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
Name of Greece region of Asia Minor. In Greek, these forms have never normally been used to denote the whole Greek nation or Greece. In Sanskrit literature in India, the word यवन "yavana" is derived from this origin. It was used specifically for Greek people till 250BC while Indian kingdoms often traded with Greece. After Alexander's invasion on western borders of India, the word took a new meaning as foreigner or invader. The word यवन "yawan" meaning 'foreigner' is still in use in languages like Hindi, Marathi and Malayalam. The third major form, "Hellas" and its derivatives, is used by a few languages