|
Greek mythology and the Constellation Cepheus
Cepheus is one of the constellations linked to Greek mythology, and in particular, a constellation linked to the story of Perseus.
Perseus was the Greek hero who was sent on the impossible quest to retrieve the head of Medusa. Having successfully decapitated the Gorgon, Perseus would stop off in the ancient kingdom of Aethiopia, a kingdom who at the time was ruled by Cepheus. Cepheus' kingdom though was in trouble due to the hubris of his wife Cassiopeia, who had dared to claim her, and her daughter's beauty surpassed that of the Naiads. Cetus, a sea monster was sent to ravage Aethiopia, and Cepheus was forced to offer his daughter Andromeda as a sacrifice to placate the monster. Andromeda though was not sacrificed for Perseus came to her rescue, but the figures from the tale were placed amongst the night sky; and the constellations Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Andromeda and Cetus are all found in same section of the night sky. |
Cepheus - Uranographia - Johannes Hevelius - PD-life-100
|
|
Proudly powered by Weebly