Jupiter symbol

A stylised numeral four or Greek zeta crossed by a bar — Jupiter, and tin.

Also known as: Zeus symbol, Tin symbol, Four with a line symbol

Astrology & astronomyHistorical & archaeologicalScientificStandard profile

Meanings

Jupiter's symbol is generally taken to be a monogram of the Greek letter zeta, the initial of Zeus. It is used in astronomy for Jovian units, and denoted tin in alchemy.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Denotes the planet Jupiter, and is used as a subscript for Jovian units such as Jupiter masses in exoplanet astronomy.
Contexts: History
Historically documentedDocumented interpretation
Denoted tin in alchemical writing.
A record of what alchemists wrote, not a claim that the association holds. The planet–metal correspondences were a system of belief, and the chemistry they rest on is not sound.
Medieval and early modern alchemy · Contexts: History
Common modern usageTradition
Is held in astrological tradition to signify expansion, fortune and growth.
Recorded as what astrological tradition assigns, not as a finding. Symbolwise does not assert that any planet influences anything, and astrology has no empirical standing.
Contexts: History
Historically documentedVerified fact
Is usually explained as a stylised Greek zeta, the initial of Zeus, though it is also read as a thunderbolt or an eagle — the god's two attributes. As with the other planetary glyphs the derivation is reconstructed from manuscript forms rather than recorded by whoever first drew it.
Medieval and early modern astronomical manuscripts · Contexts: History
Historically documentedVerified fact
Denoted tin in alchemical writing, under the planet–metal correspondences that gave iron to Mars and copper to Venus.
Medieval and early modern alchemy · Contexts: History

Variants

Related forms that are not treated as separate canonical symbols — see our variant rules.

Unicode JUPITER
U+2643, the encoded character.

Visual description

A curved stroke resembling the numeral four or a Greek zeta, crossed near its base by a short horizontal bar.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright

Part of the same system as: Saturn symbol
The two outermost planets of the classical seven, and in alchemy the two basest metals — tin and lead.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

Astronomical symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Planet symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-22
Tertiary reference, cited for the conventional description of a form or a name in common use. Where a standards body or issuer defines the mark, that body is cited alongside and governs.
Planet symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Alchemical symbol
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.

Last reviewed 2026-08-22

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Planetary symbols and their older meanings

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Meanings

Jupiter's symbol is generally taken to be a monogram of the Greek letter zeta, the initial of Zeus. It is used in astronomy for Jovian units, and denoted tin in alchemy.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Denotes the planet Jupiter, and is used as a subscript for Jovian units such as Jupiter masses in exoplanet astronomy.

Contexts: History

Historically documentedDocumented interpretation

Denoted tin in alchemical writing.

A record of what alchemists wrote, not a claim that the association holds. The planet–metal correspondences were a system of belief, and the chemistry they rest on is not sound.

Medieval and early modern alchemy · Contexts: History

Common modern usageTradition

Is held in astrological tradition to signify expansion, fortune and growth.

Recorded as what astrological tradition assigns, not as a finding. Symbolwise does not assert that any planet influences anything, and astrology has no empirical standing.

Contexts: History

Historically documentedVerified fact

Is usually explained as a stylised Greek zeta, the initial of Zeus, though it is also read as a thunderbolt or an eagle — the god's two attributes. As with the other planetary glyphs the derivation is reconstructed from manuscript forms rather than recorded by whoever first drew it.

Medieval and early modern astronomical manuscripts · Contexts: History

Historically documentedVerified fact

Denoted tin in alchemical writing, under the planet–metal correspondences that gave iron to Mars and copper to Venus.

Medieval and early modern alchemy · Contexts: History

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

Astronomical symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Planet symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-22
Tertiary reference, cited for the conventional description of a form or a name in common use. Where a standards body or issuer defines the mark, that body is cited alongside and governs.
Planet symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Alchemical symbol
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.

Last reviewed 2026-08-22

Meanings

Variants

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols

Meanings

Variants

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols