The dim constellation Aries, known commonly as the ram, also represents a sign of the zodiac and can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere during the late winter and early spring. Aries is a small constellation which is bounded by Taurus (to the East), Pisces (to the West), and Cetus (to the South). Ancient peoples used this constellation to mark the beginning of spring. Aries is commonly associated with dawn, the spring, or the beginning of life. In former times the vernal equinox lied within Aries, but due to procession this point now lies within Pisces. The Chinese knew Aries as a dog, Kiang Leu. Later they knew it as Pih Yang, or “the White Sheep”.
The brightest or alpha star in Aries is Hamal, from the Arabic Al Ras al Hamal, meaning “the Head of the Sheep.” This star has a magnitude of 2.0. The ancient Greeks from about 1580 B.C. to 360 B.C. oriented the construction of many of their sacred temples in relationship to Hamal. The beta star of Aries is called Sheratan and has a magnitude of 2.64.
According to Greek mythology, when Bacchus and his suite wandered through the liberian desert, they were rescued from certain death by a ram, who showed them the way to a well. As a reward Bacchus set the ram under the stars and chose the place in a way, that whenever the sun wanders through it everything on earth becomes green again and starts to flower.
Another story according to Greek mythology, Athamas, King of Orchomenus, had taken a new wife, Ino. Ino was a jealous woman and was extremely envious of Phrixus and his sister Helle, Athamas' two children by his first wife. After much persuasion by Ino, Athamas agreed to sacrifice his son, Phrixus, who would have inherited his father's kingdom. Now the god Hermes was aware of the death plot against the boy and at the last minute sent down form heaven a beautiful and powerful ram with golden fleece.
Phrixus and Helle both climbed onto the ram's back and were carried off through the air. Poor Helle was unable to hang on and fell to her death over the strait named after her, the Hellespont, which links the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara in what is now Turkey. Phrixus managed to hang on and was carried by Aries to a land near the Black Sea called Colchis, the capital of which was Aea.
Now that the golden ram's work was done, the ram commanded Phrixus to sacrifice him to the gods and remove his golden fleece. Phrixus did and presented the golden fleece to King Aeetes, who was delighted with the gift. The King hung the fleece in the sacred Grove of Ares, where there lived a dragon who never slept and guarded the golden fleece. We are told that so brilliantly did the golden fleece shine that by night it bathed the surrounding countryside in a warm golden light. The brave and generous ram was given an eternal place in the sky as the constellation Aries. It is said that this constellation is a dim one because at the time the ram was immortalized it no longer had its brightly shining fleece.

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