THE CONSTELLATIONS AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Today, there is a modern list of 88 constellations, as recognised by the International Astronomical Union. This modern list has its roots in Ancient Greece where 48 constellations were observed and recorded; observations taking place in Alexandria, Egypt.
The most famous list of the 48 original Western world constellations comes from the star catalogue within Claudius Ptolemy’s Almagest (first century AD), who is thought to have copied wholesale upon the work of Hipparchus of Nicaea. The same list is to be found in Phenomena (3rd century BC) by Arastus, who based his work on that of Eudocus of Cnidus.
Many of the names of these 48 original constellations are recognisable today, with each constellation having a link to a story, or stories, from Greek mythology.
The most famous list of the 48 original Western world constellations comes from the star catalogue within Claudius Ptolemy’s Almagest (first century AD), who is thought to have copied wholesale upon the work of Hipparchus of Nicaea. The same list is to be found in Phenomena (3rd century BC) by Arastus, who based his work on that of Eudocus of Cnidus.
Many of the names of these 48 original constellations are recognisable today, with each constellation having a link to a story, or stories, from Greek mythology.
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Colin Quartermain - The Constellations - 5th May 2018