Taurus
The ancient Greeks developed a variety of myths associated with Taurus and its individual stars. According to the most common legend, Taurus is a representation of Zeus in the form of a white bull. In this disguise, Zeus convinced the beautiful princess Europa to climb on his back and carried her out to sea. They arrived eventually at the island of Crete, where Zeus revealed himself to Europa and became her lover. Their son was Minos, the king of Crete.
Gemini
According to Greek and Roman mythology, the twins Castor and Pollux were the sons of Leda, the woman whom Zeus seduced in the guise of a swan. In some versions of the story, only Pollux was the son of the god; Castor's father was Leda's mortal husband. Castor became known as a horse trainer, and Pollux was a great boxer. They participated in several heroic quests, including Jason's voyage in search of the Golden Fleece. The twins' love for each other was legendary. When Castor was killed in a fight, Pollux begged Zeus to let him die, too. Moved by this devotion, Zeus let Castor take Pollux's place among the living every other day. He eventually placed Castor and Pollux among the stars as the constellation Gemini.
Leo
In Greek and Roman mythology, Leo represents the Nemean lion, which Heracles (in Roman mythology, Hercules) slew in fulfillment of the first of his 12 labors. The Greek poet Aratus mentioned Leo in his work 'Phaenomena' from the 3rd century BC. Ptolemy, the great astronomer who lived and worked in Egypt during the 2nd century AD, cataloged the constellation.
Virgo
Several Greek myths connect Virgo to the seasons. The most famous involves Demeter, goddess of the Earth and harvest, and her daughter Persephone. Hades, god of the underworld, fell in love with Persephone while on a visit to the Earth's surface. He captured the maiden and brought her back to his realm. Demeter became furious and placed a curse on the Earth so that no crops could grow until Persephone was returned. Zeus, king of the gods, ruled that Persephone would live on the Earth's surface for half of the year, and with Hades for the other half. This ruling brought about the seasons, for Demeter let crops flourish while Persephone was with her, in spring and summer, but made the Earth barren when she returned to Hades, in autumn and winter.
Scorpius
Scorpius appears in many legends, particularly those involving the great hunter Orion. In one tale, the Earth sent the scorpion to sting Orion, who had boasted that he could kill any beast. The scorpion did not manage to kill him, but Orion fled and dove into the sea. In another story, the Greek god Apollo sent the scorpion to chase Orion into the sea, as part of plot to keep Orion from Apollo's sister, the goddess Artemis. Legends such as these explained why the constellation Orion sinks below the horizon just as Scorpius appears.
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