Ophiuchus:
'Dubbed' the '13th Sign' and inevitably unacceptable to our 'Tropical Zodiac' viewpoint - which is based on the Seasons, each sign being interpreted in sequence according to the various phases of seasonal developments in Nature - and according to the N. Hemisphere. (Also, it is not included in the 'Sidereal Zodiac', used in Vedic astrology.)
However, the Sun actually does pass through this Sign during the course of the year, owing the fact that it lies on the Ecliptic. According to Dr. Shepherd (
http://www.geocities.com/astrologyconst ... iuchus.htm )
the Sun can be seen against the stars of Ophiuchus between 30th November and 17th December each year. [The dates of the cusps move a little from one year to the next, so sometimes they are quoted as 1st December to 18th December.]
Dr.Shepherd also notes that:
"(In the)...Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy treats Ophiuchus as a non-zodiac constellation; he follows the simple, inherited tradition of the twelve part, equal-sign zodiac. However, in Al Magest, Ptolemy actually charts Ophiuchus in the heavens... He catalogues 29 stars in the constellation. 24 of these he measures to have a latitude above the Ecliptic. But 5 of these he observes have a latitude below the Ecliptic. In other words the figure of Ophiuchus crosses the Ecliptic [the path of the Sun] making it by definition a Sun Sign."
"Ophiuchus is a zodiacal constellation (meaning that the Sun passes through it during the course of the year), but unlike the other twelve, it is not counted as an astrological sign by astrologers. As of 2008, the Sun passes through Ophiuchus between November 30 and December 17.[1]"
Wikipedia
And, briefly, with regard to the Mythology: Ophiuchus was 'Asclepius' in Greek Mythology (Asklepius/Aesculapius), a son of Apollo, raised and taught by Cheiron in the art of healing.
Another tale about Ophiuchus/Asclepius, was about his birth: He was the son of Apollo and of the mortal, Koronis. Unfortunately, Koronis 'had an affair' with another mortal, and as a result she was 'shot dead' by Apollo and Artemis. However, Apollo, remembering that Koronis was pregnant, and , cut open her womb and released Asclepius, while she was on the funeral pyre
He was also able to raise the dead, as in when Orion boasted that he would
'rid the whole earth of ...monsters' Apollo, who was jealous (relationship issues here...long story), boasted that
he would do this, and arranged for 'a monstrous scorpion to pursue' Orion. Orion, having realised that the Scorpion's armour was impenetrable, dived in the sea and swam off. Apollo then tricked his sister, Artemis, by telling her he was a villain by name of Candaon, and so she shot Orion. When she discovered her mistake, she begged Asclepius to revive him. When he did so, Zeus/Jupiter threw a thunderbolt at Orion, and...Artemis set Orion's image 'among the stars, eternally pursued by the Scorpion'. (This tale is also said to be about Hippolytus...I have no idea if they are the same, so apologies on that matter).
Also, Asclepius was apparently given 2 bottles of blood from the Gorgon, Medusa - one deadly, the other, life-giving). Another version (Joseph Campbell), says that "Asclepius...secured the blood from the veins of Medusa - both from her 'left and right side' ".
What is interesting here, is that these issues of Life and Death and healing, are set here in the overlapping areas of Scorpio/Sagittarius. (Bearing in mind also that Asclepius was raised and taught by Cheiron, who is associated often with Sag.) Also:
"On either side of Ophiuchus in the heavens lie the two parts of the sign of the serpent he holds, Serpens Caput, the Serpent's Head and Serpens Cauda, the Serpent's Tail.
.
The reason I'm mentioning this is because this suggests, of course, the Moon's Nodes. And...There are 13 'Moons' (months) a year.
I have many ...MANY...more thoughts on this matter. However, this was initially relevant to the issue of Ophiucus in the fresco first posted by Ogier, so will leave it there and hope others have more thoughts to express on this.
Sources:
http://www.geocities.com/astrologyconst ... iuchus.htm
'Greek Myths', Robert Graves, pub: Book Club Ass.1981/Cassell Ltd. 1955.
'Children of The Gods' by Kenneth McLeish, pub: Longman Group Ltd. 1983.
Wikipedia.
'Occidental Mythology', Joseph Campbell, pub: Penguin, 1982.
Also view:
http://www.theoi.com/ouranios/Asklepios.html
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"Don't let the illusions of your past or future rob you of the infiniteness of your present." [Unknown]