Why the twelfth sign of the zodiac is defined by duality and divine escape

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Pisces is the final sign of the zodiac, a mutable water sign spanning the celestial longitude of 330° to 360°. Often depicted as two fish swimming in opposite directions, the sign represents deep duality. From ancient Egyptian coffins to modern pop culture, its influence spans millennia of human history and belief.

The origins of Pisces are steeped in mythology and antiquity. The name itself is Latin for 'fishes,' and the sign is one of the oldest recorded in the zodiac, appearing on an Egyptian coffin lid as far back as c. 2300 BC. Classical interpretations often link the symbol to the ichthyocentaurs who assisted Aphrodite at her birth. Another prominent myth suggests that Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed into fish to escape the monster Typhon, a narrative echoed in Manilius's poetic work Astronomica. While these stories provide a rich cultural tapestry, some scholars, such as the English astrologer Richard James Morrison, have argued that such fables were later corruptions of an original, more austere astrological doctrine.

Astrologically, Pisces is a mutable water sign currently associated with the planet Neptune in modern practice, though traditionally ruled by Jupiter. Its symbol, two fish tied together by a cord, is said to represent the inherent duality of the Piscean nature. Interestingly, while the sign occupies a fixed 30-degree span in the tropical zodiac, the actual constellation of Pisces has shifted due to the precession of the equinoxes. Today, the vernal equinox—the First Point of Aries—is physically located within the Pisces constellation, a discrepancy that highlights the distinction between astrological signs and astronomical locations.

The influence of Pisces extends into religious and cultural symbolism, most notably through the concept of the 'Age of Pisces.' This era, which began c. AD 1 and is expected to conclude c. AD 2150, is frequently linked to the rise of Christianity. The 'fishers of men' motif, the use of the Greek word 'ICHTHYS' as a code for Jesus, and the identification of Saint Peter as an apostle of the sign all mirror the transition into this astrological age. Beyond religion, the sign has permeated modern life in unexpected ways, from the design of Goldfish crackers—created by Oscar J. Kambly as a tribute to his Pisces wife—to its recurring presence in literature, such as the works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Dante.

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