Then in the days of the Roman Empire, about 300 years before Christ, some genius clipped the claws of the Scorpion and made its stars into a pair of scales. This was a very clever idea, for the autumnal equinox then took place in this sign of the zodiac, and the stars in this sign were given the name of Libra, as the equal days and nights called to mind the balance.
Fig. 177.—Constellations of Virgo the Virgin.
Fig. 178.—Libra, Lion, Scorpio, Virgo.
Scorpius, the Scorpion.—A summer constellation. If Libra takes up only a small part of one sign of the zodiac Scorpius makes up for it by nearly covering two signs.
To the old astrologers, Scorpius was the “power of darkness” and the “accursed constellation,” and when they cast their horoscopes they attributed to it “woe and discord, war and disease.”
The constellation of Scorpius is one of the very few which really looks its part. In the end of its curved tail there are two stars which are ready to sting if he ever strikes, but he has never struck yet.
The heart of the Scorpion is a big, bright red star called Antares, which means the rival of Mars, and when Mars is in the constellation of Scorpius it is hard to tell them apart.