Zodiac Sign

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21 · Water · Mars (traditional), Pluto (modern by most Western schools)

Traditional BirthstoneTopaz (in ancient traditions), Beryl

Modern BirthstoneTopaz / Citrine

ElementWater

Ruling PlanetMars (traditional), Pluto (modern by most Western schools)

Associated crystals

TopazOpen in the Dictionary GarnetOpen in the Dictionary MalachiteOpen in the Dictionary ObsidianOpen in the Dictionary BloodstoneOpen in the Dictionary

Associated herbs

NettleOpen in the Dictionary PatchouliOpen in the Dictionary CayenneOpen in the Dictionary AshwagandhaOpen in the Dictionary HawthornOpen in the Dictionary

Source Tradition

In Ptolemy's system, Scorpio is the second house of Mars and part of the Water-triplicity (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). The Egyptian priest Manetho (3rd century BCE) associated topaz with Mars; in the Hindu Navaratna, red coral (moonga) is Mars's gem, though topaz appears in later Western Scorpio lists. The 1912 Jewelers of America list assigned topaz to November; citrine was added as an affordable alternate in 1952. Beryl (including aquamarine) appears in some ancient Hebrew breastplate associations.

Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Book I; Manetho, Apotelesmatika, 3rd century BCE; Jewelers of America, 1912 and 1952 updatesExplore sourcing notes in the Appendix