Greek mythology and the Constellation Auriga
The name of the constellation Aquila means eagle, and it is most common to suggest that this is the representation of the eagle of Zeus, the bird who abducted Ganymede and also carried the weapons of the god; hence it’s near location to Aquarius.
There were other eagles in Greek mythology though, for an eagle would pluck out the liver of Prometheus as part of his daily torture; Aphrodite was said to have taken the shape of an eagle to act the part of chaser of the swan that was Zeus during the seduction of Nemesis or Leda; and the King of Cos, Meropes, was transformed into an eagle by Hera, as the king was about to commit suicide.
All these eagles have been suggested as the origin of the constellation Aquila.
There were other eagles in Greek mythology though, for an eagle would pluck out the liver of Prometheus as part of his daily torture; Aphrodite was said to have taken the shape of an eagle to act the part of chaser of the swan that was Zeus during the seduction of Nemesis or Leda; and the King of Cos, Meropes, was transformed into an eagle by Hera, as the king was about to commit suicide.
All these eagles have been suggested as the origin of the constellation Aquila.
Aquila - Uranographia - Johannes Hevelius - PD-life-100
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