What animal is Aquarius?

Aquarius is the Water-Bearer, a human-form sign. Babylonian GU.LA. Greek Ganymede (abducted by Zeus-as-eagle, Homer Iliad 20.232–235). The primary animal-association is the eagle of Ganymede's abduction (see our eagle page).

Aquarius · Zodiac Spirit Animal

Aquarius Spirit Animal

Aquarius the Water-Bearer: Babylonian GU.LA ('the great one'), Greek identification with Ganymede (cup-bearer to Zeus) and Deucalion (the flood-survivor).

Published 2026-04-24

Engraved illustration of the Water-Bearer (Aquarius) from Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary, 1908. — Aquarius the Water-Bearer, from Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (1908). The Babylonian GU.LA ('the great one') represents the god Ea pouring water; the association with Ganymede, cupbearer to the gods, is a Hellenistic addition (Hyginus, Astronomica 2.29). *Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (1908). Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.*

Aquarius is the Water-Bearer (January 20 – February 18, Air element). Babylonian GU.LA ('the great one'). Greek identification with Ganymede, the Trojan prince abducted by Zeus-as-eagle to be cup-bearer to the gods (Homer Iliad 20.232–235, Ovid Met. 10.155–161). Secondary identification with Deucalion, the Greek flood-survivor. Primary animal-association: the eagle of Ganymede's abduction.

Aquarius is the Water-Bearer. Babylonian GU.LA. Greek Ganymede. See our eagle page for the Zeus-as-eagle abduction.

Frequently asked

What animal is Aquarius?: Aquarius is the Water-Bearer, a human-form sign. Babylonian GU.LA. Greek Ganymede (abducted by Zeus-as-eagle, Homer Iliad 20.232–235). The primary animal-association is the eagle of Ganymede's abduction (see our eagle page).

Sources

PRIMARYMUL.APIN (GU.LA) — Hunger & Pingree, 1989.
PRIMARYHomer, Iliad 20.232–235 (Ganymede) — Loeb Classical Library.
PRIMARYOvid, Metamorphoses 10.155–161 — Loeb.
PRIMARYPtolemy, Tetrabiblos — Loeb.