The constellation of Aquarius is generally portrayed as the waterbearer, pouring water from the mouth of a jar. Ganymede is considered by the Greeks to be the waterbearer.
The most common versions of Ganymede's abduction are that Zeus either came upon the beautiful boy, or sent an eagle to steal him while he was shepharding his father's flock (Powell 146). According to Homer's Iliad (5.293), Zeus gave Tros, Ganymede's father, some fabulous horses in return for having stolen Ganymede away. Ganymede was taken away to Olympus to serve the gods wine. As their official cupbearer, he is the constellation of Aquarius.
Aquarius is one of the oldest known constellations. The egyptians thought it was the god of the Nile and it showed the Nile waters rushing forth. This could be in part because the constellation shows on the eastern horizon at the beginning of the rainy season when the Nile begins to flood (Lesikar).
The constellation of Pisces is generally depicted as two fish strung together from their tails.
A common version of why Pisces exists in the skies is that Typhon, the last and greatest of Gaia's children attacked Mount Olympus. In order to get away, each of the gods disguised themselves as an animal. Aphrodite and Eros, mother and son, disguised themselves as fish and swam away to escape. (Peoria)
A ram is the common depiction of the constellation Aries. According to Greek legend, the ram is the same one that saved Phrixus and Helle from their step-mother Ino. (Lesikar)
This is the same ram who's fleece Jason, of Jason and the Argonauts fame, had to retrieve. According to legend, the ram's fleece had turned to gold when it was sacrificed in honor of Phrixus' escape from Ino. Poor Helle had fallen off over the area now known as the Hellespont. (Powell 466)
Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac and is usually associated with new beginnings.
To learn more about the constellations of Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries and the stars that they contain contact The Peoria Astronomical Society.
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