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Zodiacs
It's all in the stars...
Believe it or not, man has been trying to predict the future and his own destiny since the dawn of time.
Here are two systems widely in use in the Oriental and the Western worlds.
In the Orient...
The Chinese zodiac runs on a 12-year cycle (lunar calendar year of course).
The beginning of each year is calculated according to the second new moon following the winter solstice.
Legend has it that Buddha summoned all the animals in his kingdom to come before him, but only 12 came.
In gratigude to those 12, he named a year after each of them in the order of their arrival.
In the West...
The Western zodiac as we know it has its origin in Mesopotamia.
The system allows the months of the year to be identified with the rising of particular stars.
The Greeks borrowed the 12-constellation scheme from the Babylonians --- excepting Aries and Libra -- circa late 6th-century BCE.
They changed the Babylonian zodiacal constellation "Hired Man" into Aries and the Romans later reintroduced Libra.
Are there any other systems out there still in used?
What about the Mayans, Egyptians or the Hindus?
If you know of any brief history of other zodiac schemes, in use or not, let me know!
Chinese Zodiac
Rat |
1900 + 12 (x) |
Western Zodiac
Aries |
|