Zodiac

There is a disagreement about what is the origin of the word Zodiac. In first place there are people that determine it in two old Greek words, “zoon” that means animal and “diakos” that implies wheel or circle, and then we have zoon-diakos ultimately wheel of animals.

Another part of experts says that the term zodiac was already used by the Babylonians, before 2000 b. C., like a calendar which is possible visualize the pass of time. Prove of that is the opinion of E.J. Webber in his book the name of stars, “The original mean of zooidion, that is a diminutive of zoon, is a little shape, painted or carved, and so uses Herodotus. Later was also given to big figures. Aristotle uses it for first time… the term zodiac drift, then, of the figures painted on it, and is a common etymological mistake perpetuated in the German Tierkries; assume that the shapes must be animals”.

Origin of Zodiac

The Sumerian civilization developed math using a counting system that was based on the number 60, from which was born the concept 360 degrees for a circle and the current temporary system. Also they divided the day in twelve solar stages, that then it will transform in the twelve hours of a day and same twelve of the night.

They were the first to define the twelve constellations of Zodiac, which traveled in twelve periods which together formed a solar year. Hence, the year was divided into twelve months and four seasons of three months each.

However, the priest-astronomers of astrologers of ancient Egypt were the ones who passed these skills and his own observations of the sky to the Greeks, who in turn were a source of knowledge for astronomers and scientists from the middle Ages.