Scorpio – The Ancient Greek Myth Behind the Zodiac Sign

 

 

October 23 – November 21

Greek mythology associates Scorpio with the story of Orion; a giant and accomplished hunter, son of Poseidon (Neptune) god of the oceans.

One version of the myth, of which there are many (see more below), has Orion, who held himself in high regard, bragging about his hunting skills.

On hearing of this, according to which Greek myth you happen to be reading, Artemis, a hunter in her own right, sent a scorpion to kill him.

 

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.

 

 

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 and their symbols

 

 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 Scorpio

 

 

8th sign of the zodiac

October 23 to November 21

Symbol: Scorpion

Element: Water

Ruling Panets Mars and Pluto

A fixed, negative sign

 

Scorpio; the eighth sign in the Zodiac, a feminine sign, ruled by Mars and Pluto, belonging to the water signs is one of the 48 constellations identified by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century.

It is an ancient constellation that pre-dates the Greeks and lies between Libra to the west and Sagittarius to the east, in the southern hemisphere near the center of the Milky Way.

The sign of Scorpio is connected with three animals: the scorpion, the snake, and the eagle or phoenix.

The scorpion is known to sting when it feels threatened, the snake represents sexual strength and transformation, the eagle or phoenix, reflects a side capable of reaching great heights and a side which has overcome the temptations of the material world, the phoenix is also a symbol of regeneration and rebirth.

 

The ancient Greek myth behind the zodiac sign of Scorpio

 

 

 

In Greek mythology, the zodiac sign of Scorpio derives from the myth of Orion, a giant, son of the sea god, Poseidon, and thought to be the best looking man to walk the face of the Earth.

 

Version One

 

Orion, a talented hunter, had partnered up with Artemis, Greek goddess of the hunt, something which drove her brother, Apollo, the sun god, crazy with jealousy.

 

 

Apollo, went to seek help from Gaia, Mother Earth, who created an enormous scorpion, which stung Orion, killing him instantly.

Zeus, king of all Greek gods, placed both Orion and the scorpion, high in the heavens, as constellations, being mindful though, to place them 180 degrees apart, to avoid any further clashes between the two.

 

 

Version Two

 

The second  version has Orion declaring to Artemis, that he such a good hunter, he will wipe out all the animals that roam the Earth, whereupon, Artemis sent a giant scorpion to kill Orion, in order to save all the creatures of the Earth.

Zeus, on hearing of what had occurred, placed Orion and the scorpion in the sky as a warning to man against the consequences of pride.

 

 

Version Three

 

Version three of the tale has Artemis falling in love with Orion and longing  to become his wife; her brother Apollo, who was not about to let this happen, came up with a plan.

He tricked Artemis into shooting Orion and desolate with grief at the loss of her lover, Artemis, placed him amongst the stars, where she could gaze at him each night and remember their time together.

 

 

Scorpio and the Occult

 

Scorpio mirrors the black of night so it may come as no surprise that Halloween; All Saints Day and Day of the Dead all occur under the dominance of the Scorpio Sun.

The thin line between our world and that of the spirits is said to grow even thinner during Scorpio season, strengthening our powers to connect with the Underworld

 Scorpio controls secret societies such as the Masons and gives strength to conspiracies, deception, corruption, psychological warfare, tyranny and surveillance.

People born under the sign of Scorpio may have the ability, with their seductive charms, to lure others into a den of addiction, sexual obsession and dark deeds by putting their victims into a kind of trance.

 

Personality traits of Scorpio

(Source: PrepScholar )

 

 

People born under the sign of Scorpio, a water sign, are often wrongly identified as one of the fire signs, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, owing to their intense independence and their sometimes harsh disposition.

 Although intimidating, Scorpions are deeply emotional and sensitive and authentic, they crave intimacy, make good connections and are loyal friends.

Scorpios have a powerful presence, are natural leaders and their love of all things mysterious, make them one of the more interesting zodiac signs.

 

The good….

 

 

Scorpios are known for being tough-minded and biting, but they also have lots of positive qualities that make them great friends and successful people overall.

Determined

Determination is one of the most well-known Scorpio characteristics. When a Scorpio wants something, they go for it and they don’t hold back. There’s not much that can stop a Scorpio once they have their mind set on something, and they have unmatched focus when they pursue a goal.

Brave

There’s no one better to have at your side during a time of trouble than a Scorpio. They will run into danger without a second thought, and are always the first to volunteer themselves for difficult tasks. Especially when it comes to helping family and friends, the Scorpio personality means that they are the first to jump into the fray.

Loyal

If a Scorpio is committed to someone or something, they stick with it. Their trust is hard to earn, but once they do trust someone, they dedicate their whole self to that person, and apply their classic determination to stand by friends, family, and partners.

Honest

Scorpios are honest to a fault. They always tell the truth, no matter what, and hate dishonesty in others. They can’t stand people who steal and cheat, either, since they’re just as honest with themselves as they are with others.

Ambitious

Scorpios are known to be fierce.They are single-minded in achieving their goals, and they set those goals high. Scorpios don’t see or set limits in their lives, and they don’t let anyone tell them that something they want isn’t possible.

 

And the bad…

 

 

Like their symbol the scorpion, Scorpios have a tendency to lay in wait, collecting information and trust until their time to strike. Scorpios need to be aware of some of their harsher qualities, and so do those who have Scorpios in their lives.

Jealous

Scorpios feel everything intensely, including jealousy. They are quick to be jealous since they think their determination and intelligence entitle them to get what they want. They have a hard time not comparing other people’s achievements with their own, and think everything is a competition.

Secretive

Scorpios never show their cards. They are incredibly honest, but they don’t like to display any vulnerability, especially with people they’re unsure about. They tend to keep their feelings to themselves, as well as plans and ideas, so when it’s time to win the chess match of life, Scorpios have a leg up. However, this also makes them difficult to deal with as people.

Resentful

When someone else gets something the Scorpio desires, we know they can be jealous. But on top of that, no one holds a grudge like a Scorpio does. They take betrayals personally and setbacks seriously, and may often find themselves resenting others for perceived slights.

Controlling

Scorpios like to be in control. Their fierceness and intensity means that they think they know what’s best, and the people in their lives will often find themselves under the Scorpio’s thumb. Scorpios also hate being controlled by others, and need control over all situations.

Stubborn

Stubbornness can be a helpful trait, since it means Scorpios stand their ground, and stick to their principles. However, they’re also slow to change their ways and ideas, and don’t like compromise. They are set in what they think and like, and are not easily convinced to try new things.

 

Famous Scorpios

 

Grace, Princess of Monaco, née Grace Patricia Kelly Marie Antoinette Born: November 12, 1929

 

 

Pablo Picasso. Spanish painter.  October 25, 1881

 

 

Meg Ryan. American actress. Born: November 19, 1961

 

 

Neil Young. Canadian singer songwriter.  November 12, 1945

 

 

Anna Wintour . British editor of US Vogue. Born: November 3, 1949

 

 

Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Russian Novelist.  November 11, 1821

 

 

Julia Roberts. American actress. October 28, 1967

 

 

Claude Monet. French Impressionist Painter. November 14, 1840

 

 

Margaret Atwood. Canadian author. November 18, 1939

 

 

William Henry Gates. American Microsoft Founder. October 28, 1955

 

 

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All Twelve Signs of the Zodiac