6- Inventing the Horoscope

The zodiac is the topic of today's episode! As we make our way through the myths of the twelve familiar star signs, we will have opportunity for plenty of tangents. Get ready for intrigue, retribution, Sumer and Akkad, and far more ideas for future episodes than anyone could have thought necessary. That and a new motto for Greek mythology- don't make Aphrodite jealous...

Sources for this episode:

• The Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica (2023), Sumer (online) [Accessed c.03/11/2023].
• Falkner, D. E. (2020), The Mythology of the Night Sky: Greek, Roman, and Other Celestial Lore (2nd edition). Blaine, Maine, USA: Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
• Gadd, C. J. (1921), The Early Dynasties of Sumer and Akkad. London: Luzac & Co.
• Gurshtein, A. A. (1993), On the Origin of the Zodiacal Constellations. Vistas in Astronomy 36 : 171-190.
• Huber, P. J. (1999/2000), Astronomical Dating of Ur III and Akkad. Archiv für Orientforschung 46/47: 50-79.
• Reid, M. (2007), Mythical Star Signs. Lulu.com.
• Schaefer, B. E. (2006), The Origin of the Greek Constellations. Scientific American 295(5): 96-101.
• Speiser, E. A. (1952), Some Factors in the Collapse of Akkad. Journal of the American Oriental Society 72(3): 97-101.
• Stevenson, A. (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of English (3rd edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• van der Waerden, B. L. (1952-1953), History of the Zodiac. Archiv für Orientforschung 16: 216-230.
• Author unknown (1920), The Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamesh, With an Account of the Royal Libraries of Nineveh. British Museum.
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Annunitum (online) [Accessed 03/11/2023].