Why Are the Zodiac Signs Called Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and the Rest?

We say Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer without thinking much about the words themselves. But why is Taurus a bull? Why are Gemini twins? And why is Libra represented by a pair of scales when so many other zodiac signs are living creatures?

The names of the twelve zodiac signs have extraordinarily old roots. The familiar English forms largely come from Latin names for the zodiac constellations, while the constellations themselves and the stories attached to them draw on traditions stretching much further back into the ancient world. And once the names are translated, the zodiac suddenly becomes much easier to understand.

Aries Means the Ram

Aries is Latin for ram. The constellation became associated in Greco-Roman tradition with the ram and later with the story of the Golden Fleece. That’s why Aries is still represented by ram’s horns today.

Taurus Means the Bull

Taurus simply means bull in Latin. Bull imagery associated with this part of the sky is extremely ancient. In Greek mythology, Taurus also became connected with Zeus taking the form of a bull in the story of Europa.

Gemini Means the Twins

Gemini is the Latin word for twins. The constellation’s two prominent stars, Castor and Pollux, carry the names of the famous twins from Greek and Roman mythology. This is why Gemini’s symbol represents two figures rather than an animal.

Cancer Means the Crab

This one sounds strange to modern English speakers because cancer now immediately brings the disease to mind. But Cancer is simply Latin for crab. In Greek mythology, the constellation became associated with the crab that attacked Heracles during his battle with the Hydra.

Leo Means the Lion

Probably the easiest one. Leo means lion in Latin. The constellation was associated in Greek mythology with the fearsome Nemean Lion, eventually defeated by Heracles as one of his famous labors.

Virgo Means the Maiden

Virgo means maiden or young woman in Latin. Unlike several other signs, Virgo has been associated with different female figures across ancient traditions. Its enduring symbol, however, remained a young woman or maiden.

Libra Means the Scales

Libra means scales or balance. It’s unique among the twelve zodiac signs because its traditional symbol is an inanimate object rather than a person or animal. The scales naturally became associated with balance, measurement, and justice—themes astrology still attaches to Libra today.

Scorpio Means the Scorpion

The Latin Scorpius/Scorpio refers to a scorpion.¨Greek mythology connected the constellation with the creature that killed—or was sent against—the giant hunter Orion, depending on the version of the story.

Sagittarius Means the Archer

Sagittarius means archer. Its constellation has traditionally been imagined as a figure carrying a bow and arrow, often depicted as a centaur. That’s why Sagittarius symbolism combines an archer with the familiar arrow glyph.

Capricorn Means the Horned Goat

Capricorn’s name comes from Latin Capricornus, meaning something close to horned goat or goat-horned. But its traditional image is stranger than an ordinary goat: Capricorn is commonly represented as a sea-goat, with the front of a goat and the tail of a fish.

Aquarius Means the Water Bearer

Aquarius means water bearer. The constellation depicts a human figure pouring water from a vessel. Ancient cultures associated this region of the sky with water, and later Greco-Roman mythology connected Aquarius with several stories involving a divine cupbearer or water carrier.

Pisces Means the Fishes

Finally, Pisces is the Latin plural for fish. That’s why the sign is represented not by one fish but two fishes, traditionally shown connected by a cord.

Conclusion

The zodiac names can sound mysterious today, but most become surprisingly straightforward once translated:

Aries is the Ram. Taurus the Bull. Gemini the Twins. Cancer the Crab. Leo the Lion. Virgo the Maiden. Libra the Scales. Scorpio the Scorpion. Sagittarius the Archer. Capricorn the Goat. Aquarius the Water Bearer. Pisces the Fishes.

We’ve been repeating these ancient names for so long that it’s easy to forget we’re effectively describing a collection of animals, people, and objects imagined among the stars thousands of years ago. And those ancient images are still sitting at the heart of modern astrology.

FAQ

Why do zodiac signs have Latin names?

The names commonly used in Western astrology were transmitted through the Greco-Roman astronomical tradition, which is why familiar modern names such as Aries, Taurus, Leo, and Pisces are Latin.

Why is Cancer called Cancer?

Cancer means crab in Latin. The astronomical and astrological name existed long before modern speakers primarily associated the word with the disease.

Which zodiac sign is the only object?

Libra is the only zodiac sign traditionally represented by an inanimate object: a pair of scales.

Why does Gemini mean twins?

Gemini literally means twins in Latin, and its constellation became associated with the mythological twins Castor and Pollux.

Why is Capricorn a sea-goat?

Capricorn’s traditional constellation figure developed as a hybrid goat-fish or sea-goat, an image with roots extending back beyond classical Greek astrology into older Mesopotamian celestial traditions.