The symbol is like a crab with its protective claws curled around its body. Cancer people can be protective, caring, often touchy and with a tendency to hold on to things important to them. They are good hosts and have the ability to be excellent cooks.
Cancer - "THE CRAB" (Karkinos in Greek, Cancer in Latin); According to some, the crab was on of Hera's favorite pets. The crab was crushed by Hercules in his second labor. This constellation was originally known in Greek as "The Asses' Crib" where most certainly "The Crab" was an improvement. However, given the Latin's unpleasant associations, Cancers would later be given the much more improved name of "The Moon Child" or "Moon Children".
CANCER THE CRAB
Most of the consellations were named by people who lived thousands of years ago. The constellations were given the names of characters from the myths and stories of these people. Here is the story of my birth sign in the zodiac, Cancer the Crab.
Hercules was a great and powerful hero of the Ancient Greeks. The goddess Hera hated Hercules and she made him go crazy. In moments of madness, he thought his children were wild animals and killed them.
As punishment, King Eurystheus ordered Hercules to perform twelve tasks that no man had been able to complete before. One of the tasks was to kill the hideous nine-headed serpent, of Hydra. The breath of the serpent monster was so poisonous that it killed those who inhaled it. Hercules held his breath and began to knock off all the heads of the monster. He was shocked to see several new heads grow back where one had been chopped off. Hercules didn't stop. He continued to knock the heads off and burned the place where they had grown so that no new heads could grow.
The goddess Hera was furious that Hercules was winning so she sent Cancer, the giant crab, to fight Hercules. But Hercules picked up the crab and threw it at the last head of the Hydra, killing both enemies. Hera felt sorry for the crab. She picked up the pieces of Cancer and set them in the heavens where they can still be seen today as the stars of the constellation Cancer the Crab.
References:
1. The Glow in the Dark Zodiac Storybook - by Katharine Ross. 1993
2. Stories and the Lore of the Zodiac - by M.A. Jagendorf. 1977.
This article was written by Raechel Carson
MORE ON CANCER
Cancer is the sign of the crab, which may sound like an insult, but is not. Think of the soft inner body that a crab has, surrounded by a thin, brittle shell. That is the image of Cancer. A soft inner soul, protected by a thin shell.
Cancers are loyal and very empathetic. they will be the first to notice if a friend or a relative needs a hug, or shoulder to cry on. But, their sensitivity cost them. Cancers are quick to feel a hurt and once that thin shell is penetrated, they are helpless to protect themselves.
Ruling Planet: - THE MOON
Element: - WATER
Quality: - FEMININE
First Desire: - SECURITY
Day: - MONDAY
Body Parts: - CHEST, BREASTS
Foods: - TURNIPS, CABBAGE, MILK
Animals: - CREATURES WITH A SHELL
Color: - VIOLET
Jewel: - EMERALD
Metal: - SILVER
Plant: - HAZELNUT TREE
Flowers: - GERANIUM, WATER LILY, OTHER WHITE FLOWERS
Magical Number: - 2
Key Words: - MOODY, KIND, SYMPATHETIC, CONTROLLED, DISCIPLINED
SITES WHERE THIS INFORMATION WAS FOUND AND INFORMATION FOR OTHER SIGNS CAN BE FOUND AS WELL...
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