At the heart of the constellation of Scorpio lies the star called Antares meaning ‘anti-Mars,’ this is because Antares is a bright reddish star that is commonly confused with the planet Mars. The array of stars that make up this constellation is easily identifiable as a Scorpion because of the pattern it takes creating the appearance of a head and a curvy tale in the starry night sky. The stars that make the head of the Scorpio constellation are Beta, Delta, Pi, and Rho Scorpii. Earth enters the house of Scorpio between the dates of October 23rd and November 22nd causing people born within this time to have characteristics of Scorpio.
Scorpio is one of the oldest constellations recognized worldwide. The Sumerians and the Babylonians placed Scorpio in the night sky around 3,000 B.C. about 1,000 years before the Greeks and Egyptians. Although the Sumerians and Babylonians were the first cultures to use Scorpio as a constellation its placement there by them is a story that is lost but is slowly being collected by fragments of ancient works. The most common story however is the ancient Greek myth of the greatest hunter who ever lived named Orion.
As the mythology goes, Orion was one of the most handsome of men as well as one of the greatest hunters and consequently bragged about this. As he boasted about being able to exterminate the world of all wild beasts, Apollo persuaded Gaia (mother Earth) to send a giant Scorpion with impenetrable armor after Orion. Orion, being pursued by the giant scorpion, escaped to the sea for safety where Apollo had come to Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, and challenged her to archery contest. Artemis, who favored Orion, accepted the challenge and was therefore tricked by Apollo to shoot an arrow at a bobbing figure in the sea and strike it dead. This she did, striking the figure in the back of the head, than realizing that the figure was not a wild animal but was actually Orion. Stricken with grief at the loss of her favored hunting companion, she placed him amongst the stars exactly 180 degrees across from the Scorpion to be forever pursued in the night sky.
The Scorpio constellation represents strength and dedication. People born under this horoscope display an exterior personal strength like that of the impenetrable armor of the Scorpio while at the same time having a soft, delicate, and constant pursuit in all their goals. Scorpio people are some of the most dedicated and well mannered people but are not to be trifled with as their revenge is as great as the great Scorpio stinger. These people are some of the most charitable people and are fascinated with helping others on a deeply emotional level. Some famous Scorpios are Maria Shriver and Hilary Clinton.
Sources:
Star Tales. Scorpius the Scorpion. By Jan Ridpath