The history of planetary symbols dates back to ancient times, with various civilizations contributing to their development. One notable example is Bianchini's planisphere, created in the 2nd century AD, which features Greek personifications of planetary gods alongside early versions of the planetary symbols.

In this planisphere, Mercury is depicted with a caduceus, Venus has a necklace with a cord connected to another necklace, Mars wields a spear, Jupiter carries a staff, Saturn is shown holding a scythe, and the Sun is represented by a circlet with rays radiating from it. The Moon, on the other hand, is adorned with a headdress featuring a crescent.

The symbols for Jupiter and Saturn are notable in that they are monograms of the initial letters of the corresponding Greek names. Meanwhile, Mercury's symbol is a stylized representation of his caduceus. Written symbols for Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn have been traced back to forms found in late Classical Greek papyri.

In these ancient horoscopes, circles were used to represent shine (☀) for the Sun, while crescents were used to signify the Moon. Over time, these symbols evolved and spread across various cultures. In medieval Byzantine codices, we find a rich array of astrological symbols, including those for the classical planets, zodiac signs, aspects, lots, and lunar nodes.

These symbols have undergone significant changes over the centuries, with their current forms emerging during the European Renaissance. Many of these symbols originated from medieval Byzantine codices, which preserved ancient horoscopes. Today, we often see signs of the zodiac and classical planets being used in various astrological traditions.

Interestingly, there has been a historical overlap between astrological and astronomical symbols. This can be seen in the way that both fields have borrowed from each other, with symbols sometimes serving as shorthand for complex concepts or ideas. While some may see these symbols as mere decoration, they hold significant cultural and historical value.

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Gemini symbol text