Gemini Constellation Meaning

Gemini Constellation [Stellarium]

Constellation Gemini the Twins, is an ecliptic constellation located between Taurus to the west and Cancer to the east, with Auriga and Lynx to the north and Monoceros and Canis Minor to the south.

Gemini constellation spans over 20 degrees longitude in the zodiac sign Cancer. The Gemini constellation contains 85 stars of naked eye visibility. It is easy to view in the sky because it looks like two matchstick people, with the bright stars Castor and Pollux representing their heads.

2000	B	Star	Mag	Orb
00 ♋ 57	1 Gem		4.16	1°00′
03 ♋ 26	η Gem	Tejat Prior	3.31	1°30′
05 ♋ 18	μ Gem	Tejat Posterior	2.87	1°40′
06 ♋ 48	ν Gem	Nucatai	4.13	1°00′
09 ♋ 06	γ Gem	Alhena	1.93	2°10′
09 ♋ 56	ε Gem	Mebsuta	3.06	1°30′
11 ♋ 07	θ Gem		3.60	1°20′
11 ♋ 13	ξ Gem	Alzir	3.35	1°20′
14 ♋ 59	ζ Gem	Mekbuda	4.01	1°00′
15 ♋ 36	τ Gem		4.41	1°00′
18 ♋ 31	δ Gem	Wasat	3.50	1°20′
18 ♋ 47	λ Gem		3.58	1°20′
18 ♋ 58	ι Gem	Propus	3.78	1°10′
20 ♋ 14	α Gem	Castor	1.90	2°10′
20 ♋ 18	ο Gem	Jishui	4.89	1°00′
21 ♋ 10	υ Gem		4.06	1°00′
22 ♋ 18	σ Gem		4.23	1°00′
23 ♋ 13	β Gem	Pollux	1.16	2°40′
23 ♋ 40	κ Gem	Jixin	3.57	1°20′

The constellation represents Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Leda and Jupiter. It has also been suggested that it may represent Apollo and Hercules.

Ptolemy makes the following observations; the stars in the feet of Gemini have an influence similar to that of Mercury, and moderately to that of Venus; the bright stars in the thighs are like Saturn. It is said to cause trouble and disgrace, sickness, loss of fortune, affliction and danger to the knees. By the Cabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Qoph and the 19th Tarot Trump, The Sun” [1]

Those born within Gemini will be crafty in the good sense of the word, in all their works and in all their tasks. Among them will be writers, mathematicians, astronomers, and famous sages. They will be truthful individuals and moderate in their fear of God. In terms of children, the Gemini are specially charged with the production of twins. Gemini was given the name “many-faced” in ancient times because it denotes not only twins, but three or more children at a single birth.

The Gemini produces a generous and chaste personality. Individuals excelling in games and fond of philosophy and astronomy are also indicative of Gemini, as are also those who are magnanimous, munificent, and (sometimes) violent. Modern astrologers attribute the following to the Gemini: clever, intuitive, restless, heartlessness, undependability, inquisitive, lack of perseverance, and sometimes too clever. Classicists say that the Geminian follow the professions of kings, calculators, teachers, hunters, dancers, musicians, painters, and tailors. The Modernists add: journalists, novelists, lecturers, linguists, commercial travelers, and pupils. [5]

The conception of a sky couple for these stars has been universal from remote antiquity, but our Latin title dates only from classical times, varied by Gemelli, which still is the Italian name…

Astrologers assigned to this constellation guardianship over human hands, arms, and shoulders; while Albumasar held that it portended intense devotion, genius, largeness of mind, goodness, and liberality. With Virgo it was considered the House of Mercury, and thus the Cylenius tour of Chaucer; and a fortunate sign, ruling over America, Flanders, Lombardy, Sardinia, Armenia, Lower Egypt, Brabant, and Marseilles; and, in ancient days, over the Euxine Sea and the river Ganges. High regard, too, was paid to it in the 17th century as being peculiarly connected with the fortunes of the south of England and the city of London; for the Great Plague and Fire of 1665 and 1666 occurred when this sign was in the ascendant, while the building of London Bridge and other events of importance to the city were begun when special planets were here. But two centuries previously it was thought that whoever happened to be born under the Twins would be “ryght pore and wayke and lyfin mykul tribulacion.” Chinese astrologers asserted that if this constellation were invaded by Mars, war and a poor harvest would ensue.

