Aries :: Origin Story, Personality Traits and Ruling Planet

Aries, the Ram. Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac, marking the beginning of the astrological year and representing those born between March 21 and April 19. In Greek mythology the constellation is the golden ram that carried Phrixus and Helle away from Boeotia.

Aries in Mythology

Athamas, who ruled Boeotia, had a son Phrixus and a daughter Helle by Nephele. He then married a second wife, Ino, daughter of Cadmus, and had two sons by her, Learchus and Melicertes (Apollodorus, Library 1.9.1; 3.4.3).

Ino plotted against Nephele’s children. She persuaded the women to parch the seed wheat without their husbands knowing it, so that the sown fields gave no crop. When Athamas sent to Delphi to ask how to end the famine, Ino persuaded the messengers to report that the barrenness would cease if Phrixus were sacrificed to Zeus. The people of the land forced Athamas to bring his son to the altar (Apollodorus, Library 1.9.1; compare Ovid, Fasti 3.851–862).

Later, Hera drove Athamas and Ino mad because they had raised the infant Dionysus. In his madness Athamas killed Learchus, and Ino sprang into the sea with Melicertes (Apollodorus, Library 3.4.3).

Aries saves Phrixus

Nephele snatched up Phrixus and Helle and gave them a ram with a golden fleece that she had received from Hermes, and borne through the sky by the ram, they crossed land and sea. When they were over the sea between Sigeum and the Chersonese, Helle slipped into the deep and was drowned, and the sea was called the Hellespont after her (Apollodorus, Library 1.9.1; Ovid, Fasti 3.863–870). The Hellespont is the strait now called the Dardanelles.

Phrixus came to Colchis, where King Aeetes received him and gave him his daughter Chalciope. Phrixus sacrificed the ram with the golden fleece to Zeus, the god of escape, and gave the fleece to Aeetes, who nailed it to an oak in a grove of Ares (Apollodorus, Library 1.9.1; Apollonius, Argonautica 2.1141–1149). It is the Golden Fleece that Jason and the Argonauts later set out to fetch (Apollodorus, Library 1.9.16–23).

The constellation of Aries

In Ovid, the ram became a constellation when it reached the shore, while its golden fleece went to the houses of Colchis (Ovid, Fasti 3.875–876). Hyginus says that the ram was set among the stars by Nephele, the Cloud, and that its fleece was hung in a temple. He adds the version of Eratosthenes, in which the ram himself took off his golden fleece, gave it to Phrixus as a memorial and went up to the stars, which is why the constellation is faint (Hyginus, Astronomica 2.20).

Hyginus also reports another account, from Hermippus: when Dionysus (Liber) was campaigning in Africa and his army was dying of thirst in the desert, a ram appeared and led the soldiers to a spring, then vanished. Dionysus built a temple to Zeus Ammon there with a statue with ram’s horns, and placed the ram among the stars, making it the first of the twelve signs because it had been the best of guides to his army (Hyginus, Astronomica 2.20).

Aries in Astrology

The Aries zodiac is the first of the 12 astrological signs. Those born under this sign are considered to be natural leaders. They are confident and always ready for action. Aries people are also known for their fiery temperaments and impulsive nature. Aries is a sun sign and traits of those born under the sign include leadership and assertiveness.

While Aries can be impatient and quick to anger, they are also fiercely loyal and protective of those they care about. In relationships, Aries will always put their partner first. They are passionate and romantic, but can also be jealous and possessive.

Aries Sign and Ruling Planet

Aries is a Cardinal Fire sign, which means that those born under this sign are natural leaders with a strong sense of purpose. Aries is also ruled by the planet Mars, which is the planet of energy, action, and desire.