Scorpio (astrology)

The zodiacal sign of Scorpio (ancient Greek Σκορπίος Skorpíos, Latin Scorpio) corresponds to the eighth section of the zodiac from 210° to 240° ecliptic longitude from the vernal equinox.

The Sun is in this sign on average between October 24 and November 22. Due to the migration of the vernal equinox, the zodiac sign Scorpio no longer corresponds to the constellation Scorpio. In the constellation of Scorpio, the Sun is approximately in the period between November 23 and November 30.

According to the Tetrabiblos of Claudius Ptolemy

• the scorpion is female (I.12) and
• Mars is ruler of the sign (I.17).

As a Melothesian correspondence, the pubic region and the genitals were assigned to Scorpio in ancient iatroastrology. The assigned deity was Mars.

With Pisces and Cancer, Scorpio forms the trine of the element of water, and with Aquarius, Taurus, and Leo, it forms the square of the four fixed signs.

The sign was already part of the Babylonian zodiac. On the MUL.APIN tablets it appears as "Scorpio" (GIR.TAB).

Since ancient times, the sign is represented as a scorpion. Especially in northern countries there was sometimes considerable uncertainty about the appearance of a scorpion. The rendering is more often reminiscent of a crab, sometimes a kind of dog with six or eight legs. But it is always recognizable by its sting.

The origin and interpretation of the astrological symbol are unclear. The similarity with the symbol of Virgo is striking. One possible explanation is that it is an ancient form of the letter "m", which is supposed to refer to the special medical significance of the sign. To distinguish them, a stinger was then added to the scorpion and a curved line to the Virgo, which could symbolize an ear of corn.

The Unicode character for the symbol is U+264F (♏).