Whats the symbol of the 13th Zodiac, Ophiuchus?

Question

Yes there is a 13th Zodiac Sign, but its the only one not counted as an Astrological Sign. Does Ophiuchus (or Serperntarius) have a symbol like the other 12 Contellations?

The following link shows the symbols of the 12 Astrological Zodiac, all except the 13th. Does anybody know the symbol of Ophiuchus (Serpentarius) If there is any?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Astro_signs.gif

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

Answer 1

Here's a reference to the real zodiac. Perhaps you can find the symbol buried in the links.

ttp://www.geocities.com/astrologyzodiacs/realsolarzodiac.htm

Answer 2

See the first link below for the article I just put online to better answer this question "permanently" (with a link back to here).

To summarize: Ophiuchus is also called Aesculapius (the Roman god of medicine). The symbol best associated to the constellation is the "Staff of Aesculapius" or "Rod of Asclepius". It's the familiar symbol of the medical profession (a SINGLE snake around a plain vertical staff)

A common mistake (which has even been made by governments and medical associations) is to use the caduceus (TWO serpents around a winged staff) as a medical symbol.

It's NOT (except that the mistake is so common that it's now understood that way). The winged caduceus with two serpents is the symbol for COMMERCE, not medicine.

The proper symbol for medicine, Aesculapius and/or the Ophiuchus constellation is therefore the "rod of Asclepius": a SINGLE serpent around a plain stick (no wings).

According to the rules of heraldry, the snake would normally face "dexter" (i.e., to the left of the viewer). However, since this particular symbol is probably older than heraldry, I am not sure the rule applies (I have seen if both ways, with the snake wrapped around the stick either clockwise or counterclockwise).

Answer 3

The signs of the zodiac as used in Western astrology are not constellations. The zodiac is based on the division of the ecliptic into twelve equal segments, starting with the sun's position at the vernal equinox. This is the same reference point that astronomers use. It is traditionally called the First Point of Aries, though astronomers generally refer to it more prosaically as 0 right ascension.

The constellations which share their names with the zodiac signs were roughly in alignment with these signs around the time of Claudius Ptolemy, who was the authority on both astronomy and astrology for many centuries. Until 1930 there were no formal constellation boundaries. The piece of Ophiuchus that the ecliptic passes through is devoid of major stars, so its assignment to Ophiuchus is somewhat arbitrary.

Answer 4

Hi. I have never seen one for the "Snake Bearer".

From the web: "Although this is not one of the zodiac twelve, Mr. Royal Hill writes:

Out of the twenty-five days, from the 21st of November to the 16th of December, which the sun spends in passing from Libra to Sagittarius, only nine are spent in the Scorpion, the other sixteen being occupied in passing through Ophiuchus.

Thus, according to his idea of the boundaries, this actually is more of a zodiacal constellation than is the Scorpion. But the boundaries are very variously given by uranographers."

Answer 5

I found this from
The Cutting of the Orm: The Secret Calendar of the Priory of Sion
By Tracy R. Twyman

"Ophiuchus, the Serpent-Holder, was the constellation that traditionally rules over the science of medicine, just like Mercury. It therefore makes sense that Ophiuchus would be a zodiacal representation of Mercury, and should be symbolized, just like the god and planet Mercury, by the caduceus, a winged staff intertwined with two serpents."

Answer 6

I dont think Ophiuchus has a symbol as its part of the real zodiac. Astrologers are not concerned with the actual alignment of the stars, and most probably would not even know what the zodiac is. They are mostly just concerned with getting peoples money.
To an astronomer it is just another constellation, except its boundries cross the path of the sun.

Answer 7

hai daffy there is only 12 zodiac symbols.may be you can discover 13th one

Answer 8

Did we suddenly add 30 days to the calendar???