Niobe 71

Asteroid NiobeNiobe was a descendant of the gods, granddaughter of Zeus, whose husband had founded the city of Thebes; she was inordinately proud of her heritage and her fourteen children. Once during the annual festival honoring Leto and her children by Zeus, Apollo and Artemis, Niobe rebuked her fellow citizens, exclaiming that her own fortunes were better than Leto’s, and her own children more worthy, and greater in number. Why then should the Thebans honor Leto, who was merely Zeus’ paramour?

Leto heard the insult, and urged her children to avenge her by killing Niobe’s offspring, which they did, loosing deadly arrows at them. Niobe’s husband killed himself in grief at the tragedy, and Niobe fled to the wild, where she was transformed into a huge rock that ceaselessly wept tears of remorse

Astrologically, Niobe represents undue pride in one’s accomplishments, gifts, heritage or fortunes, and the fall from grace which often accompanies this. It can indicate issues with one’s own children, boastfulness, and inordinate self-importance, arrogance or conceit. Often humbling experiences will accrue, granting enhanced perspective or teaching important lessons.

Alex Miller is a professional writer and astrologer, author of The Black Hole Book, detailing deep space points in astrological interpretation, and the forthcoming Heaven on Earth, a comprehensive study of asteroids, both mythic and personal. Alex is a frequent contributor to “The Mountain Astrologer”, “Daykeeper Journal”, and NCGR’s Journals and “Enews Commentary”; his work has also appeared in “Aspects” magazine, “Dell Horoscope”, “Planetwaves”, “Neptune Café” and “Sasstrology.” He is a past president of Philadelphia Astrological Society, and a former board member for the Philadelphia Chapter of NCGR.

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  1. […] At 28° Aquarius, Asteroid Niobe conjuncts the Full Moon. According to Alex Asteroid Astrology: […]

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