LEO THE LION

A line extended southward from the pointer stars of the Big Dipper passes into the midsection of Leo, the Lion. Covering some 60 degrees in longitude in the sky, it is one of the largest constellations. (For hHow many days would you expect that the sun would be in Leo?

Lio assumed great significance during the Age of Taurus, between 4000-2000 B. C. when many of the constellations were named by people living in Mesopotamia and/or Egypt.

During the summer dry season lions of the desert would come into the valley of the Nile at the time it flooded, close to summer solstice, hence the symbolic importance of the sun in Leo at summer solstice. The face of a Lion was always carved in the gates that opened irrigation canals of the Nile valley. Many found in Mediterranean cities had water gushing out of the mouths of lions in their fountains. The Egyptian Sphinx may also have the symbolism of a lion.

During the Age of Taurus, the solstices and equinoxes were marked by four major stars, the so-called Royal Stars: Aldebaran; the brightest star of Taurus, Regulus, the brightest star of Leo; Antares the "heart" of Scorpius, and Fomalhaut near Aquarius. At certain latitudes, Fomalhaut was too low to be easily seen, and Altair in Aquilla was used as the star of winter solstice.

The resulting synthesis of animals became the Griffin, hind legs and wings of an eagle (Aquilla) head and forelegs of a lion (Leo), and the tail of a scorpion (Scorpio).

The lion was the symbol of absolute sovereignty power, and kingship. The sun in the lion carried out that symbolism. At summer solstice near the tropic of Cancer, the solar lion controlled the zenith of the heavens at noon.


In this 1573 painting from the Villa Farnese, Caprarola, Italy, Leo is surrounded by Hydra, Virgo, Crater, Coma Berenices, and Ursa Major. It is a "gods" eye view: of the constellations as seen from above, outside the celestial sphere, instead of from inside, which is our view.