Libra is a solar concept being a representation of the autumnal equinox or where the day is the same length as the night. It is also considered as the midpoint between the seasons. Obviously the balance between day and night time were probably the first easily observable phenomena by megalith builders. Over time they began to study more than the sun's movements, but also the stars as well. Star movements were then associated with the previously observed daytime movements and calendar seasonal cycles. Being that the tracking of the sun was associated with harvest activities, it is only natural that the deity of the harvest or the power of regeneration in the earth, Osiris, would become associated with Maat in the form of the scales. Again, we see the beginnings of this in the Old Kingdom where Osiris begins to take form as a underworld deity from his origins as an agricultural deity. Maat being related to the sun and possibly the solstice meaning balance between day/night becomes symbolic of balance on a more universal scale life/death, harvesting new crops/threshing dead crops and inundation/dryness.



Thanks for this well considered response Doug, as far as my own considerations and qualifications go, then i would equate the positioning of Libra during the relevent period within the Near Eastern region with most notably a Solar concept, the Autumnal Equinox, as well as the Spring.

There was also the tradition of weighing the harvest when the Moon was in Libra, at least during the Classical Period, and certainly it was Thoth who determined the measure of the balance as far as the scales of Ma'at go.

The role of Osiris as chothonic underworld Deity associate with regeneration through the Earth was after mergance with the Cult of Sokar. Osiris presides over events within the Hall of Ma'at, as the question is whether the deceased will be allowed to continue on into his realm, i would question whether that was Earthly, or more likely Celestial.







Up to this point, I have covered Maat as symbolic of Law, Speech, Balance, death, judgement the Seasons and Solar observations. I have also touched on the origins of the symbol Libra in the hieroglyphic symbol for hotep or offering table.

The two main periods of the day when the day is equal to the night in length are during the There is no one constellation that can be assigned to it, as all of the constellations move through their positions based on precession. Some of the earliest constellations were associated with the various seasons. And one of these is said to have been Scorpio. It is from the constellation scorpio that the stars now associated with Libra became identified. One of the earliest possible representations of a Scorpion associated with a star or constellation is in the ceiling tomb of Senenmut.

Libra as a constellation and sign of the modern Zodiac is a quite late arrival. It was created by the Romans to symbolize balance in nature. However, the mythology and symbolism associated with Libra can all be traced back to the legacy of Solar Observations and the symbolism of Maat that I laid out in the beginning of the post.



The offering table representation could be associate or derivative from the measuring scales of Ma'at, i wouldn't see them in terms of representing the origin though for a symbol of Libra.

Relative to time and place, Libra must have been more directly associate with the Equinoxes than any other due to it's position rising and setting correspondantly, thus suggesting it's singular assignment concerning Celestial balance, otherwise any star grouping along the Ecliptic path would do.

The Sumerians considered the stars of Libra as an extension of Scorpio, there's no evidence the Egyptians did, indeed they represent the scales associate with the balance of the Heavens in the Classical manner of the Constellation, as at Denderah. Throughout the Classical period there was the concern whether to associate the scales with Scorpio, after the Babylonians, or with Virgo, which the Romans did in terms of Astraea, a Goddess in many respects imitive of Ma'at, in terms of representing Divine balance and harmony, and the passing of a judgement upon the deceased.




The constellation of Libra the Scales was originally known as the 'horn' or 'claw' of the Scorpion, for which reason early classical authors claimed that although there were twelve divisions of the zodiac, there were only eleven zodical figures.[1] The word Rin, meaning Scales, emerges towards the onset of the classical period, and gained credence through association with the scales of Astraea, the Roman Goddess of justice who was frequently identified with Virgo.[2] Thus the symbolism of this constellation has swung between allegiance with the imagery of the Scorpion and the Maiden, with many early classical writers, including Ptolemy, referring to the group both as the Scales and as Chelae, 'the Claws'. This deserves some reflection: of the two main stars, the Northern Scale, which lies closest to Virgo, carries an influence much in keeping with the stars of Virgo, whilst the Southern Scale, closest to Scorpio, appears to resonate to that constellation's malevolency.




[www.skyscript.co.uk]


The Roman association of Libra with Virgo i would consider to be after the Egyptians...






Morph.




























Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2007 09:57AM by Morph.