The symbols of the zodiac are very traditional and have been associated with each sign since olden days. The symbol for each sign may have both old and modern meanings so I’ve included both! :P
Old Meanings: Determination, action, and leadership. Since ancient times, the Ram has been used to depict the “leader of the herd” due to the animal’s courageous ways and the force with which it butts its head when fighting. The Ram has even been used as a symbol for Christ as being the authoritative ruler of man.
New Meanings: Today, the Ram is still thought of a leadership symbol. American car company Dodge, responsible for tough work trucks and masculine-looking sports cars, uses a ram’s head as its logo.
Old Meanings: Strength, work, and masculinity. The Bull has been a stable of working class society for centuries. The Bull not only has been used to plow crops but it has also been used as a source of food and warmth. The historic sports of bull-baiting, bull riding, and bull wrangling have all been sports that allow the victor to display strength as the common denominator of all of these activities is somehow one-upping (running, wrestling, or staying on top of) a large, angry, horned bull.
New Meanings: As agriculture has expanded over the decades, the Bull is not used as widely as it was in olden days, but the symbol of the Bull remains that of strength and reliability. Some societies still regard the Bull as a sacred part of their culture. The symbol of the Bull may also sometimes be regarded as very masculine (i.e. the phrase “hung like a ___” is often finished with either horse or bull) due to the animal’s physical size and genital size.
Old Meanings: Two-sided, all-seeing, knowledge. The Twins, or a pair, or any two identical objects or beings have been regarded as mystical and somewhat eerie for centuries. Prior to the industrial age and the technology age, coming across two people or things that looked exactly alike was slightly uncommon. The Twins symbolized the two sides of Gemini and the seemingly psychic bond that twin people had with each other.
New Meanings: Not much has changed about the symbol of the Twins since ancient times. Some view the symbol of 2 as bad good luck, some view the symbol as good luck.
Cancer - The Crab (or Lobster)
Old Meanings: Whoever first discovered the Crab (sometimes also shown as a lobster) must’ve noticed that the outer shell of the Crab was thorny and tough with claws that caused a painful pinch, while the inside was soft, moist, and delicious. The Crab was used as a symbol of trust, emotional depth, and regeneration.
New Meaning: A “crabby” person is someone who is grumpy and cranky. Sometimes a description of a somewhat tough but sensitive person might be said to be “tough on the outside, but soft on the inside” like crab.
Old Meanings: Bravery, strength, and royalty. The Lion has been used as a symbol of courage during battle. It has been used to denote royalty, inspired by the Lion’s regal mane and way of moving. The Lion can also be the symbol of protection and guarding of the heart.
New Meanings: The symbol of the Lion as brave, strong, and courageous is still in effect.
Old Meanings: Ahh, the Virgin, a staple of medieval society and romance. The Virgin woman in those times was coveted, bargained, traded, lusted after, taken advantage of, rescued, and sacrificed. The idea of a completely untouched, fertile woman was seen as innocent to the world and yet very valuable to the world. Virgin territory was viewed the same way: untouched, explorable, valuable. The symbol of the Virgin in religion is very important to portray proper marriage laws, female behavior, and even reward in some cultures.
New Meanings: After some centuries, fire and brimstone religion mostly fell to the wayside and being a “virgin” may now be seen as being uncool and inexperienced in the young adult generations of many modern societies. The Virgin and virginity may be viewed as needing to be taught rather than needing to remain innocent.
Old Meanings: Justice and fairness has surrounding the symbol of the Scales for centuries. Scales were used to weigh harvested goods, harvested metals and gems, etc. in order to receive a fair price for their weighted value. The Scales became a symbol of the American justice system early on.
New Meanings: The Scale today is now commonly referred to when talking about one’s weight. The symbolism of fairness, justice, and equality is still solidly attached to the Scales.
Old Meanings: The Scorpion has long been a symbol of the intensity in life due to the insect’s painful sting and dangerous poison. This became symbolic of death, betrayal, power struggles, etc. as the Scorpion was not only dangerous in it’s wild habitat but also has been used as a weapon to kill or injure competitors in battles of power and royalty. The Scorpion is also closely related to raw sexuality because of the insect’s mating dance.
New Meanings: Perhaps because of the existence of the Scorpion in astrological history, it is still seen as a symbol of power and sex.
Sagittarius - The Archer (or Centaur)
Old Meanings: The Archer was always a hunter, a pursuer of the world, and a worthy competitor. Hunters were a necessary part of society for centuries and were regarded with respect because they braved the wilderness and the unknown to bring back food and/or wealth for the community. Sometimes the Archer is portrayed as a centaur because in mythology, centaurs are intelligent and worldly (a half-man, half-horse could speak to both humans and animals).
New Meanings: Even the word “arrow” is widely used in business and trade because it portrays the image of an arrow hitting a target, or a business hitting all its targets and becoming successful.
Old Meanings: The Goat was another ancient provider of nourishment and reliability, just like the Bull, but the meanings attached to it are vast. The Goat was often used as a sacrifice to appease gods and goddesses, so it was also used as a symbol of sacrificing in order to achieve. It has been used to portray perseverance and sturdiness due to the way the animal seems to carry on without fear. The Goat is a symbol of faith and a symbol of peace in religion.
New Meanings: The Goat symbol still remains steady as a symbol of reliability and achievement.
Aquarius - The Water Bearer
Old Meanings: The Water Bearer was (and still is) a fictional, god or goddess-like being that pours water into the river of life. The Water Bearer was seen as one who gives knowledge, opportunity, and the means to grow and learn in life.
New Meanings: Not much has changed, but the Water Bearer is usually only synonymous with its astrology sign, Aquarius.
Old Meanings: The Fish, a symbol that usually shows two fish circling each other eternally like an infinity sign, often means eternal knowledge, vast depth and intuition, and progressiveness like the water they swim in. Fish have been a staple of the human diet forever and the sea they come from has been a mysterious entity to people since time.
New Meanings: There are still many things we don’t know about the sea, so the Fish symbol still serves as its purpose as a sign of knowledge, learning, and mysteriousness.
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