4. In the sky it would have been easy to perceive 'the vein that protects the heart' (Al Niyāţ, σ and τ). The Scorpion has a head, a heart, and a curved tail (but no longer any claws): 
Closer examination reveals,
however, that only the last part
of the tail is curved.
In this version (by Bode) we can see Lupus below partly hiding a pair of the Scorpion's legs. And above Ophiuchus has his foot placed as if to push the Scorpion down. "... 'There is a certain place where the scorpion with his tail and curving claws sprawls across two signs of the zodiac', wrote Ovid in his Metamorphoses. He was referring to the ancient Greek version of Scorpius, which was much larger than the constellation we know today. The Greek scorpion was in two halves: one half contained its body and sting, while the front half comprised the claws. The Greeks called this front half Chelae, which means 'claws'. In the first century BC the Romans made the claws into a separate constellation, Libra, the Balance." (Ian Ridpath's site) Hevelius has also an arrangement with a few of the legs of Scorpius partly hidden, and I therefore think this phenomenon is a Sign:
There seems to be reason to protect the heart, because the Scorpion is attacked from all sides - even the arrow of Sagittarius may be pointing at him (or her - 8 is a Moon number). |
