Zodiac celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun's position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude. The English word ' derives from ', the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek "zōidiakòs kýklos" (), meaning "cycle or circle of little animals". "Zōidion" () is the diminutive of "zōion" (, "animal"). The name reflects the prominence of animals (and mythological hybrids) among the twelve signs. The zodiac was in use by the Roman era, based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic astronomy from Babylonian astronomy of the Chaldean
Theophoric name Theophoric name A theophoric name (from Greek: , "theophoros", literally "bearing or carrying a god") embeds the name of a god, both invoking and displaying the protection of that deity. For example, names embedding Apollo, such as "Apollonios" or "Apollodorus", existed in Greek antiquity. Theophoric personal names, containing the name of a god in whose care the individual is entrusted (or a generic word for "god"), were also exceedingly common in the ancient Near East and Mesopotamia. Some names of theophoric origin remain common today, such as Theodore ("theo-", "god"; "-dore", origin of word compound in Greek: "doron", "gift"; hence