The Mythological Stories of Aries and Taurus
The Legendary Origins of Aries and Taurus
Among the celestial tapestry of the zodiac, the constellations of Aries and Taurus hold some of the most captivating mythological stories from ancient Greek tradition. These tales not only explain the astronomical presence of these constellations but also reveal profound insights into human nature, sacrifice, and divine intervention.
The Golden Ram: Story of Aries
The constellation Aries, representing the ram, commemorates the mythical creature Chrysomallus—the golden-fleeced ram sent by the cloud nymph Nephele to rescue her children from sacrifice. According to legend, King Athamas of Boeotia planned to sacrifice his son Phrixus to appease the gods, influenced by his malicious second wife Ino. As Athamas raised his knife at Mount Laphystium, Nephele dispatched the magical flying ram with golden wool to carry Phrixus and his twin sister Helle to safety.
Tragically, during their flight eastward to Colchis, Helle lost her grip and fell into the sea—a stretch of water thereafter known as the Hellespont. Phrixus arrived safely in Colchis, where he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and presented its priceless Golden Fleece to King Aeëtes, who welcomed him and gave him his daughter Chalciope in marriage.
The fleece later became the object of desire in the epic quest of Jason and the Argonauts. The spirit of Phrixus haunted his uncle Pelias, who had usurped the throne from Jason’s father. Pelias promised to return the kingdom if Jason could retrieve the Golden Fleece—a nearly impossible task that led to one of mythology’s greatest adventures. With the help of the sorceress Medea, daughter of King Aeëtes, Jason successfully obtained the fleece, which was eventually placed in a sacred grove under the protection of a dragon. To honor the noble ram, Zeus placed its image among the stars, creating the constellation Aries.
The Abduction of Europa: Story of Taurus
The constellation Taurus commemorates Zeus himself in one of his most famous earthly disguises. Smitten with the beautiful princess Europa, daughter of King Agenor, Zeus transformed himself into a magnificent white bull with shimmering horns and a gentle demeanor. While Europa gathered flowers near the seashore, she noticed the striking bull and, captivated by its beauty, approached and eventually climbed onto its back.
Suddenly, the bull leaped into the sea and carried Europa across the Mediterranean to the island of Crete. There, Zeus revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. She bore Zeus several sons, including Minos, who would become a legendary king. To immortalize this story of love and transformation, Zeus placed the bull’s image in the heavens. The continent of Europe itself derives its name from this mythological princess.
The Seven Sisters: Pleiades Star Cluster
Within Taurus lies one of the most famous star clusters visible to the naked eye—the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters. These stars represent the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and the sea nymph Pleione: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope, and Merope. Each sister had her own dramatic story intertwined with the gods.
Maia, the eldest, became the mother of Hermes by Zeus; Electra bore Dardanus, founder of Troy; Taygete gave birth to Lacedaemon, founder of Sparta; and Sterope was mother to Oenomaus, king of Pisa. Two sisters, Alcyone and Celaeno, were pursued by Poseidon, while Merope alone married a mortal—Sisyphus—and thus shines more faintly than her sisters, according to myth. Interestingly, most people can only distinguish six stars with the naked eye, leading to various explanations in mythology about the “lost Pleiad.”
These celestial stories remind us how ancient cultures looked to the stars not just for navigation but for meaning, connecting human experiences to the cosmic patterns above. The constellations of Aries and Taurus continue to inspire wonder, representing both heroic sacrifice and transformative love across the millennia.
