Virgo – The Greek Myth Behind the Zodiac Sign

 

 

The Zodiac Sign of Virgo

 

August 23 to September 22

6th sign of the zodiac

 Symbol: Maiden

 Element: Earth

Ruling Planet Mercury

 

 

Virgo is the largest of the 12 zodiac constellations and covers 1294.43 square degrees of the southern sky.

It is also the second largest of all 88 constellations, only slightly smaller than Hydra, the largest constellation.

The “maiden” of the Virgo symbol is Astraea; the Star Maiden, goddess of innocence and purity, also linked to Libra as she once carried a pair of scales with which she weighed up the rights and wrongs of any dispute.

Astraea, as the symbol of Virgo, represents natural or divine law, not the human understanding of justice as found in Libra, she upholds the balance of the seasons and living in accordance with nature.

Now Astraea’s scales shine next to Virgo as the constellation of Libra.

 

 

  Virgo – The most Misunderstood Zodiac Sign

 

Of all the twelve zodiac signs Virgo is maybe the most misunderstood, owing to the confusion of the translation of the word Virgo, which, in Latin, means self-contained or self-sufficient and originally applied to unmarried women, including mothers.

The word Virgo should not be interpreted as a woman who is a virgin as we know the word today, but more as a nurturing woman, mother to all of the Earth.

The following excerpt, taken from the Gnostic text, “The Thunder Perfect Mind“, where the Greek goddess of wisdom, Sophia, states who she is, goes along way in helping to clear up the misinterpretation of the word Virgo, or virgin and shows us that being a virgin has nothing to do with chastity :

 

‘For I am the first and the last.
I am the honoured one and the scored one.
I am the whore and the holy one.
I am the wife and the virgin.
I am the mother and the daughter.
I am the members of my mother.
I am the barren one and many are her sons.
I am she whose wedding is great,
and I have not taken a husband. ‘

 

 A virgin, in the ancient sense of the word, is a free woman who follows her own moral code or integrity – not the laws forced upon her by society.

 The goddesses associated with Virgo are thought to be fertility goddesses or goddesses of the harvest which ties in with the Greek myth of Demeter; Greek goddess of the harvest, as the constellation Virgo is thought to be a woman holding a spike of corn, so resonating with the Harvest Mother myth.

 

The Myth Behind the Zodiac Sign of Virgo

The Abduction of Persephone

 

 

The myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone is a story of love and abduction.

Persephone, daughter of Demeter, Goddess of harvest and agriculture, is kidnapped by Hades, God of the underworld, who fell in love with her at first sight and carried her off to his kingdom; the Underworld.

Persephone had been assigned the task of painting all the flowers of the earth but before she could complete her task, she was whisked away by Hades, god of the underworld, who had fallen in love with her at first sight and carried her off to his kingdom, the Underworld.

Demeter, mad with sorrow, hunted everywhere for Persephone, going as far as to disguise herself as an old lady with a lighted torch in her hands and roamed the Earth for ninety days.

 

 

The Return of Persephone

 

Finally, the sun god Helios took pity on Demeter and told her that Hades had carried Persephone off to his underworld.

Demeter found Hades and they struck a bargain.

Persephone would live four months on Earth, with the living and eight months in the underworld. (The number of months spent in each place differs, depending on which story is read).

Before being set free from the underworld, Persephone was persuaded to eat six pomegranate seeds, to make sure she returned to the underworld when her time on Earth was up.

 (In ancient mythology, to eat the fruit of one’s captor meant that one would have to return to that captor)

 

 

Demeter’s Revenge

 

In retaliation for the abduction of her daughter, Demeter caused a terrible drought in which the people suffered and starved, depriving the gods of sacrifice and worship.

During the months Persephone spent above ground with her mother, the world was fruitful however, when Persephone was in the underworld, the plants withered and died (This explains the seasons).

Persephone’s rebirth is symbolic of the revival of all plant life and a symbol of eternal life flowing from one generation to another.

The myth addresses the theory of transformation and the cycle of life; existence does not end with death; there is no death, only change from one state of being to another.

This concept is more or less the foundation of the Eleusinian Mysteries.

 

Personality Traits of Virgo

 

Virgo people are said to be analytical, kind, hardworking and practical.

 

 

Virgos are  perfectionists; meticulous and single-minded in their pursuit of improvement, which also makes them extremely dedicated to the people in their lives and helps them find success professionally.

They are practical, sensible and loyal and make excellent friends and partners.

Virgos have a dynamic personality and their traits manifest in both positive and negative ways.

 

 

 A Virgo’s thinking skills and independence will take them a long way but in some instances those same strengths hold them back if not properly managed.

