The ancient people also noticed that people born in a specific time of the year are under some sort of celestial influence that gives us a rough form of a specific personality.
The names of the Apostles in the sitting order are based on Leonardo's Notebooks.
From this perspective, four groups of three Apostles, from right to left are:
Spring Signs:
1. Simon the Zealot - Aries
2. Jude Thaddeus - Taurus
3. Matthew the Evangelist - Gemini
Summer Signs:
4. Philip - Crab
5. James the Great - Leo
6. Thomas the Apostle - Virgo
Autumn Signs
7. John the Apostle - Libra
8. Judas Iscariot - Scorpio
9. Simon Peter - Sagittarius
Winter Signs
10. Andrew the Apostle - Capricorn
11. James Minor - Aquarius
12. Bartholomew - Pisces
Spring Signs
On the right side, from the left: Simon (Aries), Jude Thaddeus (Taurus) and Matthew (Gemini), are excitedly conversing. Their demonstrative hands gestures is in a dynamic succession, drawing our attention from the edge of the painting towards its centre.
However they seem to be cut off from the rest; they are clearly rapt in their own circle. The three Spring signs relate to the Self, they are more self-absorbed and self-centred then other Apostles/Signs.
1. Simon the Zealot - Aries
The first apostle on the right is Simon who stands for Aries. His distinctive head (astrologically Aries is connected to the head and head-strong qualities), open-up palms suggests sincerity. He says clearly 'no' with his hands, 'I have nothing to do with it, I am innocent' as another Aries fixture.
He is an obscure apostle among others - very little record of him can be found, aside from his name listed only in Luke's Gospel. "Zealot" (zealous - devout, ardent, fervent, fiery) could mean he was a member of the Zealots, a 1st century Jewish sect, who wanted to get rid off of the Romans by force. We can easily sense the familiarity with the Aries characteristics.
2. Jude Thaddeus - Taurus
Thaddeus, the Apostle immediately to Simon's left, symbolises Taurus. His powerful posture coupled with his hands one pointing at his neck (Taurean refference as it rules throat) and the other on the table are a testament to Taurus appearance and character.
The world he had trusted is going to change dramatically, apparently - this is not something Taurus welcomes with ease. A Sign of great material stability, any change has to come slow and after much debate.
Juda Thaddeus is distinguished from Juda Iscariot, sitting at Scorpio placement. Taurus and Scorpio are paired with each other (as all other Zodiac signs) based on opposition - attraction principle.
There is very little of him in New Testament. Luke gives different name to the apostle (Jude, son or brother of James) compared to the one mentioned in Matthew and Mark (Thaddeus). Jude and Thaddeus were decided to be made a one person.
He later became patron of desperate cases and lost causes. Da Vinci could interpret this as being matter-of fact, reliable and practical, another strong Taurean feature.
3. Matthew the Evangelist - Gemini
Next comes Matthew who represents the sign of Gemini. The head and arms point in different directions, symbolising curious, contradictory, busy, fidgety energy of Gemini, that wants to have their share in other people affairs.
This apostle is well known. Matthew is believed to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew. He is widely presented only in this Gospel. Self-advertisement, self-promotion, as we would say today, of which Gemini people are never too far away.
Interestingly, Matthew and John, the alleged authors of the Gospels, are the only two Evangelists among the chosen Twelve, both residing in Air element signs: Gemini and Libra. They both are connected to passing on information, reading and writing. (The other two Evangelists, Mark and Lucas, were not among the Twelve Apostles).
In Leonardo's painting there are quite visible, distinctive Gemini feature - youthfulness, motion, his arms are well pronounced, being the symbol of the Sign.
Matthew, in his "own" writing, was a tax collector, before joining Joshua's (Jesus) crew.
The main characteristics of Gemini: communication, youthfulness, activity, versatility, self-importance, are traditionally associated with exchange of words and money - writing, publishing, trading, marketing.
Summer Signs
The next group engages with Christ announcement more directly. Philip (Crab), James (Leo), Thomas Virgo), represent the Summer season. Astrology describes this quarter as abilities to
connect with the world in a
familiar environment.
Their heads are close together suggesting the importance of close relations, yet distinctively different from each other.
4. Philip - Crab
Philip who stands for the sign of Cancer, the Crab is leaning forward, half raised from his seat, touching his
heart in a closed hand gesture. He seems quite disturbed. His
raised appearance says he is an
emotional type, deeply
moved, now nearly heartbroken, with his hands towards the middle-chest.
