THE CONSTELLATIONS AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY
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Greek mythology and the Constellation Sagittarius
Sagittarius is amongst the most famous of the constellations linked to Greek mythology, being as it is also one of the Signs of the Zodiac.
Sagittarius is also known as the Archer, Sagittarius is most commonly associated with the mythological figure of Chiron. Chiron was a civilised centaur, who was the tutor of many a famous hero. Chiron would give up his immortality when he fell victim to an accidentally prick from one of Heracles's arrows. Chiron though, is also associated with another constellation, Centaurus, and so it said that Sagittarius was not a centaur but a satyr, Sagittarius being the representation of Crotus. Crotus was a hunter who accompanied the Younger Muses upon Mount Helicon, and the Muses requested of Zeus, that the image of Crotus be placed amongst the stars. |
Sagittarius - Uranographia - Johannes Hevelius - PD-life-100
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Sagittarius - Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - PD-life-100
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Greek mythology and the Constellation Scorpius
Scorpius is the scorpion of the night sky, and represented a creature from the tales of Greek mythology.
Scorpius, the scorpion, was a gigantic creature sent against the hunter Orion by either Artemis or Gaia. Orion has boasted he, as the greatest of hunters, superior even to Artemis, would kill all of the earth’s animals. Orion of course fell to the giant scorpion, and the gods placed the likeness of the arachnid in the night sky, near to the constellation Orion. |
Scorpius - Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - PD-life-100
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Greek mythology and the Constellation Serpens
Representing a snake, the constellation Serpens is another said to depict a creature from Greek mythology.
Associated with the constellation Ophiuchus, Serpens is most often linked with the mythological healer Asclepius; for Ophiuchus was said by some to be Asclepius. Asclepius has once witnessed the resurrection of the snake, leading to advancements in his own skill, and the snake around a rod would become a symbol of the healer. Other myths though, have been linked with Serpens, normally mixing those associated with the constellation Draco. Serpens was said by some to be the Hesperidian Dragon, the guardian of the golden apples, or the Dragon bested by the goddess Athena during the Gigantomachy. |
Serpens - Uranographia - Johannes Hevelius - PD-life-100
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Greek mythology and the Constellation Taurus
Taurus is amongst the most famous of the constellations linked to Greek mythology, for it is also a Sign of the Zodiac.
Taurus is of course the Bull, and commonly it is said to be the representation of one of two mythological beasts. Most commonly Taurus is said to be the reproduction in stars of Zeus himself, for Zeus transformed himself into a bull, in order that he could abduct Europa and have his way with her. Alternatively, Taurus was said to have been the depiction of Io, the lover of Zeus, who the god had transformed into a cow to fool Zeus’ wife, Hera, about his infidelity. Although, Hera herself was not fooled and sent a gadfly to torment Io, forcing Zeus’ lover to wander the earth. Less commonly, Taurus was said to represent the Cretan Bull, who was an adversary of Heracles in his adventures, and later also a beast faced by Theseus, when the bull was known as the Marathonian Bull. |
Taurus - Uranographia - Johannes Hevelius - PD-life-100
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Taurus - Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - PD-life-100