Ampelius assigned to it the care of Aquilo, the North Wind, the Greek Boreas that came from the north one third east. Its colors were white and red like those of Aries, and it was the natal sign of Dante, who was born on the 14th of May, 1265, when the sun entered it for the first time in that year. The sign’s symbol, ♊, has generally been considered the Etrusco-Roman numeral, but Seyffert thinks it a copy of the Spartans’ emblem of their Twin Gods carried with them into battle. [2]

The arms to shoulders joined are accounted to the Twins. From the Twins come less laborious callings and a more agreeable way of life, provided by varied song and voices of harmonious tone, slender pipes, the melodies inborn in strings and the words fitted thereto: those so endowed find even work a pleasure. They would banish the arms of war, the trumpet’s call, and the gloom of old age: theirs is a life of ease and unfading youth spent in the arms of love. They also discover paths to the skies, complete a survey of the heavens with numbers and measurements, and outstrip the flight of the stars: nature yields to their genius, which it serves in all things. So many are the accomplishments of which the Twins are fruitful. [3]

Constellation Gemini [Urania’s Mirror]

All the pictures of this sign are confused. The Greeks claimed to have invented them, and they called them Apollo and Hercules. The Latins called them Castor and Pollux, and the name of a vessel in which Paul sailed is so called in Acts 28:11. The name in the ancient Denderah Zodiac is Clusus, or Claustrum Hor, which means the place of Him who cometh. It is represented by two human figures walking, or coming. The second appears to be a woman. The other appears to be a man. It is a tailed figure, the tail signifying He cometh.

The old Coptic name was Pi-Mahi, the united, as in brotherhood. Not necessarily united by being born at the same time, but united in one fellowship or brotherhood. The Hebrew name is Thaumim, which means united. The root is used in Exodus 26:24 “They (the two boards) shall be coupled together beneath.” In the margin we read, “Heb. twinned” (RV double). The Arabic Al Tauman means the same.

We need not trouble ourselves with the Grecian myths, even though we can see through them the original and ancient truth. The two were both heroes of peculiar and extraordinary birth–sons of Jupiter. They were supposed to appear at the head of armies; and as they had cleared the seas of pirates, they were looked upon as the patron saints of navigation. (Hence the name of the ship in Acts 28:11). They were held in high esteem both by Greeks and Romans; and the common practice of taking oaths and of swearing by their names has descended even to our own day in the still surviving vulgar habit of swearing “By Gemini!”

The more ancient star-names help us to see through all these and many other myths, and to discern Him of whom they testify; even Him in His twofold nature–God and Man–and His twofold work of suffering and glory, and His twofold coming in humiliation and in triumph. There are 85 stars in the sign: two of the 2nd magnitude, four of the 3rd, six of the 4th, etc.

The name of α (in the head of one) is called Apollo, which means ruler, or judge; while β (in the head of the other) is called Hercules, who cometh to labour, or suffer. Another star, γ (in his left foot), is called Al Henah, which means hurt, wounded, or afflicted. Can we have a doubt as to what is the meaning of this double presentation? In Ophiuchus we have the two in one person: the crushed enemy, and the wounded heel. But here the two great primeval truths are presented in two persons; for the two natures were one Person, “God and man in one Christ.” As man, suffering for our redemption; as God, glorified for our complete salvation and final triumph. A star, ε (in the centre of his body), is called Waset, which means set, and tells of Him who “set His face like a flint” to accomplish this mighty Herculean work; and, when the time was come, “steadfastly set His face to go” to complete it.

He bears in his right hand (in some pictures) a palm branch. Some pictures show a club; but both the club or bow are in repose! These united ones are neither in action nor are they preparing for action, but they are at rest and in peace after victory won. The star η (in the knee of the other, “Apollo”) is called Mebsuta, which means treading under feet. The names of other stars have come down to us with the same testimony. One is called Propus (Hebrew), the branch, spreading; another is called Al Giauza (Arabic), the palm branch; another is named Al Dira (Arabic), the seed, or branch. [4]