The Glastonbury Zodiac

Subject: The Glastonbury Zodiac Tue 06 Nov 2007, 2:08 pm

In the 1920's Mrs Maltwood noticed that if you followches, rivers and earthworks etc on an Ordanace Survey Map of the Glastonbury area you can make out the signs of the Zodiac in a 10 mile diameter circle which has the village of Butleigh in the centre of it. The Zodiac has been suggested that it may be 3000 years old, then again it has also been suggested Aliens helped to build it.

What are your thoughts? A huge map laid of the zodiac over a large regional area, or a case of people seeing what they what they want see within the lines on an OS map?

Joined : 23 Sep 2007 Posts : 44

3000yrs old? Are the Zodiac images we know that old? Would Britains know what a Leo (Lion) looked like a thousand years before the Romans arrived? I think I also heard that part of the vacinity around Glastonbury was under water in the past.

Age : 31 Joined : 12 Oct 2007 Posts : 253

You are right in your skepticism.
The present system of dividing the Zodiac in twelve signs was devised by the "Chaldean" astronomers during the so-called Neo-Persian kingdom (627-539 BC). Both the Egyptians and the more ancient Mesopotamian city-states (Ur, Eridu etc) used a four signs zodiac (probably based on the four seasons). The Babylonians, who were reckoned to be the best astrologers of the Ancient World, used an eighteen signs zodiac.
The twelve signs as we know them (Aries, Taurus etc) were first mentioned by the great astronomer and mathematician Ptolemy (d. 161 AD) , though he probably took it from more ancient sources, now long lost. It can be assumed that the present day zodiac was formed during the Hellenistic period (ie after Alexander's death in 323 BC) by combining knowledge coming from various areas of his immense empire.
Mrs Maltwood probably either ignored or decided to skip these datas altogether (which were already widely known in 1927 when she announced her discovery to the world).
The Glastonbury area has surely many unsolved mysteries but I don't think the Zodiac is one of them.
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Fas: Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum.

Subject: Re: The Glastonbury Zodiac Fri 09 Nov 2007, 5:57 pm

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who is dubious about the Glastonbury Zodiac Very Happy

I do certainly love Glastonbury though and have spent many a night in the Riflemans Arms (a free plug for the pub there Laughing

).