THE BABYLONIAN ZODIAC Robert Powell, Ph.D.
Abstract: This paper outlines the historical background of the ancient sidereal zodiac of the Babylonians. Sidereal means “of the stars”. Both the ancient Babylonian zodiac and the modern astronomical zodiac are sidereal, i.e., defined in relation to the stars belonging to the zodiacal belt. Whereas the Babylonian zodiac comprised twelve equal constellations, each 30 degrees in length, the astronomical zodiac is made up of twelve unequal-length constellations. Following the definition of the Greek astronomer Hipparchus (second century B.C.), where 30-degree constellational...
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