Taurus

Historical Background
Taurus is traditionally the second constellation out of 12 in the Zodiac. It represents a bull. Cultures as far back as the Stone Age associated it with the bull (though some of these cultures may have viewed Taurus as an aurochs, a giant bull which makes modern bulls look small. It had long horns, like the constellation). It is an Earth-element sign and a Fixed sign (signs considered to have determination and stubborn refusal to change their position/view). Taurus governs the 2nd house (values, possessions, security, stability, self-worth, resources) and is ruled by the celestial body Venus, a planet it shares with the zodiac sign Libra (though one of those two signs may be assigned to the new 10th planet discovered in recent years). Taurus as a constellation is bounded by Aries, Gemini, Cetus, Orion, Perseus, Auriga, and Eridanus. Its named stars are (from Alpha to Eta): Aldebaran, Elnath, Prima Hyadum, Secunda Hyadum, Ain, Alheka. The Pleiades, a bright star cluster of ~500 stars (of which 7 are distinctly visible) is also found in the Taurus constellation. Traditionally, people born from April 20 to May 20 are considered Taurus. Taurus is Latin for "Bull".

In Greek mythology, this constellation represents Zeus when he took the form of a white bull in order to traverse The Sea (an area of the sky filled with several aquatic-themed constellations) to win Princess Europa from her father, King Minos, as his mistress.