The Constellation
Virgo |
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Mythology and History |
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The Maiden. |
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Named for the Greek goddess Demeter, the Earth-goddess, and
is associated with the arrival of spring and bringer of the growing season.
Hades, the God of the Underground, fell in love with Demeter's daughter,
Persephone. He promised himself that he would marry Persephone, making
her his queen. Demeter would not stand for this. One day Hades,
in a black chariot drawn by four great black horses in golden harness and
reins, rode up to Persephone and carried the girl off with him back to
the Underworld. Demeter became worried when her daughter did not
return home. She sent out to search for her daughter. Demeter
searched with out food or sleep. When Zeus pleaded with her to return
to Olympus and accept Persephone's marriage to Hades, she refused and continued
her search. People everywhere were starving and could not understand
how their Earth-goddess could be so cruel. Zeus sent Hermes, Messenger
of the gods, to visit Hades and tell him that Persephone must return with
him. Hades, knowing that the gods of heaven were stronger than he,
agreed to let Persephone go. There was a happy reunion, but Persephone
told her mother that she loved her husband Hades. Zeus solved the
problem by saying that Persephone would spend half of her time in the Underworld
with Hades and the other half on Olympus with her mother. In this
way, winter comes when Persephone goes down to the Underworld to be with
Hades. When Persephone returns to Olympus, the winter cloak of death
melts and there is a rebirth of life over the land and the crops begin
to grow. |
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Virgo usually is shown carrying two sheaves of wheat, one
of which is marked by the bright star Spica, whose name comes form
the Latin and means ear of wheat, or corn. |
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Known as Ishtar by the Babylonians. And also
was known to the Sumerians. |
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The Egyptians knew Virgo as Isis, the Goddess of Fertility. |
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The Hindus looked at Virgo as Kauni, or "the Maiden." |
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The Persians called her Khosha, or "the Ear of Wheat." |
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The Hebrews called her Bethulah, meaning "Abundance
in Harvest." |
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