Our planet orbits the sun in 365.25 days (check Copernicus showing us his theory at the east end of the Lower Hall ceiling). Our astrological signs come to us from the Babylonians via the Greeks – both firmly in the Northern Hemisphere. Leaving aside the fact that many of the pensioners would have been very familiar with Southern Hemisphere skies, you might have wondered how the ancients ever knew about Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Scorpio and Libra, if they couldn’t see them. “These are the signs visible in the Northern Hemisphere so would have been more familiar to the pensioners.” Have you heard this explanation for why these particular six were chosen? What’s your star sign? Are you one of the favoured ones in the Painted Hall whose symbols feature twice? Once among the twelve along the Central Oval balcony and again in the six in gold on the Proscenium Arch. This piece was written by a Volunteer Tour Guide, Elaine, and discusses one of the interesting details in the Painted Hall.
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