What animal is Libra?

Libra is the Scales, not an animal. Babylonian ZIB.BA.AN.NA. Greek Chelae (Scorpio's claws). Roman Libra from 1st century BCE. Secondary dove/swan associations via Venus-ruled air-element.

Libra · Zodiac Spirit Animal

Libra Spirit Animal

Libra the Scales: Babylonian ZIB.BA.AN.NA ('balance of heaven'), Greek Chelae ('claws' of Scorpio), Roman re-introduction as Libra from the 1st century BCE.

Published 2026-04-24

Engraved illustration of the Scales (Libra) from Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary, 1908. — Libra the Scales, from Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (1908). The only non-living zodiac symbol, the scales were originally the claws of Scorpius; separated as Zugon ('yoke' or 'scales') by Roman astronomers around 50–45 BCE. *Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (1908). Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.*

Libra is the Scales (Sept 23 – Oct 22, Air). Babylonian ZIB.BA.AN.NA ('balance of heaven'). Greeks called the stars Chelae (claws of Scorpio); Romans re-introduced Libra as an independent sign from the 1st century BCE. No primary animal; secondary dove, swan associations via Venus-ruled air-element.

Libra is the Scales. Babylonian ZIB.BA.AN.NA. Greeks called the stars Scorpio’s claws; Romans re-introduced Libra independently. No primary animal.

Frequently asked

What animal is Libra?: Libra is the Scales, not an animal. Babylonian ZIB.BA.AN.NA. Greek Chelae (Scorpio's claws). Roman Libra from 1st century BCE. Secondary dove/swan associations via Venus-ruled air-element.

Sources

PRIMARYMUL.APIN (ZIB.BA.AN.NA) — Hunger & Pingree, 1989.
PRIMARYAratus, Phaenomena — Cambridge, 1997.
PRIMARYPtolemy, Tetrabiblos — Loeb.