From Manilius
Resplendent in his golden fleece the Ram leads the way and looks back with wonder at the backward rising of the Bull, who lowered face and brow summons the Twins; these the Crab follows, the Lion the Crab, and the Virgin the Lion. Then the Balance, having matched daylight with the length of the night, draws on the Scorpion, ablaze with his glittering constellation, at whose tail the man with the body of a horse aims with taut bow a winged shaft, ever in the act to shoot. Next comes Capricorn, curled up with his cramped asterism, and after him from the urn upturned the Waterman pours forth the wonted stream for the Fishes which swim eagerly into it; and these as they bring up the rear of the signs are joined by the Ram.
- Astronomica by Manilius. Edited and translated, G.P. Goold, Loeb Classical Library, page 25–7. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, Mass., 1977/2006.
Previously mentioned.
Too bad the previously mentioned link is such a poor image. I took that picture inside the Museum of London, as it was a post WW II London excavation of a Roman Temple, part of the Cult of Mithras, popular among soldiers, at the time.
What was so remarkable about that piece? Not clear in that image, but around the center figure of the bull? The symbols, carefully carved, for the tropical zodiac.
As described by Manilius’ introduction.
#Aries