Philip figures most prominently in the Gospel of John. He gives Jesus the opportunity to talk about the relation between the God-Father and the Son.
Crab sign is the most 'family oriented' and feminine of all Zodiac signs. It stands for caring, nurturing, seeking safety, giving protection and needing it. The feelings are vulnerable. The red robe perhaps stands for his acridity, tartness as the Crab people can be very sarcastic and snappy.
It is worth mentioning that the Gnostic Gospel of Philip, found in the early 20th century in Nag Hammadi, among other early Christian writings, puts Mary Magdalene in a completely different view then those earlier, acclaimed by the Roman Church.
Leonardo and other painters must had been familiar with its content to some degree - Mary Magdalene has a pivotal role in many Renaissance paintings. The feminine connection in the Philip-Cancer relation is quite rightly strong here.
5. James the Greater - Leo
James, son of Zebedee, stands for the sign of Leo. There is a robust confidence and theatrical drama in his act of stretching the arms so widely. Leo needs a lot of space to express his feelings, and it has to be in a grand manner. He seems to be virtuous, openhearted, and a bit pompous. His face strikingly resembles that of Jesus' - as no other apostle. In astrology, Leo sign is ruled by the Sun itself.
The Gospels state he was one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles records him as the first of the apostles to be martyred. In Christian terms, martyrs are the celebrities of faith. Leo is all about being the first to be noticed - whatever the life-stage. Showing off, marking his presence, craving for appreciation. It makes him so proud.
The Way of St. James is famously related to the Spanish town of Santiago de Compostella - one of the most popular pilgrimages for the Catholics. When 25th July, when the Sun is traditionally entering Leo sign, falls on a Sunday it is a ″Jubilee″ year, and a special door is opened for entrance into the Santiago - oh yes, the Leo likes the splendour.
6. Thomas the Apostle - Virgo
Barely visible, hiding behind the scene of James, is Thomas, symbol for the modest sign of Virgo. This is 'Doubting Thomas' - face on. He disbelieved in Christ resurrection, when first told of it, and demanded to touch the wounds.
Virgoans are down-to-earth people, they do need tangible results and proves. Thomas is pointing upwards, perhaps asking for one shred of evidence. Virgos cautious, critical and questioning nature may also be in him saying 'Didn't I warn you?'
Virgo's agile mind will not follow easily the general trend; rather on the contrary. So here he is - stoical, even a bit satisfied that his whining came to an effect, perhaps.
According to another legend, Thomas was the only witness to the assumption of the Virgin Mary, and caught her girdle, a symbol of virginity.
The sign of Virgo from Greek mythology depicts Astrea, who also raised to heaven in her virgin, pure state. Quite convincing substance even for doubting Virgo.
Christ
He seats in the middle - at the calendar point of Autumn Equinox, the time of traditional Great Feast of the Harvest in agricultural societies. This is when the Wheel of the Year is cut in half - like a bread, and than in smaller pieces, given to everybody. Leonardo makes it quite clear here, voluntarily or involuntarily. The religion is derived from customs related to the circular passing of time.
Of course, the Christians relate the Last Supper to the moment of Easter, around the Spring Equinox. But this is the First Supper really, after months of near starvation when people had been dependant on food from natural resources. The meaning behind the celebration is not always right and here, Leonardo is aware - the Last Supper happens on the verge of Autumn time.
This is when the Sun is going to 'die'. From around 23rd of September, in the Northern Hemisphere sunlight of days gives way to the darkness of nights. The annunciation of Jesus doomed fate relates to this astronomical fact.
Autumn Signs
The third group, John (Libra), Judas (Scorpio) and Simon Peter (Sagittarius), is of the most complex significance. The signs are in the third quarter of the years, relating to development of serious relationships. There is intimacy between them, they seat so close to each other.
7. John the Apostle - Libra
Continuing on the other side of Jesus we find John, his favourite apostle, the Beloved one, who unmistakably stands for the sign of Libra. His whole silhouette expresses Libra's delicacy, culture, love for harmony.
Libra stands for all kinds of partnership but the most important is of course marriage.
John is often identified as Mary Magdalene. Some find it as an indication of a marriage between her and Jesus. In this instance, John is a symbol of marriage, quite right. Anyway, it was 'normal' at the time for a young man, and John was the youngest of the disciples, to be portrayed as effeminate.
