The symbol for Jupiter is said to represent a hieroglyph of the eagle, Jove's bird, or to be the initial letter of Zeus with a line drawn through it to indicate its abbreviation. The symbol for Mars represents the shield and spear of the god of war, Mars it is also the male or masculine symbol. The symbol for Earth shows a globe bisected by meridian lines into four quarters, thought to represent the four main points of a compass, North, South, East and West. The symbol for Venus is designated as the female symbol, thought to be the stylized representation of the hand mirror of this goddess of love. The symbol for Mercury represents the head and winged cap of Mercury, god of commerce and communication, surmounting his caduceus (staff). Some believe this inner circle, or 'boss' represents a central sun spot. The astronomical symbol for the Sun is a shield with a circle inside. (A key should always be given if any such special symbols ae used.)' The Symbols According to the ' IAU Style Manual,' 'In general, the special symbols for the names of planets and certain astronomical phenomena, such as conjunctions, should not be used.

The International Astronomical Union, the scientific organization responsible for naming things in space, discourages the use of symbols like these in scientific publications. The symbols for the planets, dwarf planet Pluto, Moon and Sun (along with the symbols for the zodiac constellations) were developed for use in both astronomy and astrology.

Old zodiac glyphs