Unsurprisingly Virgos make great employees; their critical thinking and analysis skills mean that they are always looking for the next big thing and how to improve on their work.

 

 

Virgos have to beware of their critical tendencies at work and make sure they have their filters on so that they don’t say things they can’t take back and jeopardize opportunities.

 

 

Virgos have lots of love to give and traits that make them the perfect partner for Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, or Capricorn.

As a naturally shy and reserved sign, Virgos have a hard time opening up and making new friends.

However, once they do they’re amazing friends who should always be the first call for anyone in need, or just if you need a good talk about life.

 Virgos love connecting with others, and this applies in their friendships and with family members, too.

 

 

Positive Virgo Traits

 

Virgo is an earth-sign which is demonstrated in their practical and logical tendencies.

Some of their best qualities are because they’re such thoughtful, well-grounded people.

Hard-Working

Virgos know that hard work pays off.

They aren’t afraid to throw themselves into a project, no matter what it takes, and may even go some sleepless nights.

Creative

Virgos throw themselves into their creativity as much as their other passions. Their creativity is always flowing and they use mediums like art, dance, and writing as an outlet.

Reliable

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone more responsible and reliable than a Virgo. When left in charge, Virgos are sure to take their responsibilities seriously, and they’ll always show up when you need them to.

Patient

While no one is infinitely patient, Virgos are more patient than others.

They’re always willing to see the best in people, and are willing to give people time when they need it to shape up their act.

Kind

Virgos are also humble and affectionate. Along with their desire to see the best in people, they are unfailingly kind and are always willing to help others.

 

Negative Virgo Traits

 

 

 

Of course, Virgos aren’t all perfect, and like most signs, some of their biggest strength can also be points of weakness.

Critical

Virgos are hard workers and great at what they do, but these high standards can also make them overly judgmental and critical towards others.

Stubborn

Virgos can be especially set in their ways. Since they’re so dedicated, they often think that they know best, and are reluctant to change their minds or change their ways.

Overthinking

As critical thinkers, Virgos can also be chronic overthinkers, their minds are so busy all the time, constantly thinking about things they need to do or how they can get ahead on their next project.

This means they also overthink emotions and relationships.

Picky

Again, Virgos are pretty set in their ways and are not easily convinced to try something new.

They also run the risk of being critical about others’ choices when they’re not the Virgo’s first choice.

Uptight

Overthinking and worrying are classic Virgo traits.

They are bothered by lots of little things and are often told by friends that they need to chill or relax.

Lots of Virgos are classed as type A personalities (outgoing, ambitious, rigidly organized, highly status-conscious, impatient, anxious, proactive and concerned with time management.

People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving workaholics; they push themselves with deadlines and hate both delays and ambivalence.

People with Type A personalities experience more job-related stress and less job satisfaction.

(Source – Wikipedia).

 

 

One of the most important things for a Virgo to remember is to relax; take a step back from work and remember to enjoy the little things.

Try to schedule time for breaks well in advance, and stick to it.

 Surround yourself with people who can help you access your emotions but understand your intellectualism.

It’s best to have friends who are different from one another so that you can feel balanced and respected.

Try to remember that not everyone takes criticism well and that you’re not always right.

What works for you may not work for someone else; practice taking a beat and thinking before you speak to ensure you don’t hurt feelings by accident.

 Channel that famous work ethic into projects that bring you happiness.

You’ll work hard at everything you do but you don’t have to always grind away at work.

You can help friends and family, volunteer and work on your art.

Use that natural creativity (one of the most common Virgo traits!) to tap into your emotions.

Practicality can come across as cold, so practice connecting with your emotional side with the added benefit of working on the things you care about.

Bonus points if you do these activities with friends or a romantic interest.

 

Famous Virgos

 

Michael Jackson. American singer songwriter.  Born August 29 1958

 

 

Mother Teresa. Albanian – Indian Catholic nun and missionary. Born august 26 1910

 

 

Van Morrison. Irish singer songwriter. Born August 31 1945

 

 

Queen Elizabeth I. Queen of England  1558 – 1603. Born September 7 1533

 

 

Leo Tolstoy. Russian writer. Born September 9. Born 1828

 

 

Sophia Loren. Italian actress. Born September 20 1934

 

 

Leonard Cohen. Canadian singer, songwriter, poet and writer. Born September 21 1934

 

 

Agatha Christie. English writer. Born September 15 1890

 

 

Sean Connery. Scottish actor and film producer. Born August 25 1930

 

 

Greta Garbo. Swedish – American Actress. Born September 18 1905

 

 

Related Links:

ANCIENT GREEK MYTHS BEHIND THE 12 ZODIAC SIGNS