zodiac signs

The term zodiac comes from the Greek word "zodiakos", meaning "circle of animals". Babylonian astrology, developed a zodiac of twelve signs associated with a yearly cycle and with constellations of stars that lie along the apparent path of the Sun across the heavens. The path is divided into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude.

The Babylonian calendar assigns each month a constellation, beginning with the position of the Sun at vernal equinox. The constellations are stars grouped together into patterns which the ancients thought resembled the object which gave the constellation its name.

Astrology uses the Zodiac to measure the movements of the night sky for divinatory purposes. Astrologers chart the positions of the Sun and planets in relation to the zodiacal signs. The horoscope is used to associate properties of a sign with the properties of planets positioned in that sign.