Aries, the Ram

Ari

Arietis

Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Aries

Origin:
Aries is a very old constellation with its origins traceable to 1000 BC.  Aries, a zodiacal constellation, is the first sign of the zodiac and was the location of the vernal equinox 3000 years ago.  Due to the precession of the Earth's axis, the vernal equinox has moved to Pisces. The Chinese identified this group of stars as the Dog which itself was an asterism in combination with Taurus and Gemini forming a single larger constellation.

Information:
Aries is an important zodiacal constellation situated below Andromeda and above Cetus, the Whale.  Aries is best seen in the fall when it culminates at about 9 pm on December 20. Despite the vernal equinox having moved to Pisces, due to precession of the Earth's axis, Aries is still considered the first constellation of the zodiac.

Greek Mythology:
Aries has been associated with the Ram since before the Christian era. It is closely associated with the story of Jason and the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece.

King Athamas of Orchomenus had two children, Phrixus and Helle, by his first wife, Nephele, who Athamas left for his second wife, Ino.  Resentful of Athamas' treatment of his children, Ino persecuted and tormented Phrixus and his sister Helle.  Knowing her future in the kingdom should Athamas die and Phrixus inherit the crown, Ino successfully persuaded Athamas to sacrifice his son.  Aware of the plot, the god Hermes told Nephele that to protect the children she must send them away to the land called Colchis in the northeast.  He sent down a powerful and beautiful ram covered with golden fleece as their transport. 

Phrixus and Helle climbed on the back of the magical ram, who immediately flew away to the east.  Sadly, Helle fell off into the Hellespont (now the Dardanelles) between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, but Phrixus made it safely to Colchis.  His job done, the ram instructed Phrixus to sacarifice him to the gods and present the golden fleece to Aeetes, king of Colchis, as a gift.  Phrixus obeyed the ram's request and presented the Golden Fleece to the king, who was delighted with the gift.  

The King hung the fleece in the sacred Grove of Ares, which was protected by a dragon who never slept.  The golden fleece was so brilliant that even in the night Colchis was bathed in a warm golden light.  The ram was placed in the heavens for eternity in honor of its service to the gods.  One version of the myth says that Aries is a dim constellation because the ram no longer had its brightly shining fleece.