Written in the Stars Read online

  LIBRA

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION Third quadrant of the southern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN June

  NAME MEANING The Scales

  STARS Zubeneschamali (Beta Librae), Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae)

  Known as the Balance of Heaven by the ancient Sumerians, Libra represents the pair of scales held by Dike, the Greek goddess of justice, which are sited at the feet of her constellation. Its four brightest stars form a quadrangle, and it also harbours the oldest star in the night sky known as Methuselah. Named after the Old Testament patriarch who was said to have lived for 969 years, scientists currently estimate that this star is around 14.5 billion years old – that’s older than the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago! The Romans believed that the Moon was firmly in Libra when the great city of Rome was first founded (legend has it that this was on 21 April 753 BC). This constellation also represented the balance of the seasons for the Romans, as the sun passed through the autumn equinox in Libra at that time, a season when the length of day and night are equal.

  SCORPIUS

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION Third quadrant of the southern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN July

  NAME MEANING The Scorpion

  STARS Antares (Alpha Scorpii), Shaula (Lambda Scorpii), Sargas (Theta Scorpii)

  A giant scorpion crawls through the heavens in search of the hunter Orion. According to one version of the Greek myth, Scorpius was sent by the beautiful Artemis (she is better known by her Roman name of Diana), the goddess of the hunt and wild animals, to strike the hero down because he tried to ravish her; eventually the arachnid dealt the hunter a fatal sting. (A different account claims that Artemis killed Orion herself with an arrow.) Yet another narrative suggests Orion bragged he could kill any animal on earth, which angered Gaia, the goddess of the earth, who sent the scorpion in hot pursuit to punish him. After the deadly deed was done, it’s said that Zeus placed Scorpius in the sky to remind men that they should not be too boastful.

  SAGITTARIUS

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION Fourth quadrant of the southern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN August

  NAME MEANING The Archer

  STARS Kaus Australis (Epsilon Sagittarii), Nunki (Sigma Sagittarii), Ascella (Zeta Sagittarii), Kaus Media (Delta Sagittarii), Kaus Borealis (Lambda Sagittarii), Pistol Star (V4647 Sagittarii)

  The Centaur stands, arrow raised in the direction of the Scorpion, a powerful hybrid of man and horse. Some ancient Greek astronomers argued that this constellation represented the satyr Crotus, who was a nurse and companion to the nine Muses, the goddess daughters of Zeus and patronesses of the arts, who lived on Mount Helicon. A mythical creature with two goat-like legs and tail, Crotus was the son of Pan, who among other things was recognised as the god of shepherds and hunters. Known for inventing archery and for his prowess at hunting and horseback riding, when Crotus died the Muses requested that his image be cast into the sky. The Babylonians had a different view. They believed the centaur represented Pabilsag, a winged god with various attributes, including that of war and hunting. Pabilsag has also been identified with Nergal, the god of plague and pestilence.

  CAPRICORNUS

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION Fourth quadrant of the southern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN September

  NAME MEANING The Sea Goat

  STARS Deneb Algedi (Delta Capricorni), Dabih (Beta Capricorni), Algiedi (Alpha Capricorni)

  Although this may be one of the faintest constellations in the night sky, Capricornus dates back to around 1000 BC. Both the Babylonians and the Sumerians knew this arrangement of stars as the goat-fish. Marking the start of the winter solstice during the early Bronze Age, Capricornus was a practical constellation. In Greek and Roman mythology, it was associated with the god Pan, or possibly with his alter ego, a Panes (rustic spirit or faun) called Aegipan. The ancients believed that he won his place in the sky by helping the other gods on several occasions. He is said to have caused panikos (panic) in the Titans when they were at war with the Olympian gods, and amusingly he also threw shellfish at them, hence one possible explanation for his fishy posterior. He also helped defeat the terrible monster Typhon. A thankful Zeus decided to create his image in the stars as a way of remembering his deeds.

  AQUARIUS

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION Fourth quadrant of the southern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN October

  NAME MEANING The Water Bearer or Cup Bearer

  STARS Sadalsuud (Beta Aquarii), Sadalmelik (Alpha Aquarii), Skat (Delta Aquarii)

  Aquarius stands ankle-deep in the sea of the firmament. This area of the sky is known as the ‘sea’ because most of the constellations close by are associated with the ocean in some way. The ancient Greeks claimed that Aquarius represented a handsome prince of Troy known as Ganymede, who was plucked up by Zeus because of his favourable face to serve the gods as cupbearer on Mount Olympus, the home of the Olympian gods. Aquarius can be seen pouring water into the mouth of Pisces Austrinus, the Southern Fish. To the ancient Egyptians this figure also had watery and life-giving connotations. He represented Hapi, the god of the Nile, who each year poured the water from his urn into the great river for the annual summer floods. Thus the banks would overflow, distributing a rich silt into the Nile Valley and ensuring the fertility of the land.

