Zodiac, Renaissance

The zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, both with conventional astronomical purposes and with symbolic, astrological meanings. From ancient times to the present day, the zodiac is intended as a sort of circular belt on the starry vault that is transversally situated in respect of the solar ecliptic (namely, the apparent path of the Sun on the celestial sphere, along its annual turn), marking the zone where the relative movements of the Moon and the solar system planets usually take place. Because of Earth’s rotation, the constellations in this area always appeared to be in circular motion: hence it came its ancient name of ζῳδιακός (zōdiakós), a compound of zòon, “animal,” or “living being,” and hodòs, “path.” In fact, the “proceeding” stars within the zodiac have been grouped into 12 consequent constellations called signs, according to a 12-fold classification that also and especially in Renaissance was maintained as based on the imaginative appearances of mythological beings in the skies and their respective astrological/astronomical significance.