Ancients believed that the universe consisted of four primary elements, air, earth, fire and water from which the triplicities (also called elements), a four-fold division of the zodiac, are derived. Signs belonging to the same triplicity exhibit similar qualities symbolized by the element with which they are associated. The Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, the Earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, the Air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius and the Water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
