Aries ˈɛəriːz (meaning "ram") is the first astrological sign

Astrological sign

Astrological signs represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. According to astrology, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", so that the twelve signs are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes...

 in the Zodiac

Zodiac

In astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude which are centred upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year...

, which spans the zodiac between the zero degree and the 29th degree of celestial longitude. The Sun

Sun (astrology)

The sun is considered a very important part of astrology. It, as well as the Moon, are the most important of the astrological planets, and the two of them are often referred to as the luminaries. In Greek mythology the sun was represented by Apollo, the god of light, and Helios, the god of the sun...

 enters Aries when it reaches the northern vernal equinox, which is usually on March 21 each year, and remains in this sign until around April 20 (sometimes the dates vary slightly). Individuals born during these dates, while the Sun is within this sign, are called Arians or Ariens.

Key characteristics and definitions

As the first sign of the tropical zodiac, Aries is seasonally associated with spring and according to astrologers represents a strong sometimes creative thrust and powerful expression of energy. The sign is governed by Mars, the planet of activity and assertiveness, which astrologers believe adds the traits of competitiveness, impulsiveness, and the instinct to act spontaneously. The Sun

Sun (astrology)

The sun is considered a very important part of astrology. It, as well as the Moon, are the most important of the astrological planets, and the two of them are often referred to as the luminaries. In Greek mythology the sun was represented by Apollo, the god of light, and Helios, the god of the sun...

 is also strongly associated with this sign, which it governs by exaltation

Exaltation (astrology)

In astrology, exaltation is one of the five essential dignities of a planet. Each of the seven traditional planets has its exaltation in one zodiac sign...

. The solar-association is seen as adding expression of the ego

Ego (spirituality)

In spirituality, and especially nondual, mystical and eastern meditative traditions, individual existence is often described as a kind of illusion. This "sense of doership" or sense of individual existence is that part which believes it is the human being, and believes it must fight for itself in...

, and the desire to make a mark as an individual. Joanna Watters (2003) defined a keyphrase for this sign as "I am". Martin Seymour-Smith (1981) suggested "Initiative is expressed aggressively, impulsively and probably very emotively". As a suggestion for keywords he offers:

• Competitiveness, blind will, impulsiveness, eliminating-obstacles-without-thought, brutal criminality or martyrdom or (most likely) a mixture of both.

EWLINE Definitions and Associations Glyph meaning: The pointed face and horns of the ram. Quality Positive: outwardly expressive, extrovert. Element Astrology and the classical elements Astrology has used the concept of classical elements from antiquity up until the present. In Western astrology and Indian astrology four elements are used, namely Fire, Earth, Air and Water.-Western astrology:...  (triplicity Triplicity In astrology, a triplicity is a group of three signs belonging to the same element.-Trines:Western astrology assumes that each sign of the same triplicity is 120 degrees apart, forming angles to one another called trines, which are each equivalent to the 360 degrees of the circle divided by three... ) Fire Fire (classical element) Fire has been an important part of all cultures and religions from pre-history to modern day and was vital to the development of civilization. It has been regarded in many different contexts throughout history, but especially as a metaphysical constant of the world.-Greek and Roman tradition:Fire... : energy, warmth, vision, intuition. Mode (quadruplicity) Cardinal (moveable): the element in its most concentrated or active form - associated with push, energy, and enterprise. Body part Head and face. Direction East Traditional definitions Bestial Bestial sign In astrology, bestial signs are those astrological signs that represent animals. They are sometimes referred to as quadrupedian, or four-footed signs because they represent animals that walk on all four legs. These animals are inarticulate, which means they have voices, but their power of speech...  - the signs symbolised by four-footed animals (also called quadrupedian 'four-footed'). These can lack in social graces and sometimes indicate coarseness and a poor appreciation for 'niceties' and polite manners. They can also be a little inarticulate, caring more about making their point, than the elegance of the style in which it is made. Some even think that their way is best and want other people to think highly of them.

As a sun sign

According to Alan Leo

Alan Leo

Alan Leo, born William Frederick Allan, , was a prominent British astrologer, author, publisher and theosophist, and is considered by many to be the father of modern astrology....

, generally considered to be the founder of modern psychological astrology and sun sign astrology

Sun sign astrology

Sun sign astrology is the form of astrology most commonly found in many newspaper and magazine columns. It is a simplified system of astrology which considers only the position of the Sun, which is said to be placed within one of the twelve zodiac signs depending on the month of birth...

