True it is that, speaking generally, Gemini and not Taurus is the constellation of the Zodiac opposed to Sagittarius, but owing to the irregularity in the shape and size of the portions assigned in the ecliptic to the Zodiacal constellations, the extreme western degrees of Sagittarius are opposed to the extreme eastern degrees of Taurus. Therefore about 4,000 B.C. the equinoctial colure passed through the constellations of the Archer and the Bull. [Illustration] In the Assyrian Standard (depicted in Layard’s _Monuments of Nineveh_, Plate XXII.) we see the figure of an Archer above that of a galloping Bull, and in another Assyrian Standard, that of Sargon II., we find not only the Archer and the Bull, the two constellations which 4,000 B.C. marked the _equinoctial_ colure, but we may also clearly trace a reference to the two constellations which at the same date marked the _solstitial_ colure, namely, those of the Lion and the Water-man (Plate VII.). [Illustration: PLATE VII. Standard of Sargon II., King of Assyria, 722-705 B.C. Perrot et Chipiez. _Histoire de l’Art dans l’Antiquité_, Tome v. opposite page 508. [_To face p. 79._] Here the _Archer_ dominates over a circle in which symmetrically duplicated _Bulls_ appear, and duplicated _Lions’_ heads emerge out of what appears to be a hollow vessel resembling a _water jar_; the wavy lines that traverse the disc suggest streams that unitedly pour their waters into this jar. Below the jar again are to be seen halved and doubled heads, partly Lion and partly Bull. This Standard of Assur may (like the Persepolitan monster earlier described) be considered as an astronomic monogram representing the four constellations which marked the four seasons of the year, and the four quarters of the earth. The monogram of the Standard refers us back, however, to an earlier date for its origin than does the monogram of the composite animal in the Persepolitan bas-relief, for in the Standard the Archer is opposed to the Bull, in the bas-relief the Scorpion takes the place of the Archer, and the Eagle takes the place of the Water-man. The precession of the equinoxes advances from east to west amongst the stars. Therefore the Scorpion marked the colure at a later date than did the Archer. The Eagle, as has already been pointed out, is considerably to the west of Aquarius, and could scarcely have been chosen as a substitute for that constellation when the colure was in its extreme eastern degrees. At Plate VIII. is given the position of the colures at 4,000 B.C.; not much earlier or much later than this date can we place the _origin_ of the symbolism in the Standard shown at Plate VII. Earlier _not_ Leo and Aquarius, but Virgo and Pisces, would have marked the solstitial colure. Later _not_ Sagittarius, but Scorpio, would have in opposition to Taurus marked the equinoctial colure.