The Mythology Behind The Libra Constellation Explained
Over its history, Libra became associated with a few myths, according to Dark Sky, particularly based around the concepts of justice and commerce (scales were and are an important tool for trading bulk goods).
According to Britannica, the woman holding the scales is said to be Astraea, a Greek goddess of justice. When the earth became overrun with wickedness, Astraea was the last of the gods to remain among humans before departing to live among the stars, according to the Roman writer Ovid in his "Metamorphoses" (via The Metropolitan Museum of Art). In Ovid, she is depicted as becoming the constellation Virgo, but other myths have her turning into Libra. According to Gods and Monsters, it's sometimes understood that the maiden of Virgo holds the scales of Libra.
Astraea is associated with more earthbound myths as well. It's said that after she fled earth, all of humanity was destroyed in a flood except for two humans (via University of Vermont). When Astraea cried for these humans, her tears hit the ground and became asters — starflowers.
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