  PISCES

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION First quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IT November

  NAME MEANING The Fishes

  STARS Kullat Nunu (Eta Piscium), Gamma Piscium, Alrescha (Alpha Piscium)

  To the Babylonians, this vast constellation represented two fish joined together by a cord, swimming in the ocean. The Romans had a similar interpretation; they believed that the fish were Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, and her charming son Cupid, the god of love. The story is set during the war of the gods against the hideous winged monster Typhon. A giant with glaring red eyes, his shoulders writhed with a mass of fiery-eyed, viperous snakes that let out awful hissings, bellows and roars, and his favoured method of attack was to hurl red-hot rocks. Aphrodite and Cupid were walking in the forest when they heard the monster approaching. Terrified for their lives, they leapt into a nearby river and turned into fish, having the foresight to tie themselves together with rope first so they would not lose each other. The ancient Greeks believed this to be a fortunate constellation as its appearance heralded the finer weather of spring.

  ARIES

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION First quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN December

  NAME MEANING The Ram

  STARS Hamal (Alpha Arietis), Sheratan (Beta Arietis), Bharani (41 Arietis), Botein (Delta Arietis)

  While this arrangement of stars may not look like a ram, Aries takes centre stage across the ecliptic, making it an important constellation to the ancient Greeks. It’s thought to represent a flying ram with a golden fleece who tried to save the twins Phrixus and Helle, children of the cloud nymph, from certain death. Their stepmother Ino hated them and, through various machinations devised that they should be sacrificed to the gods. Nephele sent the ram to the rescue as Phrixus lay on the sacrificial altar; Phrixus survived the flight, but Helle fell off the beast and drowned before reaching safety. Later the ram was sacrificed to Zeus, and Phrixus gave the precious fleece to King Aeëtes as a thank you for taking him under his protection. The gleaming fleece was hung from a large oak tree in the garden of Ares, a symbol of power and authority, and was guarded by a dragon-serpent that never slept.

  TAURUS

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION First quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN January

  NAME MEANING The Bull

  STARS Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), Elnath (Beta Tauri), Alcyone (Eta Tauri), Pectus Tauri (Lambda Tauri), 119 Tauri

  Known as the Heavenly Bull t
o the Babylonians, Taurus the Bull has been worshipped as a sacred animal by many cultures over the millennia. The constellation is commonly associated with Zeus, who, according to Greek myth, shapeshifted into a handsome yellow bull in order to charm the beautiful princess Europa. The plan worked, and Zeus the bull carried her off across the ocean to the island of Crete, where he made her his bride. The constellation of Taurus is also associated with the bull-headed, flesh-eating Minotaur, who lived in a winding labyrinth on Crete and was killed by the Greek hero Theseus. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, a literary work from ancient Mesopotamia, the Bull of Heaven descends to earth to face the hero of the same name. He was sent by the goddess Ishtar because Gilgamesh spurned her lustful advances – proof of the old adage ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ – but fortunately Gilgamesh kills the beast.

  GEMINI

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION Second quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN February

  NAME MEANING The Twins

  STARS Pollux (Beta Geminorum), Castor (Alpha Geminorum), Alhena (Gamma Geminorum)

  Known as the Dioscuri, which means ‘the sons of Zeus’, the twins Castor and Pollux are identified with this constellation. Despite being twins, they did not have the same father. Castor was the son of the king of Sparta, while Pollux was the son of Zeus (not so outlandish as it sounds, as, thanks to DNA testing, it’s now known that, although very rare, twins can have separate fathers, when two ova are fertilized by two different men). Their mother, Leda, was seduced by Zeus in the guise of a swan and she fell pregnant with Pollux. Both twins were superb warriors, among other adventures accompanying Jason and the Argonauts. When the Argonauts were caught in a violent storm, the crew prayed for deliverance. Immediately the storm stopped and a light shone above the twins’ heads: a sign from the gods. As a result, they were patron gods of sailors, blessed with the power to help those in trouble at sea.

  CANCER

  FAMILY ZODIAC

  LOCATION Second quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN March

  NAME MEANING The Crab

  STARS Al Tarf (Beta Cancri), Asellus Australis (Delta Cancri), Acubens (Alpha Cancri)

  This valiant crab, known by the ancient Greeks as Carcinus, was sent by Hera to plague Hercules during his battle with the serpent Hydra. The giant crab tried in vain to fulfil his mission, snapping at Hercules’ ankles, but was crushed by the hero’s foot in the struggle. Hera took pity on the creature, tossing it high into the sky so that its image would remain a permanent reminder of its efforts. The ancient Egyptians associated the constellation of Cancer with the sacred scarab beetle, also known as the dung beetle. This humble insect spends most of its life rolling dung into balls, which provide its primary food source and a place to lay its eggs. To the Egyptