Everything about Taurus Constellation totally explained
Taurus ( symbol, Unicode ♉) is one of the
constellations of the
zodiac. It sits large and prominent in the Northern Hemisphere winter sky, between
Aries to the west and
Gemini to the east; to the north lie
Perseus and
Auriga, to the southeast
Orion, and to the southwest
Eridanus and
Cetus.
Etymology
Like the Greek form
tauros, derives from a common Indo-European root meaning bull, ox or bison, and is related to the English
steer.
Notable deep sky objects
Behind
Aldebaran lie the
Hyades, the nearest distinct open
star cluster, that with it form a V, or an A, in the sky marking the bull's head.
Another object, visible in a
telescope, is the
Crab Nebula (
M1), a
supernova remnant northwest of ζ Tauri. The explosion, seen on Earth on
July 4,
1054, was bright enough to be seen by day. It is mentioned in Chinese history texts.
Mythology for the term Taurus
The identification of the
constellation of Taurus as a bull is very old. However, we should be cautious when trying to link prehistoric phenomena with the symbolism of a number of ancient, literate cultures whose interactions and appropriations can be evaluated through the examination of their own written accounts, images and artifacts. Because prehistoric people didn't document their lives in texts, we can only try to gauge the significance of their images by analyzing them in the context of other artifacts and evidence that survive from their world. We don't have their own words or voices to interpret pictures or explain if they're supposed to represent anything other than what they appear to be: massive bulls, galloping horses, deer and so on.
Nonetheless, Michael Rappenglück of the
University of Munich believes that Taurus is represented in the Hall of the Bulls in the caves at
Lascaux. The French paintings date to approximately 15,000-13,000 BCE, for example, long before their creators' descendants developed a written language that presents clear signs of their culture. The theoretical connection made between a constellation and just one of many images of bulls in the caves at Lascaux should arouse skepticism. Amateurs should note that the association between constellations and Lascaux hasn't entered canonical scholarly literature, nor respected textbooks that are revised and updated frequently to accommodate new, scholarly discoveries.
For further information regarding Rappenglück's theory, cf. a recent report by the
British Broadcasting Corporation. It should also be noted that large prehistoric images of bulls are found throughout Southwest
France and
Spain, joining
prehistoric European sculptures of bulls rendered in stone, clay and bone whose significance continues to fascinate and intrigue. No one has been able to "solve" the puzzle they present to us nor crack any code we may wish was there. None of the murals conform to contemporary notions of a framed composition, so the idea that one out of many paintings of bulls charts the skies with discernible coordinates on a
compass must also raise doubts.
Shũr was the name used in ancient
Babylon for Taurus.
In
Greek mythology,
Zeus assumes the form of a magnificent white bull to abduct
Europa, a legendary Phoenician princess, and thus, fathers
Minos. The tale informs the names of constellations since it's necessary to traverse the area of sky known as the
Sea to reach it. When passing through the
Zodiac, it forms the origin of the myth of the
Cretan Bull, one of
The Twelve Labors of
Heracles.
Minos inspires the name given to the ancient
Aegean civilization of Crete. Minoan culture predates the rise of ancient civilizations on the Greek mainland. We can trace the ubiquitous image of the bull in Minoan culture to the Ancient Near Eastern world whose courts, tombs and temples are filled with images that tie their power to that of the bull.
Astrology
In Western Astrology the sun is in front of
Taurus from
April 21 to
May 21 in the
tropical zodiac and
May 14 to
June 19 in the
sidereal zodiac.
Citations
Further Information
Get more info on 'Taurus Constellation'.
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