Taurus (astrology)

This article is about the astrological sign. For the constellation, see Taurus (constellation).

Taurus
Zodiac symbol	Bull
Duration (tropical, western)	April 19 – May 20 (2024, UT1)[1]
Constellation	Taurus
Zodiac element	Earth
Zodiac quality	Fixed
Sign ruler	Venus
Detriment	Mars and Pluto
Exaltation	Moon
Fall	Uranus

Taurus (♉︎) (Ancient Greek: Ταῦρος, romanized: Taûros, Latin for "bull") is the second astrological sign in the modern zodiac. It spans from 30° to 60° of the zodiac. This sign belongs to the Earth element or triplicity, as well as a fixed modality, quality, or quadruplicity. It is a Venus-ruled sign, the Moon is in its exaltation here at exactly 3°. The Sun transits this sign from approximately April 20 until May 20 in western astrology.^[2] Taurus is one of the three earth signs, alongside Capricorn and Virgo. Taurus's opposite sign is Scorpio.

History

The bestial sign of Taurus is associated with several myths and bull worship from several ancient cultures. It was the first sign of the zodiac established among the Mesopotamians, who called it "The Great Bull of Heaven," as it was the constellation through which the Sun rose on the vernal equinox at that time,^[3] that is the Early Bronze Age, from about 4000 BC to 1700 BC.

The zodiac sign of Taurus does not entirely align with the constellation of Taurus. Taurus represents the 30 degrees following Aries in the zodiac circle. Aries marks the beginning of spring and new life, while Taurus, a fixed sign, continues and stabilizes what Aries started. During Taurus, life reaches its full bloom, symbolizing growth and steadfastness.^[4]

Astrological associations

Earth is the element associated with Taurus, and alongside Virgo and Capricorn, it forms the Earth Triplicity.

See also

• Astronomical symbols
• Chinese zodiac
• Circle of stars
• Cusp (astrology)
• Elements of the zodiac

Notes

1. Astronomical Applications Department 2011.
2. dictionary 2022.
3. Sołtysiak, Arkadiusz (2001). "The Bull of Heaven in Mesopotamian Sources" (PDF). Culture and Cosmos. 5 (2): 3–21. doi:10.46472/CC.0205.0203.
4. ZodiacSign.com. "The History & Myth of Taurus". www.zodiacsign.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

Works cited

• Astronomical Applications Department (2011). Multiyear Computer Interactive Almanac. 2.2.2. Washington DC: US Naval Observatory. Longitude of Sun, apparent geocentric ecliptic of date, interpolated to find the time of crossing 0°, 30°...
• "Taurus". Dictionary.com. 2022.

External links

• Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (ca 370 medieval and early modern images of Taurus)