In Western astrology, the zodiac is a 360-degree circle divided into twelve equal signs, each spanning 30 degrees. This circle begins at the vernal equinox—the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

The constellation that the Sun appeared to be in on that day over two millennia ago was Aries, the Ram. Thus, the sign associated with that point became the first sign of the zodiac wheel.

Aries symbolizes new beginnings, initiative, and raw energy—qualities that perfectly match the fresh, pioneering spirit of spring. As the first sign, it represents the initial spark of action and the birth of the annual cycle.

The name "Aries" is Latin for ram. In Greek mythology, it is often associated with the Golden Ram that rescued Phrixus and Helle, whose fleece later became the goal of Jason and the Argonauts.

In ancient Babylonian astrology, this constellation was also linked to an agrarian worker, later reinterpreted as a ram. When the Greeks adopted the Babylonian zodiac, they tied it to their own myths, solidifying its identity.

The First Point of Aries remains a fundamental marker in astronomy and astrology, even though, due to the precession of the equinoxes, the Sun now actually rises in Pisces on the vernal equinox.