Miscellaneous Myths: The Zodiac

Miscellaneous Myths: The Zodiac

Thanks to longtime patron Volt for requesting this topic!

We know their names! We know their symbols! We know there’s a truly staggering number of websites dedicated to their stereotypical personality traits! But what do we know about their stories? Let’s discuss!

FUN FACT I GLOSSED OVER IN THE VIDEO: like I said, it’s REALLY hard to determine when these constellations entered Greece. Most people set the date at 300ish, when Eudoxus codified the Greek calendar based on the Babylonian one – but that clashes with the fact that Heracles’s labors predate that by at least three centuries, and they’ve had those zodiacal themes since that lost epic poem was initially written. We know, therefore, that the babylonian zodiac entered greece between Homer’s time (when he conspicuously didn’t mention them – and neither did Hesiod in his Astronomia) and Peisander’s time (author of the lost Heracleia), basically the interval between 800 and 600 CE. The phoenician traders carrying that info is a reasonable assumption, especially considering how important the stars are to sailors navigating at night. But it is WILD to me how hard this is to research and how nobody seems to have really explored the timeline here!

Three Zodiac merch designs are available on our redbubble!
The modern constellations-only zodiac: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/63493974
The MUL*APIN Babylonian zodiac: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/63494231
The Greek zodiac: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/65281946

Our content is intended for teenage audiences and up.

PATREON: https://www.Patreon.com/OSP

MERCH LINKS: http://rdbl.co/osp

OUR WEBSITE: https://www.OverlySarcasticProductions.com/
Find us on Twitter https://www.Twitter.com/OSPYouTube
Find us on Reddit https://www.Reddit.com/r/OSP/

47 Comments

  1. @XXMatt0040XX on April 2, 2024 at 5:36 pm

    Every time I watch this video and remember the Goat Fish I just feel such pride in being a Capricorn; and I’m not into any of this I just like being represented by a half goat half fish potentially having control over time



  2. @captainreaper6381 on April 2, 2024 at 5:38 pm

    Do we still not have a definitive answer on that goatfish tangent?



  3. @alexlubbers1589 on April 2, 2024 at 5:38 pm

    I still remember camping ina canyon near Sedona, Arizona. That night was the Perseids meteor shower, and the milky way was so bright we had faint shadows from the starlight.



  4. @creeperx3sssboom347 on April 2, 2024 at 5:43 pm

    "Wow that is such a Gemini thing to say."

    "I WILL CUT YOU."

    Absolutely amazing quote



  5. @vanillaboy4514 on April 2, 2024 at 5:45 pm

    8:29 – maybe not the best idea to colour the splatter white.



  6. @VioletKitUWU on April 2, 2024 at 5:47 pm

    Is it just me or is her goatfish cytogenesis rant a vaugepost around her earlier videos



  7. @kestreldomann2787 on April 2, 2024 at 5:47 pm

    Ishtar: She’s Everything

    Tamus: and he’s Just Ken



  8. @commer0117 on April 2, 2024 at 5:49 pm

    The Pokémon jelly donut, reference chefs kiss



  9. @cynthiasimpson931 on April 2, 2024 at 5:50 pm

    I’ve been into astronomy since I was 10, over 50 years ago. When I started dating my husband, I told him not to take me out under the stars, because I’d get to stargazing and forget he was there. Then there was the clear night I saw Orion and Canis Major rising, and said to my husband, "Isn’t that beautiful?" He agreed, "Yes, it’s beautiful. I’m freezing." Incidentally, the two brightest stars in Libra are Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali, which translate as "southern claw" and "northern claw," respectively, demonstrating their identification in earlier times as part of Scorpius.



  10. @Kpracn0va on April 2, 2024 at 5:51 pm

    13:56 In Quebec (or maybe just in my 3rd secondary class) Virgo is either the virgin Mary sleeping after child birth or Athena planting the olive tree.
    17:19 seriously? Fish? I’ve always seen it as a Uterus and am frankly disappointed it’s not that. I’m also surprised that I never thought to search up the constellation.



  11. @erikmardiste on April 2, 2024 at 5:54 pm

    Been there done that



  12. @equusheart3344 on April 2, 2024 at 5:55 pm

    Once, while on a camping trip, my cousin and I pulled an all-nighter where we watched the stars shift throughout the night. Quite cool.



  13. @LaylonClark on April 2, 2024 at 5:57 pm

    we need more miscellaneous myths



  14. @void1460 on April 2, 2024 at 5:59 pm

    when i see the zodiac all i see is a homestuck reference



  15. @BD_CrunchyNapkin_Pg3d on April 2, 2024 at 5:59 pm

    Gd reference



  16. @HARV1991 on April 2, 2024 at 5:59 pm

    16:14 It was revealed to me in a dream.



  17. @echothemoongoddess7445 on April 2, 2024 at 6:00 pm

    Whay if capricorn is a hippocampus? I’m pretty sure they are greek, and it would make sense for it



  18. @kingace6186 on April 2, 2024 at 6:01 pm

    I’ve never been one for astrology (I’m a astronomy/physics nerd), but the mythos of Babylonian Astrology (Western Zodiacs) are fascinating. This is true with pretty much ALL Zodiacs which make my dislike for modern astrology even more hilarious.



