Path: typhoon.sonic.net!feed.news.sonic.net!news.ticon.net!nntp-relay.ihug.net!ihug.co.nz!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!cyclone.bc.net!newsfeeds.nerdc.ufl.edu!not-for-mail From: "randyj" Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.astro.amateur,alt.messianic,alt.divination,alt.sci.planetary Subject: Re: The 12 Constellations Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 09:47:04 -0500 Organization: University of Florida Lines: 29 Message-ID: References: <3e36e6f7$0$227$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: smn-62.uflib.ufl.edu X-Trace: spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu 1043851631 24234 128.227.223.62 (29 Jan 2003 14:47:11 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@ufl.edu NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:47:11 +0000 (UTC) X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 Xref: typhoon.sonic.net sci.astro:313486 sci.astro.amateur:626681 alt.messianic:292985 alt.divination:21032 alt.sci.planetary:50592 "Jonathan TATE" wrote in message news:3e36e6f7$0$227$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com... > What about Orphiuchus? There are 13 constellations in the Zodiac now. > Rather spoils astrological stuff doesn't it! Why don't you snip all his crap when you reply? But you know, there are 13 lunar months in a year, so the early astrologers probably used all 13 constellations. This was back when most of the European and Middle East cultures had the goddess religions, before 5000 BCE or so. The reason 13 is an unlucky number goes back to the custom of the ritual killing of the last consort of the year with the goddess, represented by a ritual "harlot" in the temple. The eligible, or lucky men, got to have one month each with her, but the last one of the year had to be killed, so his lot was unlucky. He had to be killed because they thought that was necessary to make the new year occur, to make the sun turn around and start coming back up in the sky to allow the crops to grow. It's the same principle as death and decay provides fertilizer for new growth in the soil. rj