, people born with the sun in Aries are "always looking forward, they are leaders in ideals and pioneers of advanced thought. They have great mental energy but are inclined to be very headstrong and impulsive. They are always prophetic, and love to predict things that will happen. They can look ahead into the future and foresee things with remarkable clearness of vision. When freed from other influences and not slaves to their personality, they become truly clairvoyant, and are remarkably gifted in this direction. This sign gives extreme ideality, and those born under it are more ideal than practical. They are always full of new schemes and plans, ever exploring and originating. They are fond of constant change, loving novelty, romance and speculation and nearly always live in a world of theory. They are very highly strung, sometimes hyper-sensitive and are remarkable for their perception. They seem to live more in the perceptive region of their brain than the reflective, and they are rarely deceived where perception is concerned."

Mythology

In Hellenistic astrology

Hellenistic astrology

Hellenistic astrology is a tradition of horoscopic astrology that was developed and practiced in Hellenistic Egypt and the Mediterranean, whose texts were written in Greek , mainly around the late 2nd or early 1st century B.C.E...

, the sign of the ram was mythologically associated with the golden winged ram that rescued Phrixos and his sister Helle

Helle (mythology)

Helle was a character in Greek mythology who figured prominently in the story of Jason and the Argonauts. Phrixus, son of Athamas and Nephele, along with his twin sister, Helle, were hated by their stepmother, Ino. Ino hatched a devious plot to get rid of the twins, roasting all the town's crop...

 from the altar where they were to be offered as a sacrifice to Zeus. The golden ram carried them to the land of Colchis

Colchis

In ancient geography, Colchis or Kolkhis was an ancient Georgian state kingdom and region in Western Georgia, which played an important role in the ethnic and cultural formation of the Georgian nation.The Kingdom of Colchis contributed significantly to the development of medieval Georgian...

 but on the way Helle fell into the sea and drowned. When Phrixos arrived at Colchis he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and presented the golden fleece

Golden Fleece

In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece is the fleece of the gold-haired winged ram, which can be procured in Colchis. It figures in the tale of Jason and his band of Argonauts, who set out on a quest by order of King Pelias for the fleece in order to place Jason rightfully on the throne of Iolcus...

 to his father-in-law, the King of Colchis. The fleece was then hung upon a sacred oak and guarded by a dragon until rescued by Jason

Jason

Jason was a late ancient Greek mythological hero from the late 10th Century BC, famous as the leader of the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus...

 and the Argonauts

Argonauts

The Argonauts ) were a band of heroes in Greek mythology who, in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, the Argo, which was named after its builder, Argus. "Argonauts", therefore, literally means...

. The myth recounts that Zeus was so moved by the ram's fate that he gave it the greatest honour of being moved to the heavens.

Compatibilities

Generally, the qualities of Aries are considered to be compatible with those of the other fire signs: Sagittarius

Sagittarius (astrology)

Sagittarius is the ninth astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 240th and 269th degree of celestial longitude...

 and Leo

Leo (astrology)

Leo is the fifth astrological sign of the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Leo. In astrology, Leo is considered to be a "masculine", positive sign. It is also considered a fire sign and is one of four fixed signs ruled by the Sun.Individuals born when the Sun is in this sign are...

, and to a lesser extent with the air signs: Gemini

Gemini (astrology)

Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the Zodiac between the 60th and 89th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between May 21 to June 20 each year...

, Libra

Libra (astrology)

Libra is the seventh astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Libra. In astrology, Libra is considered a "masculine", positive sign. It is also considered an air sign and is one of four cardinal signs...

 and Aquarius. However, compatibility based on sun-sign alone is considered to be only a very general guideline. The branch in astrology dealing with interpersonal relationships is called Synastry. In this, astrologers analyse the horoscopes of both parties being considered with particular reference to the positions of the Sun

Sun (astrology)

The sun is considered a very important part of astrology. It, as well as the Moon, are the most important of the astrological planets, and the two of them are often referred to as the luminaries. In Greek mythology the sun was represented by Apollo, the god of light, and Helios, the god of the sun...

 and Moon

Moon (astrology)

The Moon is the Earth's companion satellite. The Moon is large enough for its gravity to affect the Earth, stabilising its orbit and producing the regular ebb and flow of the tides. The Moon is also familiar to us for its different phases, waxing and waning in appearance in an unchanging cycle...

, and Venus and Mars.

EWLINE General astrological compatibility of Aries with other signs Sign Highest compatibility High compatibility Low compatibility Lowest compatibility Aries Sagittarius, Leo Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Taurus, Scorpio, Pisces Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn

The dates that the Sun traverses the sign of Aries according to the Sidereal system are therefore (generally) between 14 April and 14 May each year.