Aries (astrology)

Aries
Zodiac symbol	Ram
Duration (tropical, western)	March 20 – April 19 (2016, UT1)[1]
Constellation	Aries
Zodiac element	Fire
Zodiac quality	Cardinal
Sign ruler	Mars
Detriment	Venus
Exaltation	Sun
Fall	Saturn

Aries (♈) /ˈɛəriːz/ (meaning "ram") is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac, spanning the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude (0°≤ λ <30°). Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this sign mostly between March 20 and April 19 each year. This time duration is exactly the first month of Solar Hejri calendar (Farvardin). Under the sidereal zodiac, the sun currently transits Aries from April 15 to May 14(approximately). The symbol of the ram is based on the Chrysomallus, the flying ram that provided the Golden Fleece.^[2]

According to the Tropical system of astrology, the Sun enters the sign of Aries when it reaches the northern vernal equinox, which occurs around March 21. Because the Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to go around the Sun, the precise time of the equinox is not the same each year, and generally will occur about 6 hours later each year, with a jump of a day (backwards) on leap years. Since 1900 the vernal equinox date ranged from March 20 at 08h (2000) to March 21 at 19h (1903).^[3] March 19 at 23:20 will occur in 2044.^[1] (All times UTC.)

Individuals born during these dates, depending on which system of astrology they subscribe to, may be called Arians or Ariens.^[4]

Aries is the first fire sign in the zodiac, the other fire signs being Leo and Sagittarius.

Gallery

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  Mosaic in Maltezana near Analipsi, Astypalaia, 5th century CE.

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  Aries zodiac sign, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India. 18th century CE.

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  Aries, or al-ħamal, depicted in the 14th/15th century Arabic astrology text Book of Wonders

Notes

1. Astronomical Applications Department 2011.
2. Atsma 2015.
3. RGO c. 2015.
4. Oxford n.d..

Works cited

• "Arian". Oxford Dictionaries. n.d. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
• Astronomical Applications Department (2011). Multiyear Computer Interactive Almanac. 2.2.2. Washington DC: US Naval Observatory. Longitude of Sun, apparent geocentric ecliptic of date, interpolated to find time of crossing 0°, 30°....
• Atsma, Aaron J. (2015). "Chrysomallus". The Theoi Project: Greek mythology.
• "Equinoxes and solstices". Royal Museums Greenwich. c. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2016.

External links

• Aries Zodiac Sign Dates, Compatibility
• Complete information on Aries, the first Moon sign in the zodiac

• Aries Zodiac Sign
• Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (over 300 medieval and early modern images of Aries)