The ancient Akkadian name for the _seventh_ month, which was the month when the sun was in the Sign now called LIBRA, was _Tul‐ku_, which means _the sacred mound_, or _altar_. The Akkadian name for this Sign was _Bir_, which means _the Light_, hence, the Lamp with its light, or the Altar with its fire. [Illustration] Fig. 1—The Circular Altar, in the Sign now called Libra. Its most ancient form was a circular altar.(88) In Figure 1 we have reproduced this,(89) and it will be at once seen that we have the original of the disc now preserved in the _two circular scales_ which form the Sign of LIBRA. The next stage of the corruption is shown in the Akkadian name of _Scorpio_ (the Scorpion)—the Sign immediately to the left of the Altar. It was called _Gir‐tab_, which means _the Seizer and Stinger_, and the next Figure (2), taken from an Euphratean boundary stone,(90) shows the two Signs combined, for the Scorpion is stretching out its claws in order to _seize_ the _Lamp_ or _Altar_. [Illustration] Fig. 2—The Scorpion and the Lamp. (From a Euphratean Boundary Stone.) Thus the meaning of its name is exemplified. It is called the _Seizer and Stinger_. And just as in the constellation above it, the Serpent is struggling with the man, while at the same time it is stretching out its neck to seize the crown,(91) so here the Scorpion, while trying to _sting_ the same man in the heel, is stretching out its claws to _seize_ the altar. A seal on a contract, nearly 700 B.C., shows this Circular Altar actually in the grasp of the Scorpion. [Illustration] Fig. 3—Scorpion and Lamp. (From an Euphratean Seal.) Figure 3 is a picture of this Euphratean Seal, preserved on a contract made on the 8th day of the month _Tisri_, _i.e._, this same _seventh_ month!(92) This then is the next stage. But Mr. Robert Brown, junr., observes, “The _Circle_ or other representation of an _Altar_ not unnaturally disappeared as the use of the Sign advanced westward; whether by sea, or across Asia Minor, or both, and the _Chelai_ alone remained when the shores of the Ægean were reached.”(93) This is quite true, for the Greek name for the Sign was _Chelai_, which means simply _the Claws_. And thus the Scorpion monopolised two Signs; its body one, and its claws the other. This led to the mistake of SERVIUS, the intelligent commentator on VIRGIL,(94) that “the Chaldean Zodiac consisted of but eleven constellations.” We now know that there were twelve Signs, and the mistake is thus explained. [Illustration] Fig. 4—The Constellation of "the Claws." Formerly the Circular Altar, now Libra. Mr. Brown quotes ACHILLES TATIUS, about 475 A.D., in a Fragment on the _Phainomena_, who says, τὰς χηλὰς τὰς καλόυμένας ὑπ Ἀιγυπτίων Ζυγὸν.(95)