Constellations of the Zodiac and Their Signs Quiz

Question: Cancer

Answer: Cancer is represented by a crab. It is related to the crab in Greek mythology that pinched Heracles while he was fighting the Lernaean hydra. Crushed by Heracles, the crab was rewarded by Heracles’ enemy, Hera, by being placed in the heavens.

Question: Virgo

Answer: Virgo is represented by a young maiden carrying a sheaf of wheat. She is variously identified as a fertility goddess (the Babylonian and Assyrian Ishtar, among others) or the harvest maiden (the Greek Persephone and others).

Question: Aquarius

Answer: Aquarius is represented by a man pouring a stream of water out of a jug. This possibly came about because in ancient times the rising of Aquarius coincided in the Middle East with a period of floods and rain.

Question: Gemini

Answer: Gemini is represented by a set of twins. In addition to their identification as Castor and Pollux, the twins have also been related to other celebrated pairs, such as the younger and older Horus or Romulus and Remus.

Question: Taurus

Answer: Taurus is represented by a bull. Its representation as a bull is related to the Greek myth of Zeus, who assumed the form of a bull to abduct Europa.

Question: Pisces

Answer: Pisces is represented by two fish tied together. This is usually related to the Greek myth of Aphrodite and Eros, who jumped into a river to escape the monster Typhon and changed into or were carried away by fish.

Question: Libra

Answer: Libra is represented by a woman holding a balance scale or by the balance alone. This woman is sometimes identified with Astraea, the Roman goddess of justice.

Question: Aries

Answer: Aries is represented by the ram. Its representation as a ram is identified with the Egyptian god Amon and, in Greek mythology, with the ram with the golden fleece.

Question: Capricorn

Answer: Capricorn (Capricornus) is often represented by a goat with a fishtail. One possible explanation is found in the Greek myth of Pan, whose upper half was that of a goat and whose lower half was a fish when he was escaping Typhon.

Question: Leo

Answer: Leo is represented by a lion. This lion is usually linked with the Nemean lion slain by Heracles (Hercules).

Question: Scorpio

Answer: The representation of Scorpio (Scorpius) as a scorpion is related to the Greek legend of the scorpion that stung Orion to death (said to be why Orion sets as Scorpio rises in the sky).

Question: Sagittarius

Answer: Sagittarius is represented either by a centaur shooting a bow and arrow or by an arrow drawn across a bow. The identification of Sagittarius as a mounted archer was made by the Babylonians.