Geograph - photograph every grid square

There are a series of twelve stained glass windows at the highest level of the Central Hall of Mount Stuart.
They are arranged in four sets of three above the sides of the square hall and immediately below the celestial ceiling which echoes the constellations depicted in the windows.
Curiously the 'first' window is Pisces rather than Aries which is normally considered the 'first sign of the Zodiac' with Pisces being the last.
There are two possible explanations for this however - either or perhaps both are the reason.
The first is that the measurement of the heavens is taken from a point known as 'The first point of Aries' - this, as the name suggests was originally in Aries - but now, due to the precession of the equinoxes, it is in Pisces (and has been since c.70BC) - in around 2600 it will move into Aquarius (so the song, "This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius" is a little premature).
The second possible reason is that the constellations have been grouped together in seasons viz:
Spring: Pisces, Aries, Taurus (Feb 18th - May 21st)
Summer: Gemini, Cancer, Leo (May 21st - Aug 23rd)
Autumn: Virgo, Libra, Scorpio (Aug 23rd - Nov 22nd)
Winter: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius (Nov 22nd - Feb 18th)

As well as representing each of the twelve Zodiacal signs, the windows also depict a number of the other constellations that are nearby to the ecliptic (the sine wave which links the Zodiac and is the apparent path of the sun throughout the year). For example the enormously long constellation Hydra snakes its way from Cancer through Leo and Virgo to Libra.
In addition to these constellations various other Greek deities and heroes are also represented, with their names helpfully given in Greek (in most cases).

This superbly executed stained glass was designed by H W Lonsdale Link and executed by William Worrall Link of Saunders & Co. Link

Created: Mon, 25 Jul 2022, Updated: Tue, 26 Jul 2022