Greek Zodiac

This piece was done outside of my typical process, thus I don't have thumbnails, line work and color sketch. I originally did some zodiac designs because Sako, our web designer and co-founder, wanted to have an epic transition animation through space and the zodiac signs. But I immediately realized we could also use an illustration entry for the book which explains the mythic backstories to readers. I chose to put them in a circle so it would be easy to number them and emphasize the cyclical nature of the months. I chose to place an ancient astronomical device, the armillary sphere, in the center to add to the scholarly feel of the image.

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Greetings, I am Hipparchus, an ancient Greek astronomer. I've dedicated myself to unraveling the mysteries of the celestial realm, employing precise mathematics and keen observation to chart the movements of the Greek zodiac constellations. So lift your chin, dear apprentice, and stargaze with me upon our vast celestial canopy.

The Zodiakos, or Zodiac, is a division of the celestial sphere into twelve equal parts; each one containing a specific group of stars with a mythic association called a constellation. We ancient Greeks use astronomy for sailing navigation, time keeping for seasonal agricultural practices like planting and harvesting crops, mythic storytelling purposes, and astrology practices. As we peer up at the constellations, I shall unravel their mythic backstories.

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