The Ten Books on Architecture, 9.3.1

Vitruvius  translated by Morris Hicky Morgan

« Vitr. 9.2 | Vitr. 9.3 | Vitr. 9.4 | About This Work »

The Course of the Sun Through the Twelve Signs

3The sun, after entering the sign Aries and passing through one eighth of it, determines the vernal equinox. On reaching the tail of Taurus and the constellation of the Pleiades, from which the front half of Taurus projects, he advances into a space greater than half the firmament, moving toward the north. From Taurus he enters Gemini at the time of the rising of the Pleiades, and, getting higher above the earth, he increases the length of the days. Next, coming from Gemini into Cancer, which occupies the shortest space in heaven, and after traversing one eighth of it, he determines the summer solstice. Continuing on, he reaches the head and breast of Leo, portions which are reckoned as belonging to Cancer.

« Vitr. 9.2 | Vitr. 9.3 | Vitr. 9.4 | About This Work »