Leo (; , Latin for "
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
") is the fifth
sign of the
zodiac
The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north and south celestial latitude of the ecliptic – the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. Within this zodiac ...
. It corresponds to the
constellation Leo and comes after
Cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
and before
Virgo
Virgo may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Virgo (film), a 1970 Egyptian film
* Virgo (character), several Marvel Comics characters
* Virgo Asmita, a character in the manga ''Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas''
* ''Virgo'' (album), by Virgo Four, ...
. The traditional
Western zodiac
Western astrology is the system of astrology most popular in Western countries. It is historically based on Ptolemy's ''Tetrabiblos'' (2nd century CE), which in turn was a continuation of Hellenistic astrology, Hellenistic and ultimately Babylon ...
associates Leo with the period between about July 23 and August 22, and the sign spans the 120th to 150th degree of
celestial longitude.
Leo is associated with
fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products.
Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion re ...
, accompanied by
Aries and
Sagittarius, and its modality is
fixed. The constellation Leo is associated with the mythological
Nemean lion. The lion is a very important and prominent symbol in Greek mythology.
History
Egyptians worshipped the constellation, which they referred to as "Knem", because it was present during the flooding of the Nile River. This event signified plentiful harvests for the upcoming year, and the people interpreted it as a gift from the earth. Ruler of Egypt,
Tutankhamun's gold throne features lion heads where the seat and front legs meet, as well as clawed feet at the end of each leg, symbolizing power and royalty.
See also
*
Astronomical symbols
*
Chinese zodiac
*
Circle of stars
*
Cusp (astrology)
*
Elements of the zodiac
*
Fire (classical element)
Fire is one of the four classical elements along with earth, water and air in ancient Greek philosophy and science. Fire is considered to be both hot and dry and, according to Plato, is associated with the tetrahedron.
Greek and Roman tradition ...
References
Sources
* Longitude of Sun, apparent geocentric ecliptic of date, interpolated to find time of crossing 0°, 30°....
*
*
External links
*
*
Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (ca 370 medieval and early modern images of Leo)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leo (Astrology)
Western astrological signs
Mythological lions