ARIES

(Lat. the Ram.) The first constellation of the ancient zodiac. Aries also denotes the first sign or the firs: 30 degrees ol the zodiac; the first point of Aries being the point in which the equator intersects the ecliptic, and from which the longitudes are reckoned. In ancient tin signs and constellations of tlie zodiac coincided; but owing to the prece ion of the equinoxes, the twelve signs gc backward among the constellations, at the rale of aboul I0 annually,constellation and Pisces.the first point of Aries is now situate in the Aries. In ancient Military Science, the Latin nameol the battering ram. an instrument with an iron head used b> batter and beat down the walls of besieged places. [s. 99]