Ophiucus

Go back 2000 years and the Babylonians had not twelve signs in the zodiac, but thirteen. The Babylonians wanted a twelve sign chart, so Ophiucus got booted out. Why twelve? Each segment ends up with 30, making a full circle. The dates associated with the other signs got moved, and viola, the modern astrology chart was born more or less.

Recently a board member of the Minnesota Planetarium Society, Professor Parke Kunkle, has drawn a lot of unintentional attention to the Snake Holder another of Ophiucus names. There is nothing new about the information that Professor Kunkle provided the Minneapolis Star Tribune, but for some reason it took off like a shot. Kunkle has said that he is surprised by the excitement his interview has caused.

What Led to the Update?

As the moon travels around the Earth it creates a wobble around the axis called precession. Over time that leads to a change in which the constellations appear in their alignment in relationship to the sun. The further from the equator one is the more dramatic the effect.

It seems that people arent only missing a zodiacal sign; they are also off by about a month at this point.

Who Is Ophiucus?

The history of Ophiucus is inconclusive. According to Roman mythology Ophiucus actually represents Asclepius, who supposedly learned the secrets behind keeping death at bay by watching a live serpent feed herbs to a dead one. Later in the Babylonian era he may have been Nirah, a serpent deity comprised of a human torso and serpent legs. Islamic astronomy called him the snake charmer and during the Renaissance he was often shown trampling the serpent, in a clear nod to the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden.

Does this Change Anything?

For those who follow astrology closely, the changes proposed by the new charts have been stressful. Having spent their lives associating with one zodiac sign they now find themselves trying to adapt to new ones. Astrologers have found themselves answering frantic calls all week, and the general consensus is that nothing has really changed. People should continue to identify with their original signs.

For those that are curious, here is how the new chart appears:

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries:April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer:July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiucus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.

Character Traits Assigned to Ophiucus

Traits have long been assigned to individual signs of the zodiac, and Ophiucus is no different. Astrologers say that people who fall under this sign progress though life well, to the point of attracting envy. They seek wisdom and knowledge. They tend to have a flamboyant manner of dress, preferring to flaunt their style. Favored by authority figures, they are inclined to have large families but may leave home at an early age.

The symbol of Ophiucus has not been finalized to date, but the two options are in competition. One looks like a capital U crossed horizontally by a tilde, and the other is an upright staff wound by a serpent, similar to the symbol used by medical institutions.

Its Really Nothing New

Sidereal astrology has been in parallel use for a very long time. It is still the primary system in a number of cultures. In sidereal astrology the constellations appear accurately based upon where they appear in the sky, unlike the better known tropical astrology used by most Westerners.

Modern mentions of Ophiucus started turning up in the 1970s when Steven Schmidt suggested moving to a 14 sign zodiac, one that would include Cetus as well. The idea was adopted by Walter Berg in his book The 13 Signs of the Zodiac, a best seller, and also included in the popular video game Final Fantasy.