The ancient Akkadian name for the seventh month, which was the month when the sun was in the Sign now called Libra, was Tul-ku, which means the sacred mound, or altar. The Akkadian name for this Sign was Bir, which means the Light, hence, the Lamp with its light, or the Altar with its fire.
Fig. 1—The Circular Altar, in the Sign now called Libra.
Its most ancient form was a circular altar.[88] In Figure 1 we have reproduced this,[89] and it will be at once seen that we have the original of the disc now preserved in the two circular scales which form the Sign of Libra.
The next stage of the corruption is shown in the Akkadian name of Scorpio (the Scorpion)—the Sign immediately to the left of the Altar. It was called Gir-tab, which means the Seizer and Stinger, and the next Figure (2), taken from an Euphratean boundary stone,[90] shows the two Signs combined, for the Scorpion is stretching out its claws in order to seize the Lamp or Altar.
Fig. 2—The Scorpion and the Lamp. (From a Euphratean Boundary Stone.)
Thus the meaning of its name is exemplified. It is called the Seizer and Stinger. And just as in the constellation above it, the Serpent is struggling with the man, while at the same time it is stretching out its neck to seize the crown,[91] so here the Scorpion, while trying to sting the same man in the heel, is stretching out its claws to seize the altar.
A seal on a contract, nearly 700 b.c., shows this Circular Altar actually in the grasp of the Scorpion.
