Aries (The Ram)

Abbreviation: Ari
Genitive: Arietis
Right Ascension: 2.66 hours
Declination: 20.09 degrees

Aries is one of the zodiacal constellations (lies along the eclipitic), and can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere during the late winter and early spring. Aries is a small constellation which is bounded by Taurus (to the East), Pisces (to the West), and Cetus (to the South).

Aries is the Ram, and is the first sign of the zodiac. Aries is usually associated with dawn, the spring or the beginning of life.

According the Greek Mythology, the story of Jason and the Argonauts and their quest for the golden fleece. The fleece came from when Mercury the messenger of the gods, found that two of King Thebes children (Phrixus and Helle) were being treated badly by their stepmother Ino. Mercury sent a supernatural ram, which could speak and reason, to rescue the two children. The children escaped by clinging to the fleece on the ram as it flew (I did mention it flew didn't I?) to Colchis, unfortunately for Helle, she fell off and into the sea and drown. There is a city near Istanbul with the name of Hellespont (named for her?). When Phrixus arrived safely, at Colchis, he sacrified the ram in a sacred grove, he hung the fleece up, where it turned to gold.

Aries (The Ram)