Since I've learned of it, I've been fascinated by the planet Jupiter. This was especially true when I learned that in the famous storm spot, seen just below the equatorial center, five planet Earths can fit side-by-side. I don't know if that's true, but the concept really blew my mind as to Jupiter's size. I am not alone in my fascination:
"Jupiter is 5th planet away from the Sun and the largest planet in the Solar System. Its diameter is 89,000 miles (the Earth's diameter is 8,000 miles). It orbits the Sun every 11.86 every year. It has 15 moons, 4 of which are visible to Earth through a telescope. It is the 5th planet away from the sun
In the natal chart it is considered the planet of good luck, optimism, success, generosity. Jupiter brings joy to life. It is the planet of expansiveness and abundance. Jupiter is the planet of greater fortune (Venus is the planet of lesser fortune). Jupiter rules over luck, heath, happiness, wealth, and worldly goods, knowledge, higher learning, vision and honesty. Jupiter imparts philosophical wisdom, whereas Mercury imparts day to day cleverness.
The Babylonian equivalent of Jupiter was Marduk, King of the Gods. The story of creation is centered around him. The primordial sea serpent, Tiamat, revolted against the gods. Marduk was chosen as their champion and he defeated the armies of darkness and killed Tiamat. Marduk fashioned the earth and sky from the remains of Tiamat's gigantic corpse. He put the stars in the heavens and created the calendar.
The Greek god, Zeus, who became Jupiter in Roman mythology, drew lots with his brothers to share the Universe. Hades drew the underworld, Poseidon drew the sea and Zeus became the supreme ruler. He was Lord of the Sky, the god of rain and the gatherer of clouds who controled the thunderbolt. His power was greater than all the others, but he was not omnipotent or omniscient.
Zeus had the power to elevate to immortality, to release from suffering, and place among the stars, as he did Chiron, Sagittarius, Hercules and Calisto. He could also condemn as he did Prometheus, Cronus and Asclepius. Zeus had a special throne at the top of Mr. Olympus where he could see everything below. On Zeus' shoulders were 2 ravens named Thought and Memory who advised him.
Jupiter/Zeus as a lover seems to have been oversexed, for he had many children with many different women. He was not interested in forming relationships and in Jupiter's sign Sagittarius, it manifests a lively but uncommitted sexuality worthy of Jupiter/Zeus. Ancient Greek astrologers associated Zeus with Leo, which is the sign that symbolizes children. Jupiter's mythological children represent his prolific creativity rather than that of an excessive sexual nature.
Jupiter is a significator of good fortune and good fellowship. In Latin, he is called Jove, hence the word jovial. Jupiter(Zeus) was the God of Thunder and could be terrifying at times. Like his daughter, Athene, his armor pictured Medusa's face and his bird was the eagle. The oak tree was sacred to Zeus, a symbol of his kingship. The priests at his temple in Dodona, devined the future by listening to the rustling of the wind through a grove of oak trees.
Juno is Jupiter's female polarity."The Mythology of Jupiter
