What is Aries in Western astrology?

Definition

Aries is the first of the twelve Western zodiac signs, spanning the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude (0° to under 30°) and originating from the Aries constellation.

In plain words

Aries is the first of the twelve zodiac signs in the Western astrological wheel and covers the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude. Wikipedia's Aries article says the sign takes its name from the Aries constellation, and that its Latin name means ram. Astrology.

Also asked as

• What does Aries mean in Western astrology?
• What are Aries's element, mode and ruler?
• Is Aries a sign or a constellation?
• What are the traditional dignities in Aries?

History

Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, in the Loeb Classical Library edition as reproduced by Bill Thayer, says the ancients took Aries as the starting-point of the zodiac because it begins with the vernal equinox, and that the sign of Aries is the first in the series of seasons.¹

Allen writes that Phrixus, son of Athamas, fled to Colchis on the back of the Ram with his sister Helle, and that Helle fell into the sea, which thereafter became the Hellespont.²

Allen reports that Phrixus sacrificed the ram and hung its fleece in the Grove of Ares, where it turned to gold and became the object of the Argonaut's quest.²

Quick timeline

1. Early record — Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, in the Loeb Classical Library edition as reproduced by Bill Thayer, says the ancients took Aries as the starting-point of the zodiac because it begins with the vernal equinox, and that the sign of Aries is the first in the series of seasons.¹
2. Classical framework — Allen writes that Phrixus, son of Athamas, fled to Colchis on the back of the Ram with his sister Helle, and that Helle fell into the sea, which thereafter became the Hellespont.²
3. Later transmission — Allen reports that Phrixus sacrificed the ram and hung its fleece in the Grove of Ares, where it turned to gold and became the object of the Argonaut's quest.²
4. Modern usage — Ptolemy writes that the Aries sign is assigned to the sun as its exaltation, since the length of the day and the heating power of the sun's nature begin to increase there, while Libra is its depression. Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, as reproduced in the Loeb Classical Library edition, places Aries at the start of the series of seasons, because the sign begins with the vernal equinox. These assignments belong to the classical framework and set the sign's place within the wheel.¹

What classical and modern sources say

Classical view

Ptolemy writes that the Aries sign is assigned to the sun as its exaltation, since the length of the day and the heating power of the sun's nature begin to increase there, while Libra is its depression. Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, as reproduced in the Loeb Classical Library edition, places Aries at the start of the series of seasons, because the sign begins with the vernal equinox. These assignments belong to the classical framework and set the sign's place within the wheel.¹

Modern view

Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits Aries from approximately March 21 to April 20 each year, and the Sun enters Aries when it reaches the March equinox, typically on March 21, though the exact equinox time shifts from year to year. Wikipedia's Aries article gives these dates as the modern tropical framework.⁴

Astrology.com describes Aries, dated March 21 to April 19, as a cardinal fire sign ruled by Mars, known for boldness, energy, and leadership. Astrology.com states that Mars infuses Aries with energy and momentum, which it presents as a constructive practice: a sign that sets its mind on a goal can channel that drive into steady, focused follow-through.⁶

The building blocks and rulership

Ptolemy's equinoctial and masculine classes

Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, in the Loeb Classical Library edition as reproduced by Bill Thayer, says Aries is one of the two equinoctial signs, with Libra, and classes it as masculine and diurnal. Ptolemy notes that the two signs together complete the primary movement of the universe. This classification sits within the classical framework and describes how the sign was grouped, not a measured property of the sky.¹

Symbol and seasonal start

Astrology.com lists the Aries symbol as the Ram and says the zodiac season begins with the Spring Equinox. The sign's name is Latin for ram, and its symbol is based on the ram, as Wikipedia's Aries article explains. The ram image links the sign to the flying ram of Greek myth that carried Phrixus and Helle.⁶⁴

Mythic origin of the ram

Allen writes that Phrixus, son of Athamas, fled to Colchis on the back of the Ram with his sister Helle, and that Helle fell into the sea, which thereafter became the Hellespont. Allen reports that Phrixus sacrificed the ram and hung its fleece in the Grove of Ares, where it turned to gold and became the object of the Argonaut's quest.²

Sign and constellation

Aries is the first astrological sign of the zodiac, spanning the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude, and it originates from the Aries constellation, as Wikipedia's Aries article states. Allen notes that Pliny said Cleostratos of Tenedos first formed Aries, but that its origin was probably many centuries, even millennia, earlier.⁴²

The astronomy

The Aries astrological sign is distinct from the Aries constellation, which is the astronomical grouping it takes its name from. Wikipedia's Aries article states that the sign originates from that constellation and spans the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude, written 0° to under 30°. In Greek mythology, the ram symbol is based on the Chrysomallus, the flying ram that rescued Phrixus and Helle.⁴

Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos separates the measured quantity of longitude from the symbolic meanings assigned to a sign.¹

Where astrologers differ

Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos links the stars of Aries to planetary powers. In Ptolemy's account of the fixed stars, the stars in the head of Aries act like the power of Mars and Saturn mingled, while those in the hind foot act like Mars. Wikipedia's Aries article places Aries among the four cardinal signs and among three fire signs, along with Leo and Sagittarius, with Mars as its ruling planet and Libra as its opposite sign. Astrology.com links Aries to the Golden Ram of Greek myth and says its rising marked the Spring Equinox, signaling renewal and the start of the astrological year.

Then and now

Then

Ptolemy writes that the Aries sign is assigned to the sun as its exaltation, since the length of the day and the heating power of the sun's nature begin to increase there, while Libra is its depression. Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, as reproduced in the Loeb Classical Library edition, places Aries at the start of the series of seasons, because the sign begins with the vernal equinox. These assignments belong to the classical framework and set the sign's place within the wheel.¹

Now

Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits Aries from approximately March 21 to April 20 each year, and the Sun enters Aries when it reaches the March equinox, typically on March 21, though the exact equinox time shifts from year to year. Wikipedia's Aries article gives these dates as the modern tropical framework.⁴

Worked out from the evidence

Reasoned from the cited facts, not stated outright by any one source.

Because Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos starts the zodiac with Aries at the vernal equinox, and the modern tropical framework places the Sun entering Aries at the March equinox, the sign's starting point is tied to the equinox in both the classical and modern accounts.

Ptolemy's equinoctial classification of Aries with Libra and Astrology.com's account of Aries rising at the Spring Equinox both tie the sign's identity to the equinoxes, so the sign's meaning depends on seasonal timing rather than on the constellation's stars.

Not yet confirmed

• Whether the sign's shifting equinox dates in the tropical system have any effect on how Aries is read remains a question the sources leave unsettled.
• How the Aries constellation's star positions relate to the sign's 30-degree span in the modern zodiac is not explained by the sources.

Follow the parts of Aries

Continue through Pisces, Taurus.

Questions people also ask

What does Aries mean in Western astrology?

Aries is the first of the twelve zodiac signs and covers the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude, from 0° to under 30°. Wikipedia's Aries article says its name is Latin for ram and that the sign originates from the Aries constellation.⁴

What are Aries's element, mode and ruler?

Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos classifies Aries as a cardinal fire sign with positive polarity, and Astrology.com names Mars as its ruling planet. These are formal categories assigned within the astrological system, not measured physical properties of the sign.¹⁶

Is Aries a sign or a constellation?

Aries is an astrological sign, distinct from the Aries constellation it takes its name from. Wikipedia's Aries article states that the sign spans the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude and originates from that constellation.⁴

Method and review

Every statement about Aries was checked against the wording of its 6 sources (Ptolemy (LacusCurtius), Allen's Star Names, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Wikipedia and Astrology.com), and its positions and boundaries were calculated with Astronomy Engine. How the Machine works.