Pisces - The Fish

PISCES - Myths and Legends

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Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces

The ancient Babylonian name for this constellation was Kun, meaning "the tails." This title referred to the tails of the two fishes that were associated with the goddesses Anunitum and Simmah, who once represented the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. The great Roman writer Manilius, who set down a number of astrological myths, gives us a stronger link with the sign of Pisces. It actually derives from the earlier literature of the Greek writer Hyginus, who wrote one of the first works on mythology. Hyginus's story involved Venus and Aphrodite son, Cupid, who were the Roman versions of the Greek Aphrodite and Eros. The former Aphrodite was the goddess of love, who was said to preside over a love that bonded all living creatures and to inspire all of Nature's creations. The latter was her son by her husband, the graceless and ugly god Vulcan. Cupid was originally conceived as the god who was responsible for harnessing the different elements of the universe, allowing life to develop. Clearly there is a link between the role of Cupid and that of his mother, Aphrodite.

From these abstract origins, he came to be seen as an immortal child with the ambition to infect both mortals and the gods with the virus of love. Cupid is often shown firing arrows from a bow. These arrows were invested with the power to stir great passion in the hearts of all those that they struck. From the thighs downward he was nothing but coiled serpents and his arms, which were said to span a hundred leagues in any direction, ended in countless serpents' heads. As his name suggests (it is the root of the word typhoon), Typhon was said to be responsible for any unusually strong winds.

According to the myth, Venus and Cupid were strolling along the banks of the Euphrates one-day when they were confronted by an enraged Typhon. In order to evade him they immediately turned themselves into a fish and swam off rapidly in opposite directions. To commemorate the event Zeus, king of the gods, placed the constellation now known as Pisces in the heavens. Even today, the fishes used to represent the sign face in different directions, although a single golden cord connects them. This perfectly indicates the perversity that is such a powerful characteristic of Sun sign Pisceans. They will almost inevitably argue strongly for one course of action only to eventually decide to take precisely the opposite course.

Pisces - Legends About The Fish

Pisces - The Fish