sign as a set of scales being held by a young woman, but the actual constellation is
constituted by a handful of stars that form only the scales. To make the figure com-
plete, the tendency was to imagine Virgo holding the scales—thus, the mistaken asso-
ciation of Virgo with Astraea. Although her image was widespread, the classical
mythology about Astraea is scanty. The daughter of Zeus and Themis, she spread jus-
tice and virtue among humankind during the Golden Age and was the last divinity to
leave Earth after humanity had become wicked. The association of scales with justice
is very old (e.g., in ancient Egyptian mythology, souls were judged by weighing their
hearts on scales), and the modern image of the scales of justice is derived from
Astraea’s image.
Like their patron goddess, Librans enjoy human company; they find them-
selves through their relationships with others. While people born under Libra are said
to be stubborn, they are more often just sticklers for fairness. They can easily become
upset with social injustices. The image of the scales resting at balance conveys a false
sense of Libran nature: Even though Librans constantly strive for harmony, the scales
can easily become a see-saw, especially when Librans are forced to decide between two
alternatives: In many cases, they would rather not choose, but let the circumstances
dictate choices for them. Librans are also known for their charm, as well as their
attraction to visual beauty. They are natural diplomats.Libra
[406] THEASTROLOGYBOOK
An engraving of the constellations Scorpio and Libra by Montignot, 1786. Reproduced by
permission of Fortean Picture Library.