Chronology was a chief consideration in the study of astronomy among the Jews; sacred time was based upon the cycles of the Sun and the Moon. The Talmud identified the twelve constellations of the zodiac with the twelve months of the Hebrew calendar. The correspondence of the constellations with their names in Hebrew and the months is as follows: 1. Aries - Ṭaleh - Nisan 2. Taurus - Shor - Iyar 3. Gemini - Teomim - Sivan 4. Cancer - Sarṭon - Tammuz 5. Leo - Ari - Av 6. Virgo - Betulah - Elul 7. Libra - Moznayim - Tishrei 8. Scorpio - Aḳrab - Cheshvan 9. Sagittarius - Ḳasshat - Kislev 10. Capricorn - Gedi - Tevet 11. Aquarius - Dli - Shevat 12. Pisces - Dagim - Adar The first three are in the east, the second three in the south, the third three in the west, and the last three in the north; and all are attendant on the sun. According to one account, in the first three months (spring) the Sun travels in the south, in order to melt the snow; in the fourth through sixth months (summer) it travels directly above the earth, in order to ripen the fruit; in the seventh through ninth months (autumn) it travels above the sea, in order to absorb the waters; and in the last three months (winter) it travels over the desert, in order that the grain may not dry up and wither. According to one conception, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius face northward; Taurus, Virgo, and Capricornus westward; Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius southward; and Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces eastward. Some scholars identified the twelve signs of the zodiac with the twelve tribes of Israel. sirius-c.ncat.edu/ESASS/ethiopis/zodiac/hebrew.html
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 11:14:23 +0000
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