The constellation Pisces depicts the two peoples of God — Israel and the Church — bound together by one divine plan of salvation. The two Fishes swim in different directions, but two lines connect them, converging at one point — the star Alrescha, whose name means 'rope, binding cord'. Already in ancient tradition this point was called the Heavenly Knot. Beneath the Fishes lies Cetus — the image of Satan and the power of death seeking to hold God's people. Nearby are Aquarius, bearing living water, and the Lamb, through whom liberation comes. Thus the heavenly picture shows Israel and the Church, joined by one promise of God and receiving life through Christ.
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 Pisces consists of two separate fishes moving in different directions. One points upward, to the north, the other sideways along the celestial equator. Their bodies are separated by a great distance, but from the tail of each Fish goes a long starry thread, and both threads meet at one point. Such a structure of the constellation was already known to ancient astronomers.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
In the biblical picture, these two Fishes represent Israel and the Church.
The first Fish — Israel, the people of God, chosen through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Through Israel, God gave the world Scripture, promises, and finally Christ Himself.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The second Fish, pointing upward — the Church, formed after the coming of Christ and including believing Jews and people from all nations.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
But these are not two independent histories. Both Fishes are connected by one thread.
Especially important is the star Alrescha — α Piscium, located where the two starry lines meet. Its Arabic name al-rishāʾ means 'rope, cord'. Ptolemy described this star as being 'on the knot connecting the two threads', and already Aratus called this point the Heavenly Knot.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
This remarkably conveys the biblical picture: Israel and the Church are bound together by one divine plan.
The Church did not arise independently of Israel. Christ came through Israel; the first apostles were Jews; the New Testament grew out of the fulfilment of the promises given to Israel. Through Abraham's offspring the blessing was to be extended to all families of the earth.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Therefore the two Fishes are distinct but joined.
Jesus expressed this principle in words:
'I have other sheep that are not of this fold... and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.'
That is why the joining point of the two Fishes has such deep meaning. God's plan does not consist in eternal separation, but in the gathering of all the saved people around one Savior.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
At the same time, beneath the Fishes lies Cetus, which in the overall heavenly picture represents Satan, fallen spiritual powers, and the power of death. It is especially significant that the very knot of the Fishes — Alrescha — is near the border with Cetus.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
This repeats the already familiar picture of the Little Flock. There the Dragon surrounds Israel. Here Cetus is under the two Fishes, as if trying to hold both peoples of God.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The enemy sought to destroy Israel because through Israel Christ was to come. After the Church appeared, the same spiritual war continued against the followers of Christ. Therefore Cetus is under both Fishes: both Israel and the Church pass through opposition to the forces of sin, death, and darkness.
But the Savior appears nearby.
Near the Fishes is Aquarius, the image of God pouring out the water of life. In the biblical picture, water is life and the action of the Holy Spirit. God's people cannot live from themselves: they live because God pours out His water upon them.
Therefore the sequence here is very clear:
Cetus below — the power of death. Two Fishes — Israel and the Church. One Knot — the single divine plan. Aquarius — the living water of the Holy Spirit. The Lamb — the Savior, liberating God's people from the enemy's power.
It is especially interesting that the oldest Mesopotamian history of this region does not yet contain the classical two Fishes: in MUL.APIN there were the Tails of the Swallow and Anunitu, and the image of connected Fishes formed later in antiquity. But when the image of two Fishes finally appears, its most unusual and enduring feature is precisely two separate figures connected by a common thread and one knot.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
This is exactly the main meaning of the constellation.
Israel and the Church — two Fishes. They have different histories, but are bound by one promise of God, one Savior, and one plan of salvation. Through Christ, people from all nations are joined to the blessing given to Abraham and receive one water of life from God.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
