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==Origins==
==Origins==


The constellation Virgo has many different origins, depending on [[mythology]]. Most myths view Virgo as a virgin maiden<ref>[[Ioan Petru Culianu]], "Astrology", in ''Encyclopedia of Religion'', ed. Lindsay Jones, 563–6, Vol. 1, 2nd ed. (Detroit: [[Macmillan Reference USA]], 2005), 565.</ref> that carries her associations with wheat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2018 |title=The Personality of a Virgo, Explained |url=https://www.allure.com/story/virgo-zodiac-sign-personality-traits |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=Allure |language=en-US}}</ref> In [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]], the constellation is related to [[Demeter]], the Greek goddess of the harvest, or her daughter [[Persephone]], queen of the [[greek Underworld|Underworld]].{{sfn|Allen|1963}}
The constellation Virgo has various origins in different [[mythologies]]. In most myths, Virgo is depicted as a virgin maiden<ref>[[Ioan Petru Culianu]], "Astrology", in ''Encyclopedia of Religion'', ed. Lindsay Jones, 563–6, Vol. 1, 2nd ed. (Detroit: [[Macmillan Reference USA]], 2005), 565.</ref> associated with wheat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2018 |title=The Personality of a Virgo, Explained |url=https://www.allure.com/story/virgo-zodiac-sign-personality-traits |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=Allure |language=en-US}}</ref> In [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]], Virgo is related to [[Demeter]], the Greek goddess of the harvest, or her daughter [[Persephone]], queen of the [[Greek underworld|Underworld]].{{sfn|Allen|1963}}


Others associate it with the myth of Parthenos, which explains how the constellation Virgo came to be.<ref name = Rigoglioso>{{harvnb|Rigoglioso|2009}}</ref> In this legend, Parthenos is the daughter of [[Staphylus]] and [[Chrysothemis]], and sister to [[Rhoeo]] and [[Molpadia]]. [[Apollo]] had impregnated Rhoeo, but when her father discovered her pregnancy, he assumed it was from a random suitor and was greatly ashamed. As her punishment, he locked her in a box and cast it into a river.
Another association is with the myth of Parthenos, which explains how the constellation Virgo came to be.<ref name = Rigoglioso>{{harvnb|Rigoglioso|2009}}</ref> According to this legend, Parthenos is the daughter of [[Staphylus]] and [[Chrysothemis]], and sister to [[Rhoeo]] and [[Molpadia]]. [[Apollo]] impregnated Rhoeo, and upon discovering her pregnancy, her father, assuming it was from an unknown suitor, locked her in a box and cast it into a river. Parthenos and Molpadia, fearing their father’s wrath, accidentally allowed a valuable bottle of wine to be broken by one of their swine. In terror, they fled and threw themselves off a nearby cliff. Apollo saved them, placing Molpadia in [[Castabus]], where she became the local goddess [[Hemithea (mythology)|Hemithea]], and Parthenos in [[Bubastis]], where she was worshipped as a local goddess. Another version of the story posits that Parthenos was Apollo’s daughter, and the constellation commemorates her early death.<ref name="Rigoglioso" />


⚫
In another Greek myth, Virgo is associated with [[Erigone (daughter of Icarius)|Erigone]], the [[Athenian]] maiden and daughter of [[Icarius (Athenian)|Icarius]]. After Icarius was murdered by his shepherds in a drunken rage, Erigone hung herself in grief, and her dog [[Maera (hound)|Maera]] committed suicide.<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' 243</ref> [[Zeus]] or [[Dionysus]] placed them in the sky as constellations: Erigone as Virgo, Icarius as [[Bootes (constellation)|Bootes]], and Maera as [[Canis Minor]].<ref>Hyginus, ''[[De Astronomica]]'' 2.4.4; ''Fabulae'' 130</ref>
After the fate of their sister, Parthenos and Molpadia lived in fear of their father's terrible wrath. One evening, Staphylus left his daughters in charge of a valuable bottle of wine. When they both accidentally fell asleep, one of their swine broke the bottle. Fleeing in terror from their father's wrath, the sisters ran to the edge of a nearby cliff and threw themselves off.


⚫
In [[Egyptian mythology]], the Sun’s presence in Virgo marked the beginning of the wheat harvest, thus linking Virgo to the wheat grain. In [[Christianity]], the birth of [[Jesus]] to a [[Mary, mother of Jesus|virgin]] in [[Bethlehem]] is symbolically connected to Virgo. The ancient Zodiac began with Virgo and ended with Leo.
Due to his previous relations with Rhoeo, Apollo saved the two sisters and delivered them to the safety of the nearby cities in [[Cherronesos|Cherronseos]]. Molpadia settled in [[Castabus]], where she changed her name to [[Hemithea (mythology)|Hemithea]] and was worshipped as a local goddess for many years. Parthenos resided in [[Bubastis]], where she was also worshipped as a local goddess. According to another story, Parthenos was the daughter of Apollo, who made the constellation to commemorate her death at a young age.<ref name = Rigoglioso/>


