, also known as
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac or simply
Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese
manga series written and illustrated by
Masami Kurumada. It was serialized in
Weekly Shonen Jump from 1986 to 1990, with the chapters collected into 28
tankobon volumes by
Shueisha. The story follows five mystical warriors called the who fight wearing sacred armors named , the designs of which derive from the various
constellations the characters have adopted as their destined guardian symbols, and empowered by a mystical energy called . The Saints have sworn to defend the reincarnation of the Greek goddess
Athena in her battle against other
Olympian gods who want to dominate
Earth.