Myths on the Brightest Star of Aries
Aries, symbolized by the ram, is the first of the 12 zodiac constellations. This constellation is best visible during the winter months and can be seen from latitudes between +90 and -60 degrees. The constellation honors the ram sought by Jason and the Argonauts in Greek mythology. The brightest star in Aries is Hamal. The name Hamal is the Arabic word for ram.
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Hamal
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The brightest star of Aries is known as Hamal. In Arabic it is known as Al Ras al Hamal, which means "the head of the sheep." When looking for the constellation, if you find a yellowish star, you have found the ram's Following Horn. Around the time of 1580 BC to 360 BC the Greeks oriented the construction of many scared temples in relationship to this star.
Mesopotamia Myth
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The Sun, or Subat as the Sumerians called it, meant ancient sheep or ram. The other planets were known as the Celestial Herd. The bright star found in the Aries constellation was named Hamal, which means lamb. Hamal represented one of the stars in a celestial weapon known as the Scimitar. This weapon protected the world against the Seven Diabolic Spirits of the Storm.
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Egyptian Myth
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Egyptians associated Aries with their god, Amon Ra. According to legend, a ram appeared before Dionysus and his troops while he was campaigning to take over Africa. The men were weak and hungry, and ran out of water. The ram appeared before them, lept in the air and landed behind a dune. The troops followed the ram and found a spring of water, but the ram had disappeared. Dionysus built a temple to Zeus Amon on the spot of the spring. The temple correlates to the location of the constellation.
Greek Myth
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According to Greek mythology, Aries was a flying ram that saved the brother and sister duo, Phrixus and Helle, from being sacrificed by their stepmother. Helle fell to her death, but Phrixus lived and sacrificed the ram to Zeus to show is gratitude. The sacrificed ram's fleece is the golden fleece that Jason and the Argonauts sought. The yellow star of Hamal may be a reason why the fleece is portrayed as golden.
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References
- Photo Credit aries zodiac sign image by Brent Walker from Fotolia.com
