Ancient Origins
The zodiac system originated in Babylon around 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians divided the sky into 12 equal parts, corresponding to the 12 months of their calendar, and named each section after prominent constellations. This knowledge was later adopted and refined by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks.
Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer living in Alexandria, Egypt, codified much of what we know as modern Western astrology in his work "Tetrabiblos" in the 2nd century CE, establishing the foundation for the zodiac system we recognize today.
Cultural Impact
Throughout history, astrology has influenced art, literature, architecture, and even political decisions. Many Renaissance artists incorporated zodiac imagery into their works, and numerous historical leaders consulted astrologers before making important decisions.
Different cultures developed their own astrological systems. While Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (based on seasons), Indian Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac (based on fixed star positions), and Chinese astrology follows a 12-year cycle represented by animals rather than constellations.