Zodiac Cufflinks in time for Christmas
Written by James Matthews
The cryptogram of the Zodiac can give us vast insight into our day to day living, as well as the many aptitude and special qualities we posses. One can discern a great deal of relevant information about oneself through reading about your Zodiac sign.
Star Sign Compatibility is something which is perceived to exist between people born under the various star signs of the zodiac. It is believed that each person born under a specific star sign will display similar personality traits pertaining to that sign. For this reason people born under one star sign may get on better with people born under the same star sign or another star sign. The reverse may also be true and they may not get on at all.
It is important to distinguish the zodiacal signs from the constellations associated with them, not only because of their drifting apart due to the precession of equinoxes but also because the physical constellations by nature of their varying shapes and forms take up varying widths of the ecliptic. Thus, Virgo takes up fully five times as much ecliptic longitude as Scorpius. The zodiacal signs, on the other hand, are an abstraction from the physical constellations designed to represent exactly one twelfth of the full circle each, or the longitude traversed by the Sun in about 30.4 days.
There have always been a number of “parazodiacal” constellations which are also touched by the paths of the planets. The MUL.APIN lists Orion, Perseus, Auriga and Andromeda. Furthermore, there are a number of constellations mythologically associated with the zodiacal ones: Piscis Austrinus, The Southern Fish, is attached to Aquarius. In classical maps it swallows the stream poured out of Aquarius’ pitcher, but perhaps it formerly just swam in it. Aquila, The Eagle, was possibly associated with the zodiac by virtue of its main star, Altair. Hydra in the Early Bronze Age marked the celestial equator and was associated with Leo, which is shown standing on the serpent on the Dendera zodiac. Corvus is the Crow or Raven mysteriously perched on the tail of Hydra. The MUL.APIN glosses Hydra as “the Snake Ningizzida, lord of the Netherworld”. Ningizzida together with Dumuzi (Aries) and Pabilsag (Sagittarius) governed the household of the queen of the underworld.
Taking the current constellation boundaries as defined in 1930 by the International Astronomical Union, the ecliptic itself passes through an additional thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, situated between Scorpius and Sagittarius. This is already recognized in Ptolemy’s Almagest.
Having said that, Christmas is just around the corner. It is important to buy your loved ones gifts. Zodiac art makes the perfect gift. I recently chanced upon a website which seems to be the sole import of zodiac art on jewelry (solid 18 k gold!). Goldwatches.com has a vast selection of beautiful Italian made (Herzog) zodiac cufflinks in white, yellow, and pink gold. Don’t be skeptical, start making your orders because it just might not be there by the time you turn around!
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This post was written by James Matthews. If you have any questions or comments you may contact him at james@jewelerslounge.com
