What is the Zodiac?

Question

What is it?

Answer 1

The term zodiac (Latin zodiacus, from the Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος], meaning "circle of little animals", derived from ζῴδιον, the diminutive of ζῷον "animal") denotes several places where a circle of twelve animals occurs. However, another suggested etymology is that the Greek term was borrowed from the Sanskrit sodi, denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the sun travels. The latter is perhaps the more probable etymology, as at least one of the signs in the zodiac does not represent a living creature. Indo-European cultures 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 ecliptic) and used in astronomy and astrology. Likewise in Chinese astrology, months and years pass through a cycle of twelve animals that imply certain fortunes or misfortunes related to events occurring within those signs.

Answer 2

The term zodiac (Latin zodiacus, from the Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος], meaning "circle of little animals", derived from ζῴδιον, the diminutive of ζῷον "animal") denotes several places where a circle of twelve animals occurs. However, another suggested etymology is that the Greek term was borrowed from the Sanskrit sodi, denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the sun travels. The latter is perhaps the more probable etymology, as at least one of the signs in the zodiac does not represent a living creature. Indo-European cultures 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 ecliptic) and used in astronomy and astrology. Likewise in Chinese astrology, months and years pass through a cycle of twelve animals that imply certain fortunes or misfortunes related to events occurring within those signs.
Babylonian astronomers at some point during the 1st millennium BC divided the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude to create the first known celestial coordinate system: a coordinate system that boasts some advantages over modern systems (such as equatorial coordinate system or ecliptic coordinate system). The zodiac is also understood as a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, and therefore encompasses the paths of the Moon and the naked eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The classical astronomers called these planets wandering stars to differentiate them from the fixed stars of the celestial sphere (Ptolemy).

Strictly speaking, the eventual culmination of the classical zodiac includes signs (also constellations) that are not all represented by animals (e.g., Libra, Virgo, Gemini). However, the term probably derives from earlier conceptions of the constellations along the ecliptic as sculpted animals. As with the Chinese zodiac, Indo-European astrologers understand the movement of the planets and the Sun through the zodiac as a method to explain and predict events on Earth.

The modern western astrological signs are simplifications of conventional pictorial representations of the signs, used since Hellenistic times. The characters are encoded in unicode at positions U+2648 to U+2653 (hexadecimal numbers): Aries ♈, Taurus ♉, Gemini ♊, Cancer ♋, Leo ♌, Virgo ♍, Libra ♎, Scorpio ♏, Sagittarius ♐, Capricorn ♑, Aquarius ♒, Pisces ♓. The glyph representation of these characters will depend on the font in which they are displayed.

Answer 3

The Zodiac is a group of twelve constellations that lie along the ecliptic (the circle the sun and planets make through the sky). It is divided up into twelve equal divisions or signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pices. The movements of the sun, moon and the major planets through these signs forms the basis of astrology.

Answer 4

Jan 25. Aqua Sun Aqua Moon Scorpio Rising

Answer 5

If you look for the etymology for the word 'Zodiac' you
will find that it is derived from L. zodiacus "zodiac,"
from Gk. zodiakos "zodiac (circle)," to represent the
stars forming the signs.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=zodiac&searchmode=none

In Sanskrit, Zaathaka means the circle showing the
location of planets in signs as present at the time of
birth of a person. The the Latin and Greek words were
derived from Sanskrit word Zaathaka.

Another proof for transfer of Hindu astrology to ancient
Europeans is that the symbols used for 'signs' are
the same with minor variations.

It is known that ancient Hindu astrology is more
advanced than astrology of any other culture. Texts of
others describe the characterisic traits of a person.
They cannot predict the future. The Hindu astrology
can. There are many instances in India when the most
important events have been predicted by scholarly
astrologers. India has more ancient texts on astrology
than any other country in the world.

