The Legend of Aries: Do You Know the Story?
Beneath the vast expanse of the starry sky, Aries shines like a golden ram, silently guarding the first house of the zodiac. Its legend traces back to an exhilarating adventure from ancient Greek mythology—a tale of courage, betrayal, and divine intervention.
The Tale of the Golden Ram
In the kingdom of Boeotia in ancient Greece, King Athamas married Nephele, the cloud goddess, and they had two children—Prince Phrixus and Princess Helle. Their happiness, however, was short-lived. The king’s heart strayed, and he took Ino, a princess of Thebes, as his second wife. Ino, consumed by jealousy, saw the children as obstacles to her own ambitions.
She devised a wicked plan: during the sowing season, she convinced the farmers to roast the seeds, resulting in a catastrophic crop failure. Then, she bribed a temple priest to deliver a false oracle claiming that the only way to appease the gods was to sacrifice the prince and princess.
Divine Rescue and a Tragic Journey
Just as the sacrificial knife was about to fall, the children’s mother, Nephele, pleaded with Zeus for help. Moved by her despair, Zeus sent a miraculous golden-fleeced ram—a being whose wool shimmered brighter than sunlight and who could soar through the skies like the wind.
The ram carried the two siblings into the clouds, racing toward the distant land of Colchis. Tragedy struck, however, as they flew over the strait now known as the Dardanelles. Overwhelmed by dizziness, Helle lost her grip and fell into the sea below—a stretch of water later named the Hellespont in her memory.
Phrixus, heartbroken but determined, continued his journey and eventually reached Colchis, where King Aeëtes welcomed him with open arms.
The Golden Fleece and Its Legacy
In gratitude for his deliverance, Phrixus sacrificed the ram to Zeus and presented its radiant Golden Fleece to the king. This sacred relic was hung in the Grove of Ares, guarded by a dragon that never slept. Little did anyone know that this very fleece would years later inspire one of the greatest quests in Greek mythology—Jason and the Argonauts’ daring expedition.
To honor the ram’s bravery, Zeus placed its image among the stars, forever immortalized as the constellation Aries.
Historical and Cultural Significance
This legend was vividly recounted by the ancient Greek poet Apollonius of Rhodes in his epic, Argonautica. Archaeologists have further substantiated the tale’s antiquity with discoveries such as Minoan frescoes on Crete—dating back to around 1500 BCE—that depict winged rams.
Even older references exist: the Babylonians referred to this constellation as the “Agrarian Worker,” linking it to the spring equinox—an association that aligns perfectly with Aries’ position as the first sign of the zodiac, heralding renewal and new beginnings.
Aries in Astronomy and Astrology
The constellation’s brightest star, Hamal, derives its name from the Arabic word for “lamb,” echoing the myth of the golden ram. Every year from March 21 to April 19, when the sun passes through Aries, the northern hemisphere welcomes spring—a season of rebirth that mirrors the ram’s role as a symbol of hope and rescue.
In astrology, those born under Aries are often described as pioneers—bold, energetic, and unafraid of challenges. These traits seem to echo the fearless spirit of the mythical ram that carried two children across the sky against all odds.
Aries Through the Ages
Aries has held a significant place in humanity’s relationship with the cosmos. In the 2nd century CE, Ptolemy included it among his 48 classical constellations in the Almagest. Later, in 1603, German astronomer Johann Bayer designated its main star as Alpha Arietis, a naming convention still used today.
Modern astronomy reveals that although Aries ranks 39th in size among the constellations, it hosts fascinating deep-sky objects—including the stunning spiral galaxy NGC 772—continuing to inspire wonder and discovery.
Timeless Inspiration
From ancient altars to contemporary telescopes, the story of Aries has spanned millennia. The golden ram, soaring through the heavens, represents not only humanity’s imagination but also the enduring hope that even in the darkest moments, light and courage can prevail.
Its legend reminds us that bravery, resilience, and a sense of adventure are gifts we all carry within—much like the spirit of Aries itself.
