Zodiac

marduk · **on:** February 10, 2013, 09:54:10 PM

I was looking thru the Zodiac series in the SAKwiki series section recently and I noticed some incongruities both with the set I have and the astronomical (not astrological) bases for the various names and signs. For example, the picture in SAKwiki for Gemini, the Twins (Castor & Pollux), shows 2 figures standing. My knife, as well as the box it came in, shows 2 figures sitting. Maybe they got tired of standing and decided to sit, but why the difference? Vic apparently produced two runs of this particular model. The standing Gemini probably came first, since its scissors have a screw, while the sitting Gemini have a rivet. I think ICFT commented on two different packaging for this set a while back.

The figure for Aquarius shows a merman holding a trident. This seems to be an attempt to represent the classic god of the sea, Poseidon/Neptune, but why a tail? The sea god had anthropomorphic or human features, i.e., feet, not a tail. Equally disturbing (at least to me) is the fact that Aquarius is meant to represent Enki, the Sumerian (Mesopotamian, modern Iraqi) god of fresh water, not a sea god who inhabits the briny deep. In addition, in all the original depictions of Enki/Aquarius he holds not a trident but a jar containing “me balati,” the water of life, which according to Sumerian mythology heals sickness & even restores life to the dead, just as Enki’s cooling fall rain showers appear to restore life to the vegetation killed by the blazing summer sun. In short, the figure shown on the knife has nothing to do with Aquarius. The constellation’s stars appear with the rising Sun in the fall, the rainy season in the Middle East, hence its association with Enki, the god of fresh water.

Also, the picture of Cancer on the knife shows a lobster, altho “cancer” is Latin for crab, again an astronomical blunder. The sign was dubbed Cancer since when the rising Sun is in Cancer’s constellation just after the summer solstice, it seems to hesitate or develop a crab-like motion before it starts its journey south to the winter solstice. What made the elves of Ibach think a lobster could substitute for a crab, the classical figure for this sign of the Zodiac?

By the way, the Passion Zodiac series got the signs right; it shows Aquarius’ jug and a crab not a lobster for Cancer.

In any case, although the signs may be confusing, the knives are great, and that’s what we expect from the Victorinox elves. They may not be great astronomers or linguists but they certainly are great cutlers.

marduk · **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2013, 09:55:44 PM

Here's the standing Twins

marduk · **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2013, 10:07:25 PM

Here's Vic's Aquarius.

ICanFixThat · **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2013, 10:12:41 PM

Thanks for the nice background on some astrology. We did discuss in some thread on here or on SOSAK some of the different symbols that have appeared on the knives for the different signs. I might try to put an abridged version of this into the Wiki page.

condcup · **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2013, 10:24:44 PM

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Victorinox+Zodiac+Series

ICanFixThat · **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2013, 10:35:14 PM

Hey that photo was illegally copied from SAKwiki... provide a link to the SAKwiki page rather than copying the photos to some photo sharing site.

Condcup, Please edit your post.

marduk · **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2013, 10:46:40 PM

ICFT---I am offended, deeply offended, that you said my comments were astrological; they were astronomical. I noted that Cancer and Aquarius were named based on the position of the constellations in relation to the Sun and its impact on the seasons. I quit astrology after Mayor LaGuardia banned astrologers in the 1930's in NYC forcing me to smash my crystal ball, burn my Tarot cards, and uraveled my turban.

ICanFixThat · **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2013, 11:10:11 PM

Quote from: marduk on February 10, 2013, 10:46:40 PM

ICFT---I am offended, deeply offended, that you said my comments were astrological; they were astronomical. I noted that Cancer and Aquarius were named based on the position of the constellations in relation to the Sun and its impact on the seasons. I quit astrology after Mayor LaGuardia banned astrologers in the 1930's in NYC forcing me to smash my crystal ball, burn my Tarot cards, and uraveled my turban.

I'm so sorry... I certainly did not want to get you placed on any black lists. I'm sure your correction will be noted and with the Rovers being all the rage, I'm sure your astronomical knowledge and application will have you held in high regard.

gregozedobe · **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2013, 11:12:37 PM

Quote from: marduk on February 10, 2013, 10:46:40 PM

I quit astrology after Mayor LaGuardia banned astrologers in the 1930's in NYC forcing me to smash my crystal ball, burn my Tarot cards, and uraveled my turban.

Did they also revoke your quantum psychic's licence ?

marduk · **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2013, 12:37:46 AM

Hell no! I hid it and used it to get into what's left of the old observatory at Parramatta so I could start a new life as an astronomer. Man's got to be flexible to survive.