Zodiac

The band contains the ecliptic (the line representing the Sun´ s apparent path across the sky over the course of the year), and the Sun, Moon, and planets are always to be found within its limits. Each constellation of the zodiac contains a pattern of stars that represents an animal or character from Greek mythology.

The zodiac originated as a device for measuring time, but by the 5^th century BC it had been incorporated into attempts to determine character and predict the future. Although there is no scientific proof of its validity, astrologers still use the zodiac for assessing trends in people´ s emotional and physical lives.

The Chinese zodiac

Also the Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February. The Chinese have adopted the Western calendar since 1911, but the lunar calendar is still used for festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year. Many Chinese calendars will print both the solar dates and the Chinese lunar dates.

According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.

All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore the rat jumped off the ox' s back and won the race. The pig, that was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second and the pig last.

adopt = přijmout, osvojit si
although = ačkoli, i když
apparent = zjevný, jasný, domnělý, zřejmý, patrný
archer = střelec
assess = stanovit, určit
attempt = pokus, úsilí ashore = na břeh, na souš
band = pás win the race = vyhrát závod
based on = založený na, podle, na základě
BC = před naším letopočtem
both = oba
bull = býk, vůl
celestial = nebeský
contest = soutěž
crab, cancer = rak, krab
device = prostředek, záměr, vynález, znak, značka, plan, nápad
dragon = drak, saň
ecliptic = sluneční dráha, ekliptický
fish = ryby, ryba
gathered = shromáždit se, sejít se
goat = koza
hold = konat, mít, držet
imaginary = pomyslný
incorporate = začlenit, spojit, včlenit
last = poslední
lion = lev
measure = měřit, odměřit
ox = vůl
path = dráha, trajektorie, stezka,
pattern = vzor, figura, vzorec, obrazec
predict = předpovídat
proof = důkaz, potvrzení, osvědčení, vyzkoušení
quarrel =hádat se, hašteřit se, mít spor, rozepře
ram = beran, skopec
rat = krysa, potkan
rather = spíše, přesněji, přesněji řečeno, raději, poměrně, dosti, trochu
reach = dosáhnout, dojít
rooster = kohout
scales = váhy
scorpion = štír
sheep = ovce
solar = sluneční
sphere = sféra, oběh
twins = blíženci, dvojčata
unknown = neznámý, nebýt si vědom, aniž by věděl
upon = na
validity = platnost, správnost, legálnost, právoplatnost
virgin = panna
water-bearer = vosnář
within = uvnitř, v
zodiac = zvěrokruh

Zdroj: OXFORD DICTIONARY, 1999