One of my favorite pastimes as a youth was reading Greek and Roman mythology. I found these stories of love and hate, life and death, suffering and redemption, to be exciting and worthy of my time and thought. Only later did I realize that every myth is an adaptation of the great conflict declared by the Creator to the first man and woman.
Genesis 3:15:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
We have seen that the original star names often have little to do with their original meanings, as preserved by ancient Arabic astronomers and others. As astronomy moved into Western culture, ancient truths that began in the Middle East regarding the Messiah and his deeds were adapted to Graeco-Roman myths with heroic counterparts. This syncretism was common in Roman culture. The Romans often allowed subjugated peoples to keep their original gods, but they also took the foreign gods of those they conquered and renamed them with a “similar” god from the Roman pantheon.
Let’s examine some of the constellations that tell of the Messiah’s coming, and see how the Graeco-Roman names align with the original story of the Christ written in the stars.
Centaur: The sin offering
The Centaurs were part horse and part man. The constellation Centaur is most often associated specifically with Chiron. Whereas other Centaurs were savagely violent, Chiron excelled in wisdom and the healing arts. He was known as a mentor to Hercules, Asclepius, Achilles, and Jason. Chiron was accidentally shot with a poisoned arrow by Heracles. Although immortal, Chiron gave up his eternal life to Prometheus, associated with the first man according to Greek mythology.
Similarities to the Messiah: Jesus Christ was the only person who was conceived by divine conception, thus having “two natures.” He was known for his wisdom and for healing others. He was a mentor to his many disciples. Although having sinless blood, he took on sin and died for mankind.
Ophiuchus against Serpens: The promised seed against the serpent
The Greeks associated Ophiuchus with the god Apollo, who wrestled a giant serpent at Delphi. Apollo was the son of the head god, Zeus, and was associated with light, healing, shepherds, and prophecy. He was known as the “one who backed off evil.”
One myth tells of the Serpent attacking Apollo’s mother when she was pregnant, so that Apollo could not be born.
Similarities to the Messiah: Both Ophiuchus and Jesus Christ were in mortal conflict with a mighty serpent. Both were sons of God. Both were the light of the world, brought healing to all who came to them, shepherded and cared for people, and spoke forth prophecy.
Similarities to the Devil: Serpens was giant in its power and vicious in its desire to kill and destroy mankind.
Hercules against Hydra: the mighty one against the dragon who is destroyed
Hercules was also a son of the head God, Zeus. Witches tried to prevent his birth, and serpents were sent to kill him as a young babe. He was very much a “suffering savior,” and killing Hydra was only one of his “twelve labors.” In one labor, he cleaned the Augean stables in a single day—removing all filth. In another labor, Hercules captured and brought back Cerberus, who guarded the land of the dead.
Hydra was a dragon that lived near the entrance to the underworld. He is a seven-headed dragon, and had such poisonous blood and breath that merely its breath could kill.
Similarities to the Messiah: Both Hercules and Jesus Christ were sons of God. Both had evil workers attempt to kill them at birth (King Herod) and were associated with a conflict against the serpent. Both had “labors” associated with the number twelve (Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the twelve tribes of Israel). Both cleansed the wickedness around them (Jesus spoke of the religious leaders as “whited sepulchres” full of dead men’s bones in Matthew 23:27). Both entered the land of the dead and came back victorious. Jesus Christ was in the grave three days and three nights and overcame death when he was resurrected by God, his Father.
Similarities to the Devil: Both Hydra and the Devil were associated with the land of the dead, and were poisonous and deadly. Both were called a dragon with seven heads, as in Revelation 12:3: “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads.”
Perseus with Pegasus against Cetus, rescuing Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia:
The mother of Perseus was locked away so that she could have no children. But she later conceived when she was “showered upon” by the head god, Zeus. Perseus destroyed the death-dealing gorgon with wisdom and courage. In one mythological version, Perseus had the help of a winged horse named Pegasus, which was known for its purity and blessing to men.
Andromeda was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, king and queen of ancient Ethiopia. Their land was attacked by a sea monster named Cetus. The only way to prevent Cetus from killing all the people was to have Andromeda chained to a rock by the sea to await death by the monster. Perseus, riding Pegasus, arrived just in time to rescue his future bride Andromeda. They were married and brought peace to the kingdom of Cepheus and Cassiopeia.
Similarities to the Messiah: Both Perseus and Jesus Christ were conceived by a “showering” of the head god upon their mother. Both broke the enemy’s bonds, for both used wisdom and courage to destroy the death-dealing power of their enemy. Hebrews 2:14: “He [Jesus Christ] also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Pegasus and Jesus Christ: Both were known for their purity, Jesus Christ having no sin. They both were famous for blessing mankind and defeating the adversary.
Andromeda and the Bride of Christ: Both were in bondage until their savior came to set them free. Hebrews 2:15: “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Cepheus and Cassiopeia: They, like the kingdoms of this world, were also in bondage until the savior came.
Similarities to the Devil: Cetus was identified with Leviathan, the crooked and piercing serpent from Job 41:1; Psalms 74:14; 104:26; Isaiah 27:1.
Orion against Scorpio: the bright and morning star overcoming the evil serpent, the adversary
Orion was a giant hunter who, upon his death, was set predominantly “in the heavens” by the head god, Zeus.
Scorpio was a giant scorpion known for killing Orion with his poisonous sting. Then Orion was set in the heavens.
Similarities to the Messiah: Both Orion and Jesus Christ carried out their life’s mission and were ascended by God to the heavens in glory.
Similarities to the Devil: Both Scorpio and the Devil had the sting of death and “bruised” the savior’s heel.
Auriga (Erichthonius): the good shepherd
Erichthonius can mean “conflict born from the earth.” One myth has Erichthonius as an infant with a snake coiled around him.
Similarities to the Messiah: Both Auriga and Jesus Christ were in a great conflict with the evil one. Both were attacked by the serpent from birth.
Similarities to the Devil: Both the snake and the Devil sought to destroy the sent one from his birth.
Gemini and Argo: the coming prince and final paradise
The Greek twins represented by Gemini were Castor and Pollux. In most myths, Pollux is immortal as the son of the head god (Zeus), but Castor dies. Both were on the crew of the Argo.
The sailing ship Argo was constructed by Argus, and Jason assembled a crew for his famous expedition to find the golden fleece. This skin of a sacrificed ram was associated with authority, kingship, and healing.
Similarities to the redeemer: Both Jesus Christ and Pollux were sons of God. Like Castor, Jesus Christ died to complete a mission.
Similarities to the redeemed: Like the long-sought for fleece, Jesus Christ had God’s authority and kingship, and he brought healing to all. The redeemed were free to “sail forth” in life by way of Christ’s accomplishments.
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