The Constellation and Greek mythology

Do you know the story of constellation?

Constellation is the most famous subject in astronomy. Constellation is one of the common subjects, because horoscope is popular by TV program, and magazine. Also, the signal that people are interested in astronomy is constellation, because constellation related to Greek mythology. The story of Greek mythology related to constellation is fun, and strange charm that people are interested in astronomy without notice.

 The origin of constellation is very past time, 3000 B.C.. The era is called ancient Babylonia. The Sheepherder in Mesopotamia looked up at night sky, named the bright star, and drew the picture in night sky; connected the stars in line. The picture that sheepherder drew is descended in Greece, connected the mythology and legend, and complete model of present constellation and the story of constellation.

 These constellations are pulled together by Ptolemaios Klaudios, astronomical geographer in 2 century B.C. in Alexandria. The number of constellation is 48. The 48 constellation is the source of present constellation.

 The actually, there is not the picture of constellation, because many constellation appeared and lost. So, the constellation is completely free. There were many constellations, for example, South Scorpio (Near the Aries No.41), Saint Petros (Capricorn), Menarusu mountain seat(western Bootes), and Heart of Charles seat (Korukarori), but the constellation lost. Because in 16 century (Age of Great Navigations), they became to be able to see the constellation in the southern sky, many constellations appeared.

 The present, the all constellations admitted by International Astronomical Union is 88 in all sky.

 

The legend of constellation

○The Legend of Sirius

 In 2000 B.C., the nation knew overflow in Nile when Sirius of Canis Major shined more. The overflow cultivate field and helped crop farm. Also, the nation knew the overflow one the year. This became the source of calendar. So, Sirius is called “the star of Nile” by them.

○The Legend of the Cup

 In mythology, the Cup is called the cup of the God of alcohol Dionysus, Apollp, Achilles, or Noah’s Ark Cup. The nation knew Nile ebbs before long when the Cup rose from the eastern sky. So, the Cup is famous with Sirius in Nile.