[7] 



then not actually in conjunction with the chief sign, it 

 yet was but slightly removed from it, the distance grow- 

 ing larger as each fresh sign was occupied ; and never 

 were the sun and the principal sign actually separated 

 from each other in the zodiac, so as to pass into opposite 

 hemispheres, until the autumnal equinoxial point was 

 crossed, after which the sun passed successively through 

 all the winter constellations, being separated for the 

 space of six months from the sign of the vernal equinox. 

 Therefore the six summer signs were accounted specially 

 bountiful and holy, the sign of the vernal equinox being 

 the head and chief of the six, while the six winter signs 

 were accounted less holy, but quite as powerful for evil 

 as the others were for good. 



From this was formed the main drama of all subsequent 

 mythological systems, the groundwork of which was, 

 briefly, as follows : The saviour-sun-god was born at 

 the winter solstice, and ascended to the vernal equinox, 

 where he was united with the bull, becoming the bull- 

 god, and in aftertime with the ram or lamb, becoming 

 the ram-god or lamb-god ; after crossing the equator at 

 the spring covenant, or coming together of the equator 

 and ecliptic, he ascended to the summit of the heavens, 

 becoming the lion-god, at the height of his power, and 

 then descending again to the autumnal covenant, or 

 equinox, to pass through the winter or scorpion signs, 

 alone, and mourning the loss of the vernal equinoxial 

 sign, which was torn from him at the autumnal equinox. 

 This simple narrative received numerous embellish- 

 ments in after times, according to the fancy of the 

 astrologers and priests, who, in many cases, contrived to 

 make out of it a beautiful poem or a sublime allegorical 

 drama. 



In describing the entry of the sun upon any particular 

 sign the ancient astrologers were in the habit of referring, 

 not only to the sign itself and to its decans, but also to 

 the accompanying extra-zodiacal constellations, as well 

 as to the visible zodiacal signs and extra-zodiacal constel- 

 lations of the opposite hemisphere. For instance, during 

 the period of the lamb's supremacy (B.C. 2188 to B.C. 36) 

 the position of the stars at the moment of the commence- 

 ment of the annual apparent march of the sun round the 