  19. @catmate8358 on April 2, 2024 at 6:02 pm

    I’m pretty much blown away by the depth of your knowledge about the celestial mechanics. Also your drawings and your writing are top of the line. And narration. And singing. Damn! Why wasn’t I born under a lucky star like you had been? 🙂 PS You speak too fast for a non native English speaker like myself to be able to follow the narration without considerable difficulties. Please consider slowing down like 20%. Pretty please?



  20. @koboldqueen3055 on April 2, 2024 at 6:03 pm

    Fun fact about the 13th one. The reason people don’t count it is because astronomers love the number 12 and actively fudge data to make sure major units use it. I learned this in college where I kid you not me the science/art kid told my teacher "this sounds very unscientific" to which my teacher said " well everyone has their own opinions" gods it was a great class sad covid fucked it up



  21. @Half-HeartHero on April 2, 2024 at 6:04 pm

    chinese zodiac when



  22. @scarlettarana on April 2, 2024 at 6:04 pm

    Me, an Aries, thinking about the time I had to make a family tree for *every.named.character* in The Quest for the Golden Fleece: I suddenly wish I was anything other than an Aries



  23. @TheXarKhan on April 2, 2024 at 6:04 pm

    Would love to see a video about the other zodiacs! As much info as you can find on them, anyways… and of course accuracy. duh..
    I know it’s hard finding accurate info on Mayan and basically anything that isn’t the traditional western and chinese zodiac..



  24. @skybladebloodheart4247 on April 2, 2024 at 6:04 pm

    i love your attitude about this lol. "I will cut you" really got me.



  25. @kurathchibicrystalkitty5146 on April 2, 2024 at 6:05 pm

    Who else is still hopeful for a video on the Chinese Zodiac?



  26. @ImrahilToChaos on April 2, 2024 at 6:05 pm

    What’s gross about boob milk? I was genuinely confused by Red saying that.



  27. @infernalmonster4901 on April 2, 2024 at 6:06 pm

    Hopefully we’ll get a Chinese zodiac video at some point maybe during the Chinese new year?



  28. @cameronwadey3050 on April 2, 2024 at 6:06 pm

    Are you ever going to do an alchemy deep dive?



  29. @PhoenixMoth on April 2, 2024 at 6:08 pm

    Aries ♈️
    Taurus ♉️
    Gemini ♊️
    Cancer ♋️
    Leo ♌️
    Virgo ♍️
    Libra ♎️
    Scorpio ♏️
    Sagittarius ♐️
    Capricorn ♑️
    Aquarius ♒️
    Pisces ♓️
    Ophiuchus ⛎



  30. @CallMeEmber on April 2, 2024 at 6:10 pm

    honestly the night sky would be so much prettier if people just turned off the lights once in a while



  31. @scott4092 on April 2, 2024 at 6:10 pm

    F— YEAH TIME GOAT



  32. @thebluePrincess5904 on April 2, 2024 at 6:11 pm

    I am very disappointed by the lack of Saint Seiya or Homestuck jokes in the comments



  33. @leylii8750 on April 2, 2024 at 6:11 pm

    WHY IS THIS TRUE, I ALWAYS GET DISTRACTED BY THE STARS, WEITHER THERE THE SAME, I LOVE stars, space, everything space!



  34. @Lovebug2458 on April 2, 2024 at 6:13 pm

    As a Pisces I now respect Ishtar even more



  35. @DirtyUncleSAL on April 2, 2024 at 6:13 pm

    Scorpio does have a myth. Scorpio was sent to kill Orion, but is forever chasing him, which is why the two constellations are found on opposite sides of the sky.



  36. @user-hg9ib8qc5x on April 2, 2024 at 6:15 pm

    what is your zodiac sign



  37. @FavioBecker on April 2, 2024 at 6:16 pm

    The tooth fairy is definitely real though.



  38. @LordHayabusa85 on April 2, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    3:09-3:31 Well ain’t that convenient?



  39. @dimitri877 on April 2, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    Nothing strange about goats, they have rectangular pupils just like every other mammal.. Nothing to see, just walk on.. ^^



  40. @Morenob1 on April 2, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    Could it actually be that animal hybrids used to be our Gods coming from other star constellations? They relate well with cryptid sightings and ancient Gods, for instance Capricorn, Baphomet star demon = Goatman cryptid. Draco star constellation, Satan the dragon = Reptilian aliens. Scorpio, Beelzebub lord of the flies = praying mantis or gray alien hybrids. Taurus, Baal the Bull = Minotaurus and certain sacrifices are star gates for these beings to travel between dimensions and timelines which related to consciousness.



  41. @wcovey9405 on April 2, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    Like your videos, just to let you know, the zodiac is a Greek/Hellen thing. The Babylonians and everyone else in that regent called it something else. That 30 degrees per sign should tell you, it is not a part of the sky but it is in the mind.



  42. @2ethefirst318 on April 2, 2024 at 6:23 pm

    5:06 oh my god even the crayfish constellation evolved into a crab



  43. @kikio0529 on April 2, 2024 at 6:26 pm

    0:56



  44. @ImADeity on April 2, 2024 at 6:28 pm

    A child gazed into infinity and now we’re here



  45. @litiersess on April 2, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    Capricorn could be ophiotaurus?? idk I dont think so



  46. @beauhancock4922 on April 2, 2024 at 6:32 pm

    This is such a Gemini video, if there ever was one…



  47. @joakimlundgren7043 on April 2, 2024 at 6:33 pm

    12 signs. 8 seems to have something to do with the underworld.