Christian tradition identifies John as the author of one of the Gospels, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation, although modern scholars argue they were three separate persons; the author of the Gospel of John never identifies himself by name.
John is the one to remain calm and composed. As if he knew something more. He leans towards Simon Peter to hear what he is saying. The intimate communication in relationship of Libra sign. Gentle and romantic, maybe a bit sad but certainly diplomatic. Harmony and balance emanates from this figure.
One of St. John's attributes is a cauldron or a chalice with a serpent in it. Sigmund Freud would have something to say... it is a popular symbol of vagina, in dreams and in art.
8. Judas Iscariot - Scorpio
Judas is pictured in Leonardo's 'The Last Supper' as the eighth disciple corresponding to the eighth sign of the zodiac, Scorpio. His dark and grim expression stands for the energy of Scorpio, the sign of power, mystery, death and transformation.
Scorpio is regarded as the most suspicious, jealous, passionate and possessive Zodiac sign. His role as Judas Iscariot is more then adequate. Judas has betrayed Jesus for a bribe of "thirty pieces of silver".
Scorpio is known to have two natures. One is the Scorpion - a low-lying insect which will either sting and kill itself if backed into a corner. The other is the Eagle (as depicted in the Apostles symbols) - a bird which is free to use its energies to fly to the highest of mountain tops, where it achieves with its extraordinary vision the highest and widest of views, but can cling sharply to the victims body with its firm claws.
Of course Scorpio character is not a back-stabbing, money-grubbing traitor. Quite contrary - he is one of the most loyal in the Zodiac. Only when Scorpio is offended or paid for, will show his most ferocious traits.
In astro-mythological terms, the kiss of Judas is as venomous as the Scorpio sting. He reflects the all important mythological figure, around the world, recognised as trickster. His evil doings serve greater good. If not his presence, the transformation of the matter cannot be done. And the matter is that Jesus/Sun must die, must be sacrificed, on the big cross of the calendar wheel. Nature has to die in order to be reborn, resurrected. Those life-death mysteries and intensity are familiar to every Scorpio person
A Coptic text titled the Gospel of Judas, suggests that Jesus may have asked Judas to betray him. Whatever the reason for the treason, Da Vinci's masterpiece catches the secretive character: his silhouette is darker than others, he's leaning backward, as a mark of reflective, reserved nature of Scorpio.
He's holding a bag, the other hand in gesture as reaching for something rapidly. Behind his back is the troubling hand with a dagger, representing the Scorpio's vehement sting.
9. Simon Peter - Sagittarius
The next apostle is Peter, the Sagittarian among the apostles. He appears to be
dynamic and
energetic, but in a rather
chaotic sense.
All of what we know about St. Peter does quite fit to the Sagittarian qualities - he is known for travelling extensively, he is restless in his faith, and acting as a spokesman for the rest of the Apostles.
Peter, according to Christian tradition, is the most important figure among the Apostles. He establishes the church - and this is another of Sagittarius traits - confront and conformed to a system of beliefs.
Sagittarius constellation had been, about that time, just moving into the point of Winter Solstice, around which the most celebrated holiday has been held for thousands of years - the re-birth of the Sun, in Christianity known as Christmas.
The previous constellation at the Midwinter point was Capricorn, and this sign is clearly related to mountains and rocks. After Simon's transformation he is called Peter - petra, rock in Greek - by Jesus (as a sign of that shift?).
“On this rock I will build my church” - is surprising because Peter proved to be unlikely a symbol of stability. In Matthew he is called of "little faith", and "Satan" by Jesus, and denies the Christ, three times. The Keeper of the Keys of Heaven, a point where the Galactic Black Hole is in the Sagittarius constellation - taken symbolically, where the most important in astronomical calendar event occurs - the Winter Solstice.
In Gospels, Peter is the first apostle to enter the empty tomb and the first to see the risen Christ. Those events relate to the Winter Solstice pre-celebration mood, of great expectation, optimism, exuberance, faith, mystery.
It is surprising that being such a role-model in forming the religion, many of books ascribed to Peter (another Gospel, his Acts, and another Revelation) are rejected by Church as apocrypha. This is quite in line with Sagittarius. He is an important figure in every gathering, but can be easily dismissed because of his flamboyant outlook and behaviour.
Da Vinci's Peter is keen, lively, interested, he reaches out to grasp the Truth, beckons towards the closest source, St. John, thinking that he should ask who it should be of whom the Master spoke. Peter, with his hand on John's shoulder, is asking John "Who does he say it is?". Sagittarians like to know what’s going on around them.
Many think that Peter is holding the mysterious dagger; his hand is twisted backwards away from Judas, at a very odd angle. He would cut someone’s ear off, as it is written in Scriptures. Had Leonardo's thoughts about the Church been present here? That the main apostle was a traitor and the Church propagates false teachings? Again, many believe it was so. Nevertheless, the posture depicting Peter is very Sagittarian - curious, eager, straightforward, bustling. And a bit dangerous.
Winter Signs
Andrew, James Minor and Bartholomew form a group of the last three. They are the most
composed ones. They consider it with a
cool, detached notion, as the Winter
cold climate appears.
10. Andrew the Apostle - Capricorn
Andrew seems
aloof but at the same time
clear, distinctive and
decisive. His hands are raised in a gesture that indicates where his own
boundaries are, making it the most
steadfast impression of all the apostles.
He is patron saint of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which is seen first among equals of all the Eastern
Orthodox Churches. Its archbishop is traditionally seen as successor of St. Andrew in the same way as popes in Rome are successors of St. Peter. Capricorn is the sign of
conservatism and orthodoxy in some regards but do not forget the great
hierarchical pomp that goes with it. It all fits well with the Capricorn characteristic.
Peter and Andrew had similar requests concerning their crucifixion - they deemed themselves unworthy to be nailed on the same type of cross as Jesus, thus providing Christian symbology with another two types of cross: the inverted cross (Satanists cross), and the Crux decussata - Saint Andrew's Cross (X-shaped cross). And we may think again about the centre of the Galaxy, symbolised by the crosses.
The diagonal cross became in Byzantium a symbol of Christian-imperial power. To such strong power and structure the sign of Capricorn is also attached.
Again, in Da Vinci masterpiece, Andrew has a lot of similarity to the Capricornian main qualities: he seems confident and prudent, stern and strong-willed, disciplined, loyal, cold, composed. His open palms show us that he would not tolerate any dirty-tricks and that he distances himself from what was just announced.
11. James the Just - Aquarius
The next disciple is James, son of Alphaeus, who is the Aquarian among the disciples. He has physical contact with both Andrew and Peter, symbolising the Aquarian ideal of contact with like-minded people.
An important leader in the early Christian history, very vague and surprisingly underestimated in later tradition. Named both in New Testament and by Josephus Flavius (1st century Jewish historian), the "brother of Jesus". What does it mean, no one exactly knows. It is assumed by Christian Churches as "cousin". And in astrology it means the 'like-minded people' of whom Aquarians are very fond of and their hobbies they can engaged.
In the Act of Apostles he is the leader of Jewish Christians in Jerusalem and being later the first bishop or patriarch of Holy City. What Leonardo knew about the James is a guess-work, though he clearly visualised him as an Aquarian type on the Last Supper mural - friendly, kind, liberal, and a bit quirky.
There is however one more clue as to Da Vinci's mischievous brilliance: James seems to be pointing with his left hand to the person who he think or feels is or would be a traitor. But who is it - Peter or Judas Iscariot? He likes a puzzle.
12. Bartholomew - Pisces
The last apostle is Bartholomew, who represents Pisces, the sign that completes the Wheel of the Zodiac. He smiles mysteriously. He seems to be observing the proceedings with an air of equanimity without really being involved. A seclusive nature of Pisces, that prefer to be engaged in serving the public on their own.
Little is known of him. He is mentioned by name in New Testament, but apart from that there are no records of his words or action, and this is typical for Pisces - to be working quietly away, doing their duties diligently, sacrificing their energy.
According to legend his body was found off the shore and brought to Cathedral by children.
Looking at the painting one can see Bartholomew's Piscean concern and sadness. He is so emotionally involved that it threats to his sense of well-being and would break his heart. He seems frightened and scared and his affectionate nature is looking in hope that what he's just heard is not true.
Pisceans are often described as living in self-denial, for good or bad, in assumptions only to protect their sensitive nature.
***
Leonardo's mastermind piece of art puzzled many along the timeline. He worked on the Last Supper for many years, abandoning the project and resurging it - as if he gained a knowledge how to depict the missing parts. There are many interpretations of his art. This is one of them.
