-----|
|Scorpio (the |23rd October | |
|Scorpion). |(Marcheswan = |Scorpion of darkness. |
| |Oct.-Nov.). | |
|---------------+---------------------+-------------------------------|
|Sagittarius |22nd November |Man or man-horse with bow, or |
|(the Archer). |(Chisleu = |an arrow symbol. |
| |Nov.-Dec.). | |
|---------------+---------------------+-------------------------------|
|Capricornus |21st December (Tebet |Ea's goat-fish. |
|(the Goat). |= Dec.-Jan.). | |
|---------------+---------------------+-------------------------------|
|Aquarius (the |19th January (Sebat =|God with water urn. |
|Water Carrier).|Jan.-Feb.). | |
|---------------+---------------------+-------------------------------|
|Pisces (the |18th February (Adar =|Fish tails in canal. |
|Fishes). |Feb.-March). | |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

The Babylonian Creation myth states that Merodach, having fixed the
stars of the Zodiac, made three stars for each month (p. 147). Mr.
Robert Brown, jun., who has dealt as exhaustively with the
astronomical problems of Babylonia as the available data permitted
him, is of opinion that the leading stars of three constellations are
referred to, viz.: (1) the central or zodiacal constellations, (2) the
northern constellations, and (3) the southern constellations. We have
thus a scheme of thirty-six constellations. The "twelve zodiacal stars
were flanked on either side by twelve non-zodiacal stars". Mr. Brown
quotes Diodorus, who gave a resume of Babylonian
astronomico-astrology, in this connection. He said that "the five
planets were called 'Interpreters'; and in subjection to these were
marshalled 'Thirty Stars', which were styled 'Divinities of the
Council'.... The chiefs of the Divinities are twelve in number, to
each of whom they assign a month and one of the twelve signs of the
Zodiac." Through these twelve signs sun, moon, and planets run their
courses. "And with the zodiacal circle they mark out twenty-four
stars, half of which they say are arranged in the north and half in
the south."[328] Mr. Brown shows