The knowledge of astrology should go hand in hand
with astronomy. Which country has the oldest texts
on astronomy? India. See Brihat Samhita of Varaha Mihira.
More than 20 books on ancient astronomy have survived
in India. The calculations for timing of eclipses in medieval
Europe used to go wrong by a few hours to one day or more.
The Indian method is accurate upto fraction of a minute.
That too they can do it with a technique called Hasta
Ganitham (use of fingers and their sub-parts for calculation).
It is only after invention of main-frame computers in 1950s that
the westerners learned to calculate timing of eclipses
more accurately. Even then, their results were infereior
to what an Indian astrologer could do with his bare hands.
For that matter who invented the numbers? Indians.
Who invented 'zero'? Indians. The Roman numerals do
not have the number zero. The olderst universities of
the world, like Takshasila and Pataliputra are located
in India. Scholars from far east and Europe used to
come to India for higher studies.

Who invented Calculus? The western books say that Newton
invented Calculus. You can see the Sanskrit mathematics
texts by Arya Bhatta and Bhaskaracharya which were written
many centuries before Newton that they contain Calculus.
Who invented plastic surgery? The Indians. It is fully
described by Maharshi Susruta, the ancient Ayurvedic
surgeon, in his Samhita. Who invented acupuncture? The
Indians.Who discovered Groundwater Hydrology? The
Indians. We can read Brihat Samhita of Varaha Mihira;
the Indian method is better than the modern techniques
of using space satellites. Who were the first to
construct planned cities with high technology
infrastructures for water supply and sewerage? The
Indians. Who invented steel? The Rig Veda
which is now accepted to be 8000 years old mentions
wootz steel. Evidence for the manufacture of steel in
ancient times is available in South India.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=steel

Who invented the hanging bridges? The Indians.
Chinese who visited India a few thousands of years ago
wrote about the hanging bridges which used steel beams
and steel ropes.

Among all countries in the world, India has inherited
the largest number of ancient manuscripts from time
immemorial. They were written on the widest range of
subjects known to humans.

Have you heard of Vedic mathematics which is 8000
years old? How do you do a simple multiplication of
a four digit number multiplied by another four digit number.
You will take the last digit of the second number and
multiply the first number. Like that you have to do four
times and add the results properly. In Vedic mathematics,
you will get the answer in one step even if it is a 100 digit
number multiplying another 100 digit number. Most of
you may be knowing that the CPU of a computer
consists of an ALU and NCP (numeric co-processor).
If this NCP is redesigned using Vedic mathematics,
a personal computer will work better than a super computer.
Have you heard the name Sakuntala Devi? Once she was
given a very complicated problem. She gave the answer
in a few seconds and the computer took some minutes.
So she was called the Human Computer.

http://www.chennaionline.com/articlecomments/displaycomments.asp?CommentTitle=Human+Computer
http://www.drishtikona.com/archives/tidbits/000786.php
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2002/04/17/stories/2002041704180400.htm

What mathematics could she have used?

Answer 6

The Zodiac is used by Astrologers to cast horoscopes and to study the past and future as suggested by the placement of twelve constellations which span the northern sky from horizon to horizon; each constellation dominates the sky during a thirty day period. They are Aries the Ram (mid March to mid April); Taurus the Bull (mid April to mid May); Gemini the Twins (mid May to mid June); Cancer the Crab (mid June to mid July); Leo the Lion (mid July to mid August); Virgo the Virgin (mid August to mid September); Libra the Scales (mid September to mid October); Scorpio the Scorpion (mid October to mid November); Sagittarius the Archer (mid November to mid December); Capricorn the Goat (mid December to mid January); Aquarius the Water Bearer (mid January to mid February); Pisces the Fishes (mid February to mid March). Very briefly the positions of the Constellations along with those of the Sun, the Moon, and the Planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and --still, I am presuming -- Pluto) in relation to the Earth at any moment of time will produce a Horoscope. Particularly, an Astrologer can cast such a chart of one's birth knowing the time and locale (latitude and longitude) for that birth. The procedure is actually quite complex and is considered a science by its practitioners, while it is generally denigrated by the legitimate scientific community. I hope that I have been helpful to you...

Answer 7

Its the 12 constellations in the sky that the sun's path takes it through during the year. One constellation for each month (approximately).

Answer 8

He was a serial killer who roamed the streets in the 70's, followed by a copycat killer in the 90's. They have just released a movie about him titled ''The Zodiac''. I assume it is that movie you're referring to!

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac