Pisces Sign

The Biblical Origin of the As Above So Below Theory

2011-01-19T03:05:00.000-08:00

There is an ancient concept about a sort of connection that exists between stars and days of the week (Sun Day, Moon Day…), Birthday and Zodiacal Signs, Body parts and Zodiacal Signs, Metals and Olimpic Gods (Mercury etc.). Our ancestors used to think that there is a sort of connection between Macrocosm and Microcosm. They even coined the expression “As above, so below”.

Their basic assumption was that if a certain system includes 12 parts (e.g. Zodiac) and another system includes 12 parts (e.g.months) there is a sort of connection between the parts in each system so that the first in one system matches the first in the other system

Capricorn = 22 December - 19 January

Aquarius = 20 January - 18 February etc.

This is a most prominent concept in astrology and in alchemy.

In the Bible this same concept appears

1. in Exodus 39:14

“The stones were corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they were twelve, corresponding to their names, engraved with the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes”.

2. In the connection between the name of a Tribe and its estate: Yehuda - Jerusalem and south, Reuben - South Jordan River etc.

3. In the connection between the name of a Tribe and its blessing (Genesis 49).

4. In the connection between the Zodiac and the Israeli Tribes in Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37) where Joseph’s eleven brothers (tribes) bow to him as the 12^th star, while each star represents a sign of the zodiac. (The sun represents Jacob and the moon represents Rachel).

This sort of thinking lead, so it seems, to the interpretation that the 7-branched candelabrum correspond to the 7 days of the week and also to the interpretation that the Star of David represents the 7 days of the week: the hexagon in the center represents Saturday while the 6-trianles around it represent the working days.

Pisces constellation represents Judea

2009-03-31T01:36:00.000-07:00

Yogi Ramacharaka in his book Mystic Christianity, The Yogi Publication Society, 1908 claims that the three wise man from the east were experienced astrologers who witnessed the conjunction of Mars Saturn and Jupiter, in the Constellation of Pisces and since Pisces, was known to astrologers at that time (and even today) as the constellation that represents Judea, they came to Jerusalem, capital of Judea, to look for the Savior, and eventually found Jesus (lead by other clues) in Bethlehem.

Pisces Sign Postage Cancel

2008-11-29T11:29:00.001-08:00

Pisces sign appears on a postage cancel marking the monthly philatelic fair, which took place at Dizengof center, Tel aviv, in 6.3.2007. According to the Hebrew calendar March falls on the month of Adar whose sign is Pisces.

Why two fishes?

-Because they represent, according to Jewish tradition, the two months of Adar in a leap year.

Picture is courtesy of Moshe Rimer.

Jahangir Coin

2008-11-18T03:47:00.000-08:00

Pisces sign appears on an Indian Zodiac coin minted between 1605 and 1627 C.E. by Mughal ruler Jahangir. I don’t know if the influence is Hindi or Muslim (or both) since Jahangir was a Muslim, but the Indian zodiac looks like the western astrological wheel.

Picture is courtesy of Scott Semans.

Beit Alpha 2008

2008-11-13T21:15:00.001-08:00

The Pisces sign in artist Judith Weinshall Liberman’s work titled: THE ZODIAC SERIES I, looks like the one which appears in the 6th century mosaic floor wheel of the zodiac excavated at the synagogue in Beit Alpha, Israel. In the original Beit Alpha mosaic floor wheel one had to bend his head in order to see the details (at least as it was captured by photography). I like Judith’s way of facilitating the viewing of the different zodiac signs, as well as her division of the signs, according to their color, to the four seasons. Pisces, as a Water Sign has a blue background.

Roman Symbol of the Dolphins

2008-11-11T01:49:00.000-08:00

Charlotte R. Long wrote in her book The Twelve Gods of Greece and Rome (p. 295) that the 1st century C.E. Altar, found in Gabii in 1793 by Gavin Hamilton shows the twelve heads of the Roman gods in relation to the zodiac signs relieves that run along the side of the cylinder along with their symbols. Neptun rules Pisces and his symbol are the Dolphins (seen on the right, swimming one above the other).

I copied this picture from Wikimedia Commons. It was Uploaded by Jastrow (2006) entry: Image:Altar twelve gods Louvre Ma666.jpg

Sentimental Nurturing

2008-11-09T09:45:00.001-08:00

Pisces sign and glyph appear on a humoristic 2007 Australian Zodiac stamp designed by
Mitch Vane along with the interpretation of two personality traits associated with this sign.

Israeli Lottery Ticket

2008-11-04T02:22:00.000-08:00

Pisces sign (without the connecting cord) appears on an Israeli lottery ticket along with the Hebrew words for Good luck. The word for luck in Hebrew is also the word for astrological sign.

We see Pisces sign on the left and Sagittarius, Virgo, Capricorn and Cancer on the right.

Mosaic Zodiac Floor at Tzippori (Zippori)

2008-11-02T08:59:00.001-08:00

Picture of Pisces sign and Hebrew name on the Mosaic Zodiac Floor at Tzippori (Zippori), in the North of Israel, is courtesy of bdnegin from Flickr.

This floor belongs to a 6th century Synagogue. Beside the Hebrew name (dagim) of Pisces appears on the mosaic the Hebrew name (Adar) of the Jewish month connected to Pisces.

In contrast with most other appearances of Pisces a human being is holding two fishes in his hands. The fishes are held vertically so that each fish in an opposite direction, while in most other appearances the fishes are swimming in opposite directions, but horizontally. These changes are so drastic that I suspect that the prevalent interpretation of Helios that sits in the middle of this zodiac (and other Jewish zodiacs) is in place. IMHO the figure in the middle is the sun, alluding to the Patriarch Jacob (Israel) who is the sun in Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37) while the tribes (11 stars) of Israel are connected, in this dream, to the zodiac signs.

Porta Dello Zodiaco

2008-10-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

Pisces signs marble relief on the 12^th century C.E. Sacra di San Michele (Saint Michael’s Abbey) - Porta dello zodiaco (zodiac door). Look at the middle of the two sides of the capital on the right. There's no connecting cord between the fishes, and they swin in the same direction, contrary to the usual depiction.

Picture is courtesy of “gattopollo” from Flickr

The Sacra di San Michele is located on the south side of the Val di Susa, Piedmont, Italy

Palazzo Ducale in Venice

2008-10-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign appears (bottom left) on a marble capital along with the planet Jupiter and the Aries sign at the Palazzo Ducale (1309 to 1424) in Venice:

Picture is cropped from Wikimedia commons entry: Category:Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 18 - uploaded by Giovanni Dall'Orto

Pranahitha River is connected to Pisces

2008-10-30T06:09:00.001-07:00

The Twelve important Indian Rivers are connected to the Zodiac Signs:

Ganges is connected to Aries; Reva river is connected to Taurus; Saraswati is connected to Gemini; Yamuna is connected to Cancer; Godavari is connected to Leo; Krishna is connected to Virgo; Kaveri is connected to Libra; Bhima River is connected to Scorpio; Radhya Saga is connected to Sagittarius; Tungabhadra is connected to Capricorn; Indus is connected to Aquarius; Pranahitha is connected to Pisces;

Pushkaram is a celebration near each of these twelve rivers which occurs once in every 12 years. Millions of people participate in each celebration, taking a dip in the river in order to purify their souls and bodies.

Arabic Illustration

2008-10-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign (constellation) with the connecting cord (stars) appears on a 14th century C.E. illustration from an Arabic manuscript , which is dedicated to astrology, astronomy and geomancy and which was compiled by Abd al Hasan Al Isfahani. This illustration answers quite impressively the question why does the traditinal Pisces sign appear mostly with the connecting cord.

I copied this image was from Wikimedia Commons, entry: Category: Kitab al-Bulhan; uploaded by: “Peacay”.

Farnese Atlas

2008-10-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign along with all the other zodiac signs appears clearly on the Farnese Atlas, which is kept at the Museo Archaeologico Nazionale in Naples, Italy. Actually, it is one of 41 ancient Greek constellations, which are shown in relief. We can’t see the Pisces from this angle but one of the two fishes has a ribbon that goes from its tail to the head of Cetus constellation.

Image was copied from Wikipedia entry Farnese Atlas Uploaded by Gssq

Pisces Sign Origin

2008-10-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Even though astrology/astronomy started in the Near East (Sumer, Babylon, Egypt) the signs of the zodiac as we use them today find their (more or less) complete explanation in the context of Greek mythology. An excellent website brings a few versions of the same basic story. Here's the story according to Roman author Hyginus (ca. 64 BC – AD 17) in his book Astronomica 2. 30:

Diognetus Erythraeus says that once Venus [Aphrodite] and her son Cupid [Eros] came in Syria to the river Euphrates. There Typhon, of whom we have already spoken, suddenly appeared. Venus and her son threw themselves into the river and there changed their forms to fishes, and by so doing this escaped danger.

And here’s a more detailed version of Roman Poet Ovid (43 BC – 17 AD), Metamorphoses 5. 139 ff (translated by Melville) Completed in 8 AD, (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.):

Typhoeus, issuing from earth’s lowest depths, struck terror in those heavenly hearts, and they all turned their backs and fled, until they found refuge in Aegyptus and the seven-mouthed Nilus . . . Typhoeus Terrigena (Earthborn) even there pursued them and the gods concealed themselves in spurious shapes; `And Juppiter [Zeus] became a ram’, she said, `lord of the herd, and so today great Ammon Libys’ [Zeus-Ammon] shown with curling horns. Delius [Apollon] hid as a raven, Semeleia [Dionysos] as a goat, Phoebe [Artemis] a cat, Saturnia [Hera] a snow-white cow, Venus [Aphrodite] a fish and Cyllenius [Hermes] an ibis.'

The Works of February

2008-10-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign appears on top right of this illustration from Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Février, the Musée Condé, which depicts the works of each month, along with the zodiac sign that rules each month.
Picture was copied from Wikimedia Commons (Wikipedia entry: February) uploaded by “Petrusbarbygere”

Roman Mosaic

2008-10-21T21:44:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign (without the connecting cord) is one of the 12 zodiac signs, which appear on a Roman Mosaic Floor from the third century C.E. The Floor is exhibited at the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

To the best of my knowledge this is the only Roman Mosaic that contains both the zodiac signs and the hexagram.

Kids’ Clothes

2008-10-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Funny and cool Pisces sign on kids’ clothes

Kazakhstan Postage Stamp

2008-10-19T22:10:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign glyph and constellation appear on a stamp that belongs to Zodiac series of postage stamps issued in 26 March 1997 by Kazakhstan

Founder of Scouting

2008-10-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

Pisces is Baden Powell's Zodiacal sign. This stamp belongs to series with Famous People and their astrological Signs issued by Fujeira in 15 March 1973.

Switzerland Postage Stamp

2008-10-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign (without the connecting cord) appears on a Swiss postage stamp issued in 1982

Colum Hourihane from Princeton University edited the book (2006)

Time in the Medieval World
Occupations of the Months and Signs of the Zodiac in the Index of Christian Art

The book has 328 pages and 656 illustrations. It includes the most extensive list of zodiac signs, in sculptures, mosaics, leather, ivory, fresco, illustrations etc. It is an amazing scholarly achievement!

Colum Hourihane wrote about Pisces:

Pisces is represented by two fishes and is linked to the month of February… The two fishes nearly always swim in opposite directions and are often linked together by a cord from both of their mouths. They usually swim horizontally but can also be shown going vertically… Water is sometimes shown around them, but there can also be a blank undecorated area, and occasionally… the two are suspended above a lake. Occasionally they are mirror images of each other…

Israeli Art

2008-10-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

Humoristic Pisces Sign interpreted as fishes and showing the fisherman in addition:)

Hebrew word under the figure of the fisherman means Pisces

Design: Sabina Saad from Israel

Cook-Island

2008-10-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign and glyph appear on an Elizabeth II Coin issued in Cook-Islands in 1977 along with the 11

other astrological signs of the zodiac

Armenian Silver Zodiac Coin

2008-10-19T00:54:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign (with the connecting cord) and glyph appear on a Silver Zodiac Coin Designed by U. Walerzak issued by Armenia in 2007

Bosnia Herzegovina Postage Stamp

2008-10-19T00:53:00.001-07:00

Pisces name and sign (without the connecting cord) appear on a postage stamp Issued by Bosnia Herzegovina in 2004

Ajman Postage Stamp

2008-10-19T00:35:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign (with the connecting cord) appears on a postage stamp issued in 16 March 1971 by Ajman showing 13th Century one of twelve stained glasses from Notre-Dame Paris. Why should an Arab emirate use a French artifact is beyond me.

Stamp issued by Greece in 2007

2008-10-19T00:32:00.000-07:00

Pisces Sign constellation and and Glyph on a postage stamp issued by Greece in 2007

San Marino postage stamp

2008-10-19T00:24:00.001-07:00

San Marino postage stamp with Pisces sign glyph and constellation

Intertwined Fishes

2008-10-16T02:34:00.000-07:00

14^th century Pisces sign on a marble floor in a unique design of intertwined fishes from Italy, Milan-Duomo (Cathedral), where at midday, a ray of sun hits the right zodiacal sign. The usual sign shows two fishes swimming in opposite directions with a connecting cord.

Picture is courtesy of mixedmediaexpressions.com from Flickr.

I am golden Pisces

2008-10-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

Pisces-sign (looks like a kid) and Pisces glyph appear on a 2008 Ukraine Zodiac Postage Stamp. Picture is courtesy of Dobush from Kfar Aza, Israel.

After Dinner

2008-10-15T00:31:00.000-07:00

Picture of Pisces Sign sketch is courtesy of Scurzuzu from Flickr. It looks as if this Pisces is what’s left on the plate after dinner.

Pisces is Judas

2008-10-14T23:56:00.001-07:00

Zodiac glyphs on the 15^th century Prague upper clock and on the bottom clock we see zodiac signs with the twelve apostles and with scenes of country life for each month. The equation between the signs and the twelve apostles seems to change from one interpreter to the other – here’s a version I found on the web-page of anglefire

Aries/Peter
Taurus/Simon
Gemini/James
Cancer/Andrew
Leo/John
Virgo/Philip
Libra/Nathaniel
Scorpio/Thomas
Sagittarius/James
Capricorn/Matthew
Aquarius/Thaddeus
Pisces/Judas

Picture is courtesy of hugovk from Flickr.

Palermo, Sicily

2008-10-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign in Palermo Sicily Cathedral as part of 1690 meridian line and solar calendar (heliometers). Picture is courtesy of maha-online from Flickr. Above there’s a small hole in the roof. on midsummer's day the light from the hole falls on Cancer and six months' later on Capricorn.

Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

2008-10-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign medallion on the floor of the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. -picture is courtesy of Marjorie Lipan

Kilometer Zero in Bucharest, Romania

2008-10-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign appears (first from left, among all the other astrological signs) on the zodiac of Kilometer Zero in front of Saint George's Church in Bucharest, Romania. Sculptor Constantin Baraski created the statue in 1938.

I copied the picture from the Hebrew Wikipedia entry for Kilometer Zero, which copied it from the Romanian Wikipedia, where Lucian Amarandei uploaded it.

Kilometre Zero is a point from which distances between cities are measured.

The origin of the Pisces Glyph

2008-10-02T23:06:00.001-07:00

This Pisces glyph illustration is courtesy of "Tlusa" from Wikipedia entry Pisces (astrology)

The glyph of Pisces is based on another symbol called The Vesica Pisces, which was embraced by Early-Christians and used frequently in Christian churches. In Latin it means "mouth of the fish". It looks like a human eye or a fish without a tail. Vesica Pisces is also known as Ichthys, Jesus Fish and Mandorla (almond in Italian).

You can draw it by intersecting two circles with the same radius like this:

This Illustration is courtesy of Jossifresco from Wikipedia entry Vesica Piscis

The following painting of Jesus within a Vesica Pisces (Zoom in) is copied from a medieval illuminated manuscript (c. 1220) kept today in the Badische Landesbibliothek, Karlsruhe, Germany Cod. Bruchsal 1, Bl. 1v. Picture is courtesy of “AnonMoos” who uploaded it to Wikipedia entry Vesica Piscis.

Prometheus Statue, Zodiac Ring

2008-10-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

Pisces, Aries and Taurus signs are seen on the zodiac ring of Prometheus sculpture, which was created in 1934 by Paul Manship (1885 - 1966) at the Rockefeller Center New York, which is one of the most famous sculptures in the world. Picture is courtesy of “peterjr1961”. Zoom in by clicking the “all sizes" command above the picture in Flickr.

Disciples as Astrological Signs

2008-10-02T05:21:00.001-07:00

Pisces appears here on a detail from a miniature zodiac, which is held today by the Vatican (Vaticanus graecus 1291).

The Picture is copied from Wikipedia entry: Byzantine art uploaded by “Javits2000”

Source: Ptolemy's Handy Tables

Dated from 813-820 C.E. (during the reign of Constantine V).

Center: Helios in his chariot identified by the Cross as Jesus.

12 naked female figures represent the hours.

12 dressed male figures (The Apostles) represent the twelve months.

Labels: month names in Greek

Zoom in by clicking the “All Sizes” command above this zodiac picture in Flickr.

Christ Star

2008-10-01T22:07:00.000-07:00

The design of Merréll O'Brian's book cover shows that there is a connection between the zodiac and the six-pointed star. This is also the subject of my research

In this blog I emphasize the Christian zodiac.

Merréll O'Brian designed the Zodiac signs each on a separate Six pointed star on the cover of his book The Council of Twelve. He wrote to me that

The Son of EL whose star shown in the east and was calculated by the astrologers of Ba'al Hadad has a birth-chart in the shape of exactly a hexagram. It accounts of His birth on August 4th. He was a Leo. A Lion of the Tribe of Judah, specifically. You may find it on the Internet by searching for "Christ-star". I didn't name it. Please don't blame me.

2004 Russian Philately

2008-09-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Pisces name sign glyph and constellation appear on a Russian stamp issued on the 21st of April 2004.

Vatican necropolis in Rome

2008-09-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

Fish from early 3rd century C.E. appear on one of the most ancient Christian inscriptions found at the Vatican necropolis in Rome carrying the inscription: Ikhthus zōntōn ("fish of the living"); Tertullian (160–230 C.E.) referred to early Christians as pisciculi (“little fish”)

Picture is courtesy of Jastrow from Wikipedia (entry: Ichthys).

Make a Wish

2008-09-20T21:06:00.001-07:00

Pisces name sign and glyph on the wishing bridge at Jaffa, Israel

The founders of this bridge tell us that there’s an "ancient legend" telling that if you touch your Zodiac sign and make a wish while looking at the sea - your wish will come true. Can you believe that?

Picture is courtesy of “InfinitelyDigital” from Flickr

Age of Pisces

2008-09-20T09:22:00.001-07:00

We live in the Age of Pisces, which started about 200 B.C.E. and is going to end soon.

Naomi Bennett:

Until recently, the Greek Hipparchus, was given the credit for discovering the procession of the equinoxes. This 25,920 cycle is the foundation for the Age of Pisces which by modern measurement puts each age as 2,160 years long… Schwaller de Lubicz showed that the Zodiac of Dendera in the Temple of Hathor (around 100 BC) was actually a time clock measurement that marked the procession of the equinoxes from the Age of Pisces back to the Age of Taurus which started in 4380 BC by his calculations. Schwaller estimated the Age of Pisces to begin near 60 B.C.E and the Age of Aquarius to begin at 2100 C.E.

Picture is courtesy of ”Bradipus” from Wikipedia (Image taken by Alex Lbh in April 2005 at the Temple of Denderah.

From Manly P. Hall’s The Secret Teachings Of All Ages, 1928, p. 55 (caption under the Tentyra drawing):

Leo appears at the head trampling on a serpent. A woman holds its tail. Immediately after it appears the Virgin holding an ear of corn and then two scales of a balance, above the figure of Harpocrates. Then come winged Scorpio and winged Sagittarius. After them come Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, the Ram, the Bull, and the Twins and Cancer.

Catalonia, Spain

2008-09-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

Pisces (Piscis) wall sculpture from Calella, Catalonia, Spain (50 kilometers north of Barcelona).

Picture is courtesy of ”gorgeoux” from Flickr.

Astronomical Observatory In Delhi

2008-09-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Pisces astrological sign appears at the18th century Indian astronomical observatory in Delhi called Brihat Samrat Yantra.

Picture is courtesy of ”dizznan” from Flickr.

Planetarium

2008-09-20T09:04:00.001-07:00

Pisces from Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, New York. sculptor Alfonso Ianelli (1888 - 1965) made this bronze relief medallion of Pisces along with the other signs on each of the twelve corners of the 1930s building.

Picture is courtesy of by “Michael_L” from Flickr

Hawaii

2008-09-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Pisces from an Art Gallery in the West Maui Mountains near Wailuku. Picture is courtesy of “theotherway” From Flickr.

Mnemonic From: Project Gutenberg An Alphabet Of Old Friends by Walter Crane

The Ram, the Bull, the Heavenly Twins,

And next the Crab, the Lion shines,

The Virgin and the Scales.

The Scorpion, Archer, and the Goat,

The Man who holds the Watering Pot,

And Fish with glittering scales.

Tile Image

2008-09-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign (with a connecting cord) picture is courtesy of Mary MacKay from North Carolina, USA, maryemackay@mac.com.

Mary wrote to me:

This photo was taken at the Fronteira Estate in Lisbon, Portugal. There are extensive gardens surrounding the historic mansion, and one area features azulejo (tile) images of the zodiac.

Body Painting

2008-09-15T03:49:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign (with a connecting cord) Body Painting Picture is courtesy of “shia_redville” from Flickr.

Israelite Gad Tribe Identified as Dag

2008-09-12T02:39:00.001-07:00

John Kirk Robertson, D.D. wrote in his book The Aquarian Bible Of The Cosmic Christ (ISBN 0-9543605-1-6) that when you read in Hebrew Gad from left to right you get Dag, which means in Hebrew Fish or Pisces.

Diagram is courtesy of the author John Kirk Robertson, D.D.

John Kirk Robertson identifies:

1. Dan as Scorpio

2. Judah as Leo

3. Reuben as Aquarius

4. Ephraim (Manasseh) as Taurus

5. Asher as Virgo

6. Issachar as Capricorn

7. Simeon and Levy as Gemini

8. Naphtali as Cancer

9. Zebulon as Libra

10. Gad as Pisces

11. Benjamin as Aries

12. Joseph as Sagittarius

I found another source that contradicts the above mentioned identification, where Naphtali is identifies as pisces while, of course, all the other tribes have other identifications:

The standards of the tribes corresponded to the zodiacal signs of the constellations, so that in the east was the standard of Judah, with Issachar and Zebulun beside it, these three being opposite Aries, Taurus, and Gemini; in the south was the standard of Reuben, with Simeon and Gad, opposite Cancer, Leo, and Virgo; in the west was the standard of Ephraim, with Manasseh and Benjamin, opposite Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius; and in the north was the standard of Dan, with Asher and Naphtali, opposite Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces

From Yalkut Shimony, Exodus, 40:418 translated by Joseph Jacobs and Judah David Eisenstein Jewish Encyclopedia entry: zodiac

Yalkut Shimony is dated to the 13th century, but it contains sources that date to much earlier centuries. It is not clear when was written the paragraph quoted above.

Churchill Sun of the Nations

2008-09-12T02:35:00.001-07:00

Pisces and the other zodiacal signs surround the (Churchill?) sun above the entrance to Bracken House, London, UK. It reminds me of Stalin who was referred to as the Sun of the Nations. Which brings me to the idea that each one of us deserves to see his own portrait in the center of a zodiac as long as we live in a democracy…

Picture is courtesy of John Linwood from Flickr.

Jupiter

2008-09-12T02:28:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign and glyph appear (bottom center) under the feet of Jupiter on 1539 drawing by German Northern Renaissance engraver Beham Sebald (1500-1550). Picture is courtesy of Yellow Lion from Wikimedia (entry Zodiac). Sebald was a pupil of Albrecht Durer in Nuremberg.

Auvergne, France

2008-09-12T01:54:00.001-07:00

Pises sign (carved in stone) with the connecting cord appears on the front of Church Saint-Austremonius of Issoire (12th century), Auvergne, France. Picture is courtesy of Jastrow from Wikimedia (entry Zodiac).

Amiens, France

2008-09-12T01:52:00.001-07:00

Finely carved relief Pisces sign (with the connecting cord) appears on a portal of the west facade of the Cathedral of Amiens, which was built between 1218 and 1269. Picture is courtesy of Vassil from Wikimedia (entry Zodiac). Medieval people ascribed agricultural (more than astrological) meaning to the Zodiac.

1217, Chartres, France

2008-09-12T01:44:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign with the connecting cord appears on the right top medallion at the stained glass window (vitrage) of the gothic (1217) Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres. Picture is courtesy of foto Daniel from Flickr. Chartres is located 80 km from Paris.

Tiffany Glass

2008-09-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

Pisces glyph appears as part of the zodiac on the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world in Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, Illinois. The Dome was renovated in the 1970s and it is valued at an estimated $35 million. Picture taken by "scratch n sniff" from Flickr.

Pisces from 1496

2008-09-11T21:27:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign appears on center left of a printing by Nicolas le Rouge, in the book Le grant kalendrier des Bergiers (1496, Troyes, France). Usually we recognize the sign that has two fishes swimming in opposite directions, here they seem to swim "only" in different directions.

Hampton Palace, London

2008-09-11T21:20:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign and glyph appear on six o’clock on the 14th century Hampton Palace astronomical clock.

picture taken by shakkai from Flickr.

Hampton Palace is a former royal palace located in London. This clock was built before Copernicus and Galileo, so that it shows the sun turning around the earth.

Georgian medieval Christian Art

2008-09-11T21:09:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign is seen on top center of a Georgian medieval piece of art, on the right of the sun sign. The order of the astrological signs of the zodiac is against the clock. In middle top we see the sun and opposite it- the moon. During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Roman Church considered Zodiac signs as representations of Christ, and this Georgian zodiac seems to be inspired by this conception. Picture is courtesy of henribergius from Flickr who took it in the Sakartvelo Republic of Georgia.

Under each sign we see one of the twelve apostles.

From Kerikeri Christian Assemblies Of New Zealand:

Aries sign represents- “…the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Taurus sign represents Jesus as the future Ruler of the world.

Gemini sign represents Jesus in harmony with the church.

Cancer sign represents security of the church in Jesus’ arms.

Leo sign represents Jesus the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5).

Virgo sign represents Jesus born of a virgin.

Scorpio sign represents the devil.

Libra sign represents judgment.

Sagittarius sign represents the battle for salvation.

Capricorn sign represents Jesus being a sacrifice.

Aquarius sign represents Jesus pouring out the Holy Spirit.

Pisces sign represents the early Christians. The cord represents their union by the Holy Spirit.

The Pisces and the Sea

2008-09-11T21:03:00.001-07:00

Lucas Jennis published in 1625 in Frankfurt a book by the name De Lapide Philosophorum (Philosophers Stone), which was based on German text translated into Latin by Nicolaus Barnaud, but no one knows who the author is since Lambsprinck is only his pseudonym. The book deals with alchemical subjects. This illustration is from p. 343 of this book.

The Last Supper and the Four Elements

2008-09-11T20:57:00.001-07:00

Leonardo DaVinci in his painting 'The Last Supper' arranged his disciples in a manner that hints to the 12 signs of the zodiac surrounding the sun: they are divided into four groups of threes like the four groups of The Elements: earth, air, water and fire. Pisces belongs to the water sign, as expected.

Picture was taken from Wikipedia (entry: Last Supper). It was uploaded by “Liberal Freemason”.

Traditional Western Astrology Rulers

2008-09-11T05:14:00.001-07:00

Jupiter rules Sagittarius & Pisces (shown at his feet) picture is courtesy of Aaron from Antiquus-Astrology.com

In traditional Western astrology, each zodiacal sign has a planetary (wandering stars) ruler:

Aries - Mars

Taurus - Venus

Gemini - Mercury

Cancer - Moon

Leo - Sun

Virgo - Mercury

Libra - Venus

Scorpio - Mars

Sagittarius - Jupiter

Capricorn - Saturn

Aquarius - Saturn

Pisces –Jupiter

In other words:

Mars rules Aries & Scorpio

Venus rules Taurus & Libra

Mercury Gemini & Virgo

The Moon rules Cancer

The Sun rules Leo

Jupiter rules Sagittarius & Pisces

Saturn rules Capricorn & Aquarius

Modern Western Astrology Rulers –1

Uranus rules Aquarius

Neptune Pisces

Pluto rules Scorpio

Ceres rules Virgo

Modern Western Astrology Rulers –2

Vesta rules Taurus

Pallas rules Virgo

Hoover Dam Pisces

2008-09-10T21:01:00.001-07:00

We see here a plate with Pisces sign (with the connecting cord) and glyph from Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River in Nevada. This Pisces sign is part of 12 astrological signs framing a compass, which were all created by Norwegian-born sculptor Oskar Hansen. Picture is courtesy of “Deerbourne” from Flickr.

Erfurt Gothic cathedral, Germay

2008-09-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

We see here a 14th century wood Pisces relief from the Gothic cathedral in Erfurt.

Picture is courtesy of “Sacred Destinations” from Flickr

Brauweiler, Germay

2008-09-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

We see here Pisces relief (1141) from the north tower of the abbey church in Brauweiler, west of Cologne. Today it is exhibited in Bonn Museum.

Picture is courtesy of “Sacred Destinations” from Flickr

Kew Gardens London

2008-09-10T20:38:00.001-07:00

We see here a Pisces sign in the Kew Gardens, London. Kew gardens are famous Royal Botanic gardens located between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England.

Picture is courtesy of xueexueg from Flickr.

Pooh

2008-09-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

We see here a Pisces image on the chest (and Pisces glyph on the cap) of a cute little Pooh.

Picture is courtesy of missrandumb from Flickr.

Sign of Completion

2008-09-10T04:37:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign, glyph, character traits and dates are carved into stone in The Zodiac Wensum Park, Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK

Designer: Tchenka Jane Sunderland

Picture is courtesy of Leo Reynolds from Flickr.

Thomas Burgoyne in his book The light of Egypt, 1903 (Gutenberg Project) brought two lines from a poem about Pisces:

Near their loved waves cold Pisces take their seat

With Aries join, and make the round complete.

Burgoyne went on to claim that Pisces is a sign of completion.

The soul has now completed the first round, or rung, in the Cycle of Necessity; and its next state is that of incarnated man. It has triumphed over every sphere below, and defied, in turn, every power above, and is now within that sixth state of the embryonic soul-world that transforms all its past knowledge, sorrow, and suffering, into experience; and produces the impersonal man.

Jonah's Big Fish in Christianity

2008-09-10T04:30:00.000-07:00

Jonah Mosaic at St. Anne Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Moorpark, North Hollywood Los Angeles, California.

Courtesy of Cbl62 from Wikipedia (entry: Jonah)

Jonah's Biblical story is interpreted in Christianity as the herald of the second coming of Jesus. Moreover, Jesus hinted at Pisces (the whale, the big fish of Jonah) when he said in Matthew 12:39:

But he answered and said unto them: an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jona.

Hamat Tiberius, Israel

2008-09-10T04:15:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign, as part of a zodiac, on a 4^th century mosaic found in the Synagogue of Hamat Tiberius, Israel.

The picture is courtesy of "jaydoubleyougee” from Flickr.

1961 Stamp from Israel

2008-09-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

In Jewish tradition the two fishes of the Pisces zodiacal sign represent the two months of Adar in a leap year.

Designer: I Blaushild

The Hebrew calendar is synchronized with the astronomical calendar by adding a month (to Adar) seven times every nineteen years.

Picture is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer and the stamp is from his collection.

Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov claims in his book (Sefer HaTodaah, 1997 of p. 244) that the sign of Adar is Pisces because in this month the fishes multiply in the rivers and in the lakes. It is a blessed sign because the fishes are not seen, and thus are not effected by evil eye. Even in the Flood the fishes didn’t die because they didn’t sin, and because they don’t copulate with another species. The people of Israel resemble the fishes because they live in the Torah, which resembles water [the ocean of the Torah]. In this month Moses was born and the Torah is called after him: Torah of Moses. In this month the Israelites re-committed themselves to live by the rules of the Torah in the days of Mordechai and Ester. Jacob blessed Joseph (genesis 48:16): And may they grow [like fishes] into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

1957 Stamp from Israel

2008-09-09T22:03:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign appears on a zodiac mosaic pavement of a 6th century synagogue found at Kibbutz Beit Alfa, Israel. Designer: R.Errell Artwork by D. Pegaz The fishes seem to swim in different directions.

Hayim Shtayer took the picture of the stamp and the stamp is from his collection.

This is only a detail - zoom in to see the whole stamp on Flickr by clicking the All sizes command above the picture.

Sepphoris Mosaic, Israel

2008-09-09T21:40:00.001-07:00

6th century CE Pisces sign: a man holding two fishes on bottom center of the mosaic floor of Sepphoris (Zippori) synagogue, Israel. Picture courtesy of Hebrew Wikipedia (entry: ZodiacMosaicTzippori). The men that appear on this zodiac prove, surprisingly, that in the Hebrew zodiac not only Virgo had a human form.

Pisces in the Sky

2008-09-09T20:36:00.001-07:00

Pisces constellation is located between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east.

The picture is courtesy of "hoathuytinh_hanoi2000” from Flickr. Pay attention to the connecting cord between the two figures.

Paintings on the Ceiling at Waltham Abbey UK

2008-09-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign (with the connecting cord and with the letters of its name) picture is courtesy of "TheRevSteve” from Flickr who wrote to me:

The paintings on the ceiling at Waltham Abbey were done in 1859-60, designed by the architect William Burges and modelled on the ceiling in Peterborough Cathedral. They are painted on canvas which is fixed to the wooden ceiling.
The zodiac signs don't have astrological significance, rather they represent the months of the year as seen in the night sky, and they are flanked by pictures of the tasks appropriate in the months.

Anatomy

2008-09-08T21:21:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite picture. I like it because it confronted me with a wealth of new information in such an aesthetic way. I hope to make similar (blogs) collections about the other signs of the zodiac and to put this picture in all of them.

Pisces sign and glyph (at the feet of the man in the drawing) picture is courtesy of "shadowplay” from Flickr who wrote to me:

It was shot in a market in Mexico (Guanajuato, I believe) and you see a lot of those kind of posters with all kinds of information on them, sometimes used in schools to teach kids.

Sefer Yetzirah is ascribed according to Jewish tradition to biblical patriarch Abraham, but researchers date it to 2-6 century C.E. It is one of the most influential Jewish books. In it we find a connection between the Hebrew letters and the signs of the zodiac and the leading organs of the body:

From: http://www.wbenjamin.org/saadia.html

Sefer Yetzirah [Book of Creation] Saadia's Commentary (excerpts)

[Among the Hebrew letters we find] Twelve simples: He, Vav, Zayin; Het, Tet, Yod; Lamed, Nun, Samech; Ayin, Tsadeh, Qof. He [God) carved them, hewed them, tested them, weighed them, and combined them. He formed of them: the signs of the zodiac, the months [of the year], and the leading organs of the body;

Mural

2008-09-08T21:04:00.001-07:00

Pisces sign mural (without the connecting cord) picture is courtesy of "mylar113” from Flickr who wrote to me:

I took the picture in Frederick, Maryland, this summer on vacation. There is a bridge there that is completely painted. If you look in my other photos, there's one of a gate. The pisces is up to the left of the gate, and is visible in the photo I put up of that. Off the top of my head, I don't remember why the pisces image was chosen, but I'm sure if you do a search on the Mural Bridge of Frederick, Maryland, you'll find something about it.

In the caption under the picture in Flickr mylar113 noted that the plants of this mural are painted- isn’t that something?

Cake

2008-09-08T20:47:00.001-07:00

Pisces glyph on a cake picture is courtesy of "Stardust Dream” from Flickr who wrote to me:

I'm a pastry chef as well as a Pisces. Since I use cupcakes and desserts to represent myself, I thought it only natural that I make the Pisces symbol.

Garden Decoration

2008-09-08T20:22:00.001-07:00

Pisces (two fat whales without a connecting cord) appears among the other astrological signs surrounding the sun on a rusty zodiac and serving as a garden decoration. Picture is courtesy of "dreaminofbeadin” from Flickr who bought it on a yard sale.

T-shirt

2008-09-08T20:05:00.001-07:00

Pisces T-shirt (only one fish without connecting cord) picture is courtesy of Smartmouthstudio from Flickr who wrote to me:

I've just always loved astrological signs and the meaning behind them. So when I opened a shop on etsy (smartmouthstudio.etsy.com) I thought I'd do astrology graphics for kids clothes, and this is the one I came up for Pisces!

The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre in Quebec

2008-09-08T01:48:00.001-07:00

Gold Pisces (with the connecting cord) from the 1876 Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre Picture is courtesy of Jean Arf from Flickr who wrote to me:

It's a really large church in a very tiny town along the St. Lawrence River a little bit east of Quebec City. Busloads of people come from all over seeking miracles (healing their illnesses). There are zillions of crutches from people who claim they were healed and can now walk.

St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague

2008-09-08T01:36:00.001-07:00

Pisces (without the connecting cord) Picture is courtesy of DaveGray from Flickr who wrote to me:

This is one of a series of Zodiac signs on the gates of The Golden Portal, the original entrance to St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. I don't have any history on the gates but I think they are fairly modern (<>30Yrs). I believe the figures are intended to display attributes of the sign. I took the entire series of figures while in Prague with my wife earlier in 2008. The others are also on my Flickr pages.

P.S.

Later DaveGray added the following:

After writing to you I had a look at the Zodiac signs in their correct order and I believe the figures are illustrating the seasons labours and fruits, as they occur in each sign, not necessarily anything to do with attributes of the Zodiac signs themselves.

Mosaic in Sicily

2008-09-07T21:44:00.001-07:00

Fishes appear on a Roman floor mosaic in Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily. This is not a typical Pisces sign since it is not a part of the zodiacal signs, and since it doesn’t include the connecting cord between the fishes.

Picture is courtesy of Aidan McRae Thomson from Flickr.

Jigsaw

2008-09-07T21:24:00.001-07:00

Pisces zodiacal sign (with the connecting cord) picture is courtesy of Chad Goulding from Flickr who wrote to me:

When I was a child that Zodiac jigsaw was my favorite out of all of the jigsaws I did. But at some point it was lost or thrown away. Then a couple of years ago I found the same jigsaw in a charity shop and bought it out of pure nostalgia. Not sure why I took a photo of the pieces section though, since I'm an Aries!

Mosaic at Kent, England

2008-09-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

Pisces zodiacal sign (with the connecting cord) Picture is courtesy of “gulley” from Flickr who wrote to me:

A couple of years ago, I was staying on a farm in Kent, England. The people who owned the farm had always been interested in esoteric things and in the yard they had a circular pond. Around the fountain they had laid a mosaic - a big one - of the 12 signs of the Western Zodiac. It was quite old (not antique though) and crumbling a bit when I saw it , but that's where these photos came from.

Hotel in Scotland

2008-09-07T21:00:00.001-07:00

Pisces zodiacal sign (with the connecting cord) is carved in stone next to the door at the Royal Highland hotel in Stirling, Scotland.

Picture is courtesy of “Szmytke” from Flickr.

Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudule, Belgium

2008-09-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

A delicate Pisces sign (with the connecting cord) appears in the center of a medallion at Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudule, Belgium.

Picture is courtesy of “seikinsou” from Flickr.

Parts of the Body Associated with the Zodiac Signs

2008-09-07T05:09:00.001-07:00

We see here a diagram of parts of the body associated with the zodiac Signs. Picture is courtesy of Antiquus-Astrology.com from Flickr who wrote to me:

The image is a display of the parts of the body associated with the Zodiac signs, Pisces is associated with the feet and therefore you see it by the base of the feet.

I collect various images from my collection of Astrology books, I only have posted a few on the flickr account. These types of pictures are usually common to old ephemeris.

Astrological healing is termed melothesia. According to this theory parts of the body were identified with the different Astrological signs. Astrological healing included prescriptions (based on the Astrological-qualities of plants, animals and stones) and amulets, which denied unfavorable influences. In melothesia Pisces has influence on the feet.

The following stones are associated with Pisces: amethyst, lingam, citrine, black or green tourmaline, bloodstone, , kyanite, , sodalite, aquamarine.

Delicate Pisces Tattoo

2008-09-07T04:20:00.001-07:00

In the last decade or so zodiac tattoos are most popular. This phenomenon seems to belong to a modern social trend of expressing one’s individuality, and beside one's name what's more personal than one's zodiac sign?

Picture is courtesy of cooperbabe2008 from Flickr.

The Pisces Constellation

2008-09-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Pisces sign (with the connecting cord) appears on a 1690 sketch of the astrological map of the sky made by astronomer Johannes Hevelius. Picture is courtesy of Yaago from Wikimedia (entry Zodiac).

Pisces From Austria

2008-09-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Pisces-sign, among other astrological Zodiacal signs, on a wall of a building at Maypole, Innsbruck, Austria. Picture is courtesy of Frank Peters from Flickr. The design is strange: it looks like a tree with fruits...

Australian Pisces Postage Stamp

2008-09-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

Australian Pisces Postage Stamp from April 2007 shows the Pisces sign with the connecting cord.