Why Did The Zodiac Name Himself “The Zodiac?” 

The Zodiac Killer Case Has Many Unsolved Mysteries 

Though people all over the world have been studying this case of serial murders across Northern California for decades, there are still many unanswered questions about the Zodiac Killer case. How many of the Zodiac’s victims were never discovered? Why did he stop sending letters? Who was the man we know only as the Zodiac Killer? 

Why Did He Choose “Zodiac”? 

The only name we know to call this horrific murderer is the name he gave himself – “the Zodiac.” If you’ve read the Zodiac’s letters, you know he often opens his letters with the line “This is the Zodiac speaking.” The question is: why? Why did he give himself this name? 

What Does “Zodiac” Mean? 

The most common association most people have with the word “zodiac” outside of the Zodiac Killer case is the connection it has to astrology. “Zodiac” is the name for the belt-shaped region of the sky that contains the paths of the sun, the moon, and the planets over the course of the year. 

In astrology, this belt is divided into twelve sections which correspond to the constellations Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces – resulting in what we know as “zodiac signs.” 

The word “zodiac” is derived from zōdiacus, which is a Latinized term based on the Ancient Greek zōdiakòs kýklos. This term means literally “cycle or circle of little animals.” 

The Zodiac Never Revealed Why He Chose This Name 

Unfortunately, like so many questions we have about the Zodiac Killer case, this is a question that remains unanswered. Did the Zodiac follow the beliefs of astrology? Was he attracted to the connection to the heavens, or the idea of cycles? Did this somehow fit into his twisted beliefs about the afterlife? For now, we can only speculate. 

You Can Read More Zodiac Killer Facts 

Not everything about the Zodiac Killer case involves speculation. Tom Voigt’s Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts includes only facts such as police reports, letters, and ciphers. All are chronologically ordered. The book also includes an easily searchable index. Get a copy for yourself today! 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today.