Libra is the only sign of the zodiac not depicted by an animal or person.

In Greek mythology Libra is related to the Greek Goddess of Justice, Themis, whose daughter, Astraea went up to heaven and became the constellation of Virgo.

Both goddesses carried the scales of justice, which became the symbol for Libra.

Libra is the 7^th sign of the zodiac; one of the four cardinal signs (Aries – fire, Cancer – water, Libra – air, Capricorn – earth), which are signs that indicate a change of season when the sun makes its annual passage into them.

Ancient Greece and the twelve signs of the zodiac

The mysterious night sky thrilled the ancient Greek astrologers who played a huge role in what we now know today about the shape and size of the Earth, the moon, the position of constellations and how they move, the orbital paths of planets and their correlation with the stars around them.

12 Zodiac Constellations

They were able to use this information to make detailed predictions, what we know of today as horoscopes.

In ancient Greece, each one of the twelve signs of the zodiac (the word zodiac comes from a Greek word meaning, “The circle of animals” meaning all living creatures), related to one of the four elements: earth, air, fire and water and identified with twelve constellations, seen in the night sky at different times of the year.

With the exception of Libra, each zodiac sign relates to a Greek myth concerning animals or humans, telling how each group of stars arrived in the heavens.

The twelve zodiac signs

The symbols of the 12 Zodiac signs

Aries – Ram. March 21 – April 19

Taurus – Bull. April 20 – May 20

Gemini -The twins. May 21 – June 20

Cancer – Crab. June 21 – July 22

Leo – Lion. July 23 – August 22

Virgo – Virgin. August 23 – September 22

Libra – The scales. September 23 – October 22

Scorpio – Scorpion. October 23 – November 21

Sagittarius – Centaur. November 22 – December 21

Capricorn – Goat. December 22 – January 19

Aquarius – Water bearer. January 20 – February 18

Pisces – Fish. February 19 – March 20

The zodiac sign of Libra

Libra as depicted in Urania’s Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825

7th sign of the zodiac

September 23 – October 22

Symbol: Scales

Element: Air

A Cardinal sign

Ruling Panet Venus

The ancient Greek myths surrounding the zodiac sign of Libra

Zodiac sign of Libra

The zodiac sign of Libra is known for its relation to law and the scales of justice, the origin of that connection though, is more about divine law, rather than the law of man.

Libra is associated with Themis, a Titan, the goddess of divine order and law, the ‘Lady of good council’ and mother of the star goddess, Astraea, who is the maiden symbol of Virgo, both are portrayed carrying a pair of scales; a symbol for justice and balance.

Themis is often seen holding a sword, with which she cuts the truth from the lies.

Statue of Themis, outside the former Law Courts, George Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Both Astrea and her mother Themis were goddesses of justice, upholding the balance of the seasons and living in harmony with nature.

Themis was also a prophetic goddess who reigned over the ancient oracle at Delphi before eventually handing the job over to Apollo.

It was in her role at Delphi that Themis first taught mankind the primal laws of justice and morality, and became known as a bringer of balance and righter of wrongs.

Those who worshipped her at the temple of Delphi, prayed for justice to bring fairness to their lives.

The Oracle of Delphi

Themis shows all the typical characteristics of a Libra; natural law through divine awareness, social grace and manners, awareness for the points of view of others, seeking what’s best for everyone and a desire for peacemaking and balance.

When her wishes or advice were ignored, Themis called in her fellow goddess, Nemesis, whose name, in Greek, means ‘to give what is due’, to punish those who dared to disobey the gods, they made a good team; Themis made the laws and Nemesis ensured they were not broken.

Goddess of retribution, Nemesis, by Alfred Rethel (1837)

Themis was the second wife of Zeus, king of all Greek gods, their children included the three Horai and the three Moirai.

The Horai, or hours, goddesses of the seasons and time were three sisters named Dike, Eirene, and Eunomia, who later, as they were associated with the division of time, became goddesses of order and justice.

Dike, was the goddess of moral justice, Eunomia, the goddess of law and legislation, and Eirene, goddess of peace and wealth.

The Moirai are referred to as the Fates, and like the Horai, were three sisters, Atropos, Clotho and Lachesis.

The Moirai were in charge of the life path of all mortals, even the gods were controlled by them.

Personality traits of Libra

10 things to know about Libra

Libras; clever, pleasant and charming people, with outgoing natures, have a strong sense of justice and are passionate about making sure that things are balanced, which makes them fair people.

Positive Personality Traits of Libra

How to attract a Libra

Diplomatic

Libras are born peacemakers and are experts at being tactful and diplomatic.

They think before they speak and try to find common ground with as many people as possible.

Fair

Libras have a strong sense of justice and are passionate about making sure that things are balanced.

Cheerful

Libras try to stay optimistic, look on the bright side and search for the best in people.

They have the best intentions and come up with the best ideas, for starting new projects and learning new things.

Social

Libra, the most extroverted sign of the zodiac! They love being with people, and love meeting new people, too.

They bloom when surrounded by interesting people who can introduce them to new things.

Smart

Libras are imaginative, witty, smart, and are brilliant conversationalists, excellent company and sharp problem solvers.

Negative Personality Traits of Libras

Libra – Indecisive

Indecisive

Libras’ love of balance is not always a positive trait, they can spend hours weighing the pros and cons of even the smallest decisions.

They want to please everyone and have trouble committing to one thing or another, even the most insignificant.

Compromising

Libras are peacemakers by nature. They are great at finding compromise within groups, whether it’s between friends or in business settings, but this means they also have trouble facing their problems and will put off difficult discussions for as long as they can.

Self-Pitying

Libras can become self-absorbed, focusing entirely on themselves.

When things don’t go right for them, they feel as though it’s the end of the world and that no one is on their side.

Unreliable

Libras, though fun to be around, are not at their best when it comes to reliability, they make wonderful and loyal friends but don’t expect them to show up on time!

Conceited

Libras love beautiful things and that includes themselves, they are the Kings and Queens of selfies!

They spend spending hours on their appearances, and have a tendency to make negative comments about how other people look and may even avoid associating with people who they think are less attractive.