The Legend of Libra Libra: this constellation represented the claws of Scorpius until separated into a scale at the time of Julius Caesar in 46 BC. The original Arabic names for the two bright stars in the constellation are al-Zuban al-Janubiyyah, meaning the Southern Claw, and al-Zuban al-Shamaliyyah, the Northern Claw. This is the only modern zodiacal constellation that does not represent a living being.
Mesopotamia: the brightness of the stars marking Libra were not always as they are today. At the time of Eratosthenes, the star known as the Northern Claw was actually brighter than the bright, red star Antares in Scorpius. It has since dimmed and Antares has brightened. This star was known by the Babylonians as the Lamp, the Light, Censer or Solar Lamp and represented the biblical tower of Babel where sacrificial fires burned.
Rome: sign shown on several coins as the scales of justice. It was championed by Julius Caesar who considered himself to be the dispenser of knowledge, fairness and justice.Back to the Constellations
