Forgive me if this has been asked before but I was wondering how the Zodiac name came about.
Did the killer use it in correspondence or was it created by the media etc. ?
Also; the ‘Zodiac’ logo (circle and cross) – is it called the Zodiac logo just because it was used by the killer or did it have that name previously and; if so; what are the origins?
Darren
Zodiac created the name himself. He was being called the Cipher Slayer by the media. As far as as the "logo"…there are many examples of what it could be. The most agreed upon, I believe, is the Zodiac watch which used the name as well as the symbol.
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
Forgive me if this has been asked before but I was wondering how the Zodiac name came about.
Did the killer use it in correspondence or was it created by the media etc. ?
Also; the ‘Zodiac’ logo (circle and cross) – is it called the Zodiac logo just because it was used by the killer or did it have that name previously and; if so; what are the origins?Darren
Zodiac gave himself the Name and attributed the symbol to himself in this letter.
He didn’t do it right away though as the initial 3 letters he sent were started with "This is the murderer" or "I am the killer". They were signed off with the crosshair symbol however.
There has been much conjecture as to the origin of, or his reasons for choosing, the combined symbol and name. The most convincing suggestion has been that he ripped off the logo and name from the Zodiac Watch Company which uses both. However it came about though it was his choice to use it and it’s also been suggested that decision was made after the news media started dubbing him "The Cipher Slayer". Perhaps he didn’t think that was cool enough?
Whatever his reasons it certainly didn’t do suspect Arthur Lee Allen any favours as he owned this very one.
“I don’t know Chief, he’s very smart or very dumb.“
What many forget however is the symbol on the watch was chosen because the cross symbol is the symbol of the Zodiac.
http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/zodiac.html
Why he chose the name Zodiac, is anyone’s guess.
The symbol was used as an early symbol by the Celts, mainly in Ireland and Scotland. There it can be found on graves etc.
QT
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
Her is an old post of mine on the subject, and that the Zodiac symbol that the killer used symbolizes "the center of the universe",
and is called ‘The Sign of the Zodiac" :
Theforeigner, Subject: Re: Z340 Dissected Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:12 pm
Here is backup that "Zodiac" symbolizes "the center of the universe", and is called ‘The Sign of the Zodiac":
"Captain Martin Lee of the San Francisco Police Department told reporters that investigators had consulted astrologers regarding the Zodiac’s name and symbols. “We have made two or three inquiries of people in that business to gain information on what particular signs might mean. In fact, it was just a day or so ago that we learned that little symbol of the circle with the cross in the center of it, uh, what they told us is that this symbolizes the center of the universe, and this is called ‘The Sign of the Zodiac.’” Put simply, the crossed-circle symbol IS a Zodiac."
Don’t know if this has anything to do with the topic of this thread, but I´ll share a thought I had for a long time:
I belive that the zodiac symbol (crossed circle) used by Zodiac in his 340 ciphers might be an I (i)
Why do I think that?
Because, due to Zodiac’s apparent narcissism I belive that Zodiac perceived himself as the center of the universe.
In astrolegy "Zodiac" even symbolizes the center of the universe, and is called ‘The Sign of the Zodiac"
So, IMO it would be logical for Zodiac to use the Zodiac symbol (crossed circle) for the letter "I", in the meaning of "me"
Additionally, in the alphabet I(i) is the 9th letter, and in the 340 cipher there are 9 "I"’s
And I also belive some Zodiac researchers have had suspected that Zodiac was kind of obsessed by the number 9, can´t remember HOW or WHY that is, maybe someone knows and could post about it?
I know Seagull is one of the researchers that belive Zodiac had a thing for number 9:
http://zodiackiller.21.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=3220
I know this might very well be just a total blind end, and if so, please just skip it:)
Hi, english is not my first language so please bear with me 
Thanks for the replies; reading through the available information it wasn’t clear if ‘he’ chose the name or the media did.
Assuming the letter writer was the killer then it’s a clue in some way…
Greetings all. Have also wondered about the Zodiac name origin. Why did people think it was the watch? I’d always wondered about the 12 signs of the Zodiac, or the Daily Horoscope in newspapers. Weren’t people in the 60’s asking as a pickup line “Hey what’s your sign?” In bars? And why would Leigh wear this Zodiac brand watch with a circle and lines through it when he was a suspect? Did his Mom really buy it for him? No other victim was missing this brand of watch? No other homicides with a victim missing a Zodiac brand watch? Thank you!
Possible origin of the Zodiac symbol
Google the Army’s 35th division patch….
In THE CONFESSION letter the author used the phrase, when speaking to CJB: "It’s about time…for you to die." The Zodiac is the ancient, and well-known, symbol for Time. Also, consider that the author complained of CJB scorning him "in years past."
I think he called himself Zodiac, the universe itself, for the same reason he imagined himself ruling the afterlife. As serial killers do, he loved the thrill of being a powerful god-like figure in control of innocent lives.
I believe Zodiac’s preferred numbers are 2 and 9
TGOZ
The watch found at the scene of Cheri Jo’s death supposedly had paint splatters on it. RPD claimed their suspect had been painting a house earlier. Anyone know if RPD matched the watch paint with the house paint?
The watch found at the scene of Cheri Jo’s death supposedly had paint splatters on it. RPD claimed their suspect had been painting a house earlier. Anyone know if RPD matched the watch paint with the house paint?
Not that I know of Dag.
