The constellation Aries

The constellation Aries

Aries is a constellation of the northern hemisphere. It lies on the ecliptic and is therefore one of the zodiac constellations. The ecliptic is the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year. During this time, the sun passes through all the zodiac constellations. From 18 April to 13 May, the sun is in the constellation Aries. During this time, the constellation cannot be observed because it is in the daytime sky.

It is the first of the twelve signs of the zodiac; after it, the vernal equinox point is also called the first point of Aries. When the Greek astronomer Hipparchus determined the beginning of spring (20 March) a good 2,100 years ago, the sun was just passing through Aries. Today, the vernal equinox point lies in the constellation Pisces. Over a period of 26,000 years, the movement of the Earth's axis will move the vernal equinox point once through all the zodiac constellations. The brightest star of Aries is α Arietis, which bears the Arabic name Hamal (lamb). Next to it are the stars β Arietis (Sheratan [the two signs]) and γ Arietis (Mesarthim [a corrupted form of the same Arabic name]). Together they form the head of the ram.

Mythology

Phrixus was the eldest son of King Athamas and therefore the heir to the throne. His stepmother Ino wanted to prevent this. She caused a bad harvest, so that an oracle ordered Phrixus to be sacrificed. Just as King Athamas was about to sacrifice his son, a ram with a golden fleece appeared. Phrixus and his sister Helle jumped onto its back and flew away on it. Unfortunately, Helle lost her grip during the flight and fell into the strait between Europe and Asia. The Greeks then named this strait the Hellespont; today it is called the Dardanelles. Phrixus reached the Black Sea safely, and out of gratitude he sacrificed the ram to Zeus. He gave its fleece, the Golden Fleece, to the king of Colchis, who in return gave him his daughter's hand in marriage. The fleece was kept in the sacred grove of Colchis, from where the Argonauts (the myth of the ship Argo) later stole it. To this day, the constellation Aries is considered rather inconspicuous because the ram has lost its shining golden fleece.

Astrological significance

People born between 21 March and 20 April are born under the zodiac sign Aries. They are determined, disciplined and willing to take risks. Their motto is “Head first through the wall”, because unfortunately they are not by nature planners, and they are certainly not patient. They stand for renewal and new beginnings. They do not spend long on unimportant matters. An Aries always needs the feeling of moving forward.