⚫
In [[Hindu astrology]], the comparable sign to Virgo is [[Kanya]], which also means "maiden."
⚫
In another Greek myth, Virgo is the [[Athenian]] maiden [[Erigone (daughter of Icarius)|Erigone]], daughter of [[Icarius (Athenian)|Icarius]]. After Icarius was murdered by his shepherds in a drunken rage, Erigone hung herself out of grief, and her dog [[Maera (hound)|Maera]] committed suicide.<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' 243</ref> [[Zeus]] or [[Dionysus]] pitied the family and placed them in the sky as constellations: Erigone became Virgo, Icarius became [[Bootes (constellation)|Bootes]], and Maera became [[Canis Minor]].<ref>Hyginus, ''[[De Astronomica]]'' 2.4.4; ''Fabulae'' 130</ref>

⚫
In [[Egyptian mythology]], the time when the Sun was in the constellation Virgo marked the beginning of the wheat harvest, connecting Virgo to the wheat grain. In [[Christianity]], [[Jesus]] was born to a [[Mary, mother of Jesus|virgin]] in the town of [[Bethlehem]]; the ancient Zodiac ended in the constellation [[Lion of Judah|Leo]] and began with Virgo.

⚫
A comparable sign to Virgo in Hindu astrology is [[Kanya]] (meaning "maiden").


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 09:39, 19 June 2024

This article is about the astrological sign. For the constellation, see Virgo (constellation).
Not to be confused with Virgin Mary (disambiguation).

Virgo
Zodiac symbolThe Virgin (Maiden)
Duration (tropical, western)August 22 – September 22 (2024, UT1)[1]
ConstellationVirgo
Zodiac elementEarth
Zodiac qualityMutable
Sign rulerMercury
DetrimentJupiter and Neptune
ExaltationMercury
FallVenus
AriesTaurusGeminiCancerLeoVirgoLibraScorpioSagittariusCapricornAquariusPisces
Astrology
Background
Traditions
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Astrological signs
Symbols

Virgo (♍︎) (Ancient Greek: Παρθένος, romanized: Parthénos; Latin for "virgin" or "maiden") is the sixth astrological sign in the zodiac. It spans the 150–180th degree of the zodiac. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this area between August 23 and September 22 on average.[2] Depending on the system of astrology, individuals born during these dates may be called Virgos or Virgoans.[3]

The sign is associated with Astraea, a figure from Greek mythology. Astraea was the last immortal to abandon Earth at the end of the Silver Age when the gods fled to Olympus, which is why Virgo is associated with Earth.[4] Astraea later became the constellation of Virgo.[5] Virgo is one of the three Earth signs, alongside Capricorn and Taurus.[6]

Origins

The constellation Virgo has various origins in different mythologies. In most myths, Virgo is depicted as a virgin maiden[7] associated with wheat.[8] In Greek and Roman mythology, Virgo is related to Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, or her daughter Persephone, queen of the Underworld.[9]

Another association is with the myth of Parthenos, which explains how the constellation Virgo came to be.[10] According to this legend, Parthenos is the daughter of Staphylus and Chrysothemis, and sister to Rhoeo and Molpadia. Apollo impregnated Rhoeo, and upon discovering her pregnancy, her father, assuming it was from an unknown suitor, locked her in a box and cast it into a river. Parthenos and Molpadia, fearing their father’s wrath, accidentally allowed a valuable bottle of wine to be broken by one of their swine. In terror, they fled and threw themselves off a nearby cliff. Apollo saved them, placing Molpadia in Castabus, where she became the local goddess Hemithea, and Parthenos in Bubastis, where she was worshipped as a local goddess. Another version of the story posits that Parthenos was Apollo’s daughter, and the constellation commemorates her early death.[10]

In another Greek myth, Virgo is associated with Erigone, the Athenian maiden and daughter of Icarius. After Icarius was murdered by his shepherds in a drunken rage, Erigone hung herself in grief, and her dog Maera committed suicide.[11] Zeus or Dionysus placed them in the sky as constellations: Erigone as Virgo, Icarius as Bootes, and Maera as Canis Minor.[12]

In Egyptian mythology, the Sun’s presence in Virgo marked the beginning of the wheat harvest, thus linking Virgo to the wheat grain. In Christianity, the birth of Jesus to a virgin in Bethlehem is symbolically connected to Virgo. The ancient Zodiac began with Virgo and ended with Leo.

In Hindu astrology, the comparable sign to Virgo is Kanya, which also means "maiden."

See also

References

  1. ^ Astronomical Applications Department 2011.
  2. ^ Britannica n.d.
  3. ^ Virgoan n.d.
  4. ^ Atsma c. 2015.
  5. ^ "Giulio Campi | Jupiter and Astraea". The Met. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  6. ^ David Groome, "Astrology", in Parapsychology: The Science of Unusual Experiences, eds. David Groome and Ron Roberts, 113–27, 2nd ed. (London: Psychology Press, 2016), 116.
  7. ^ Ioan Petru Culianu, "Astrology", in Encyclopedia of Religion, ed. Lindsay Jones, 563–6, Vol. 1, 2nd ed. (Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005), 565.
  8. ^ "The Personality of a Virgo, Explained". Allure. February 2, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  9. ^ Allen 1963.
  10. ^ a b Rigoglioso 2009
  11. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 243
  12. ^ Hyginus, De Astronomica 2.4.4; Fabulae 130

Works cited

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