The Lamb depicts the first coming of Jesus Christ. It is located between the Fishes — God's people — and the Whale, the image of death and hostile power. Therefore the Lamb shows Christ, who by His sacrifice liberates those who belong to Him from the power of sin, death, and the devil. Nearby is the Bull: the Lamb is Christ come to save; the Bull is Christ returning to judge.
Full interpretation
Verifiable historical, etymological and topographical statements are accompanied by sources. The theological conclusions are the project’s interpretation according to its published methodology.
The constellation Aries is located directly next to the Fishes, the Whale, the Bull, and the Triangle.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
On our map this is an extremely important position:
Fishes — Israel and the Church. Whale — the power of death and the ancient enemy. Lamb — Christ, liberating His people. Bull — Christ returning as Judge. Triangle — the Triune God.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Therefore the Lamb is at the very center of the history of salvation.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The Lamb between the Fishes and the Whale
The Fishes and the Whale indeed border the region of Aries: Aries is located between them on the celestial map.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
In our picture, the Whale tries to hold God's people in the power of death, and between it and the Fishes the Lamb appears.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
This is exactly how the New Testament describes the work of Christ:
"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
Christ comes not merely to tell people the truth. He comes to give Himself for them, to liberate them.
Therefore the meaning of the scene is:
Whale → Lamb → Fishes
power of death → sacrifice of Christ → liberated people of God.
The ancient Aries
The earliest known Mesopotamian image of this region was called LÚ.ḪUN.GÁ / Agru — "Hired Worker" and was originally represented as a human figure. However, later a transition to the image of a ram occurred: in texts of the second half of the first millennium, the sign was already interpreted as ram—a ram, facilitated by a play on cuneiform readings. Even calendar recipes existed with this sign, using the blood, fat, and wool of a ram.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Therefore the image of the Ram here is not a modern invention.
The Arabic name of the constellation al-ḥamal means "Lamb, Ram," and from it comes the name of the main star Hamal.
This is a reliable key:
Lamb.
The real meanings of the stars
Hamal — α Arietis comes from the Arabic al-ḥamal — "Lamb, Ram."
Sheratan — β Arietis comes from the Arabic al-sharaṭān. This is the name of the pair β and γ Ari; it means "two"—possibly "Two Signs" or "Two Horns," but the exact original meaning is unknown. It does not mean "bruise."
The Lamb as sacrifice
In Scripture, the image of the Lamb is directly connected with Christ.
John the Baptist says:
"Behold the Lamb of God."
Isaiah prophetically depicts the Suffering One:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
"He was led as a sheep to the slaughter."
And in Revelation, John sees Christ:
"A Lamb standing as if slain."
Therefore here the connection does not need a dubious etymology.
Lamb → sacrifice of Christ is the direct language of the New Testament.
What the Lamb does
The Lamb liberates God's people from what the Whale represents:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
from the power of sin; from the power of death; from slavery to the devil; from condemnation.
Christ entered death, but death could not hold Him.
Therefore His resurrection means the defeat of the power of the Whale:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
"That through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil."
And God's people receive life.
The Lamb and the Bull
Next to the Lamb is the Bull.
And this is one of the main pairs of the entire map.
Lamb — the first coming. Bull — the Second Coming.
The first time Christ comes to save:
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."
The second time He appears as King and Judge.
Therefore:
LAMB → BULL
Sacrifice → Judge
And above this region is the Triangle:
Triangle → Lamb → Bull
Triune God → Christ the Sacrifice → Christ the Judge.
Unified meaning
The constellation of the Lamb shows the central event of Christ's first coming:
God's people are before the power of death. The Son of God comes as the Lamb. He gives Himself as a sacrifice. Through His death and resurrection, the power of the enemy is destroyed. God's people receive liberation and eternal life.
Therefore the Lamb is Christ of the first coming.
He came not to judge the world, but to save it.
But next to Him already stands the Bull—a reminder that His next coming will be different.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
