Taurus 6

Years ago in Memphis, Egypt, archaeologists unearthed the ancient tomb of the Apis-bulls and could hardly believe what they found. Leading to the tomb itself was a broad paved avenue lined by lions carved out of stone. To enter the tomb, one walked through a long and high arched corridor cut into solid rock. It extended for 2,000 feet and was 20 feet wide and 20 feet tall. Many recesses along each side of the corridor had been carved into the rock and each held the ornately entombed remains of Apis-bulls as each one died.

Spring was the time when festivals honoring the Apis-bulls were held. It was also a time when the River Nile gently overflowed its banks and brought life-giving water to the land, a time for planting to begin. At this time in history, roughly around 4000 B.C., the Sun's position along the Zodiac on the first day of spring, or Vernal Equinox, was in that constellation we now recognize as Taurus, the Bull. So for many centuries Taurus was to be the first and most important constellation of the Zodiac. Some have suggested that Taurus may have been the first Zodiac constellation invented.

Gradually the white bull wandered closer to the sea and when near the beach ran into the water and began swimming towards the island of Crete. By this time is was to late for Europa to climb off. When the two arrived to Crete, Zeus changed himself back into his own form. Realizing that he could not marry Europa himself, Zeus gave her in marriage to Asterius, king of Crete. When you look for Taurus in the sky, don't expect to find the entire bull. You are supposed to see only his front half. The explanation is that his hind quarters are underwater since he is quite busy carrying Europa across the sea to Crete. Don't really expect to see the shape of the front quarters of a bull, except in your imagination.