History of Aries
The Celestial Ram & The First Sign of the Zodiac
The Ram Symbol
The symbol for Aries, ♈, represents the horns of a ram. This imagery is deeply tied to the myth of the Golden Ram from Greek mythology, which saved the children Phrixus and Helle and whose fleece later became the legendary Golden Fleece.
In ancient Babylonian astrology, this constellation was associated with the agrarian worker. The Greeks later reimagined it as the ram with the golden fleece, cementing its place as a symbol of initiative, courage, and pioneering spirit.
Fire Element • Cardinal QualityMythological Origins
The most prominent myth connected to Aries is the story of the Golden Ram from Greek legend. King Athamas's children, Phrixus and Helle, were to be sacrificed. Their divine mother, Nephele, sent a magical, flying ram with golden wool to rescue them. While Helle fell into the sea (naming the Hellespont), Phrixus reached safety in Colchis. In gratitude, he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and gave its Golden Fleece to the king, which later became the quest of Jason and the Argonauts.
Zeus placed the ram's image among the stars to honor its sacrifice, creating the Aries constellation. In ancient Egypt, Aries was linked to the god Amun, often depicted with ram's horns, symbolizing fertility and creativity.
Astrological Evolution
Aries has been recognized as the first sign of the zodiac for over two millennia. In Babylonian times, the constellation marked the Vernal Equinox, the beginning of the new year and the rebirth of the Sun—hence its association with beginnings, leadership, and raw energy.
Claudius Ptolemy, in his 2nd-century work Tetrabiblos, formalized Aries's traits: hot, dry, and governed by the planet Mars. This planetary rulership imbues Aries with assertiveness, drive, and a competitive nature. As the first sign, it represents the primal burst of life, the "I am" of the zodiacal cycle.