The Legend of Aquarius Aquarius: the water bearer is associated with water, rain, floods and fountains just about all over the world.
Mesopotamia: associated with the eleventh sign, the eleventh month and the return of the deluge.
Egypt: the setting of Aquarius in the Nile caused its flooding.
India: around 3000 BC it was possible to observe the full moon in this constellation every year around the time of the summer solstice, an event that was cause for celebration. This time represented the triumph of the moon god, Chandra, when he reached his maximum splendor and was drunk by the sun, Indra. Chandra was also identified with the magical drink of the gods, soma. With the sun crossing the solstice and the lengthening of daylight, the evil god of darkness and drought, Vritra represented by the constellation Hydra, was conquered. In India, the summer solstice corresponds with the return of the monsoon season and water to the land. See the Indian legends of Aquila, Hydra and Pegasus.
Greece: in antiquity, Hera's daughter Hebe, goddess of eternal youth, was cup bearer to the gods. Zeus replaced her with the handsome boy, Ganymede, after she spilled a flask of nectar. To further irritate Hera, Zeus immortalized his favorite server with a heavenly constellation. This is the first indication of male homosexuality in Greek literature.
Peru: associated with the entrance of the sun into the constellation of the Mother of the Waters.
Christians of 17th Century: associated the constellation with St. John the Baptist.Back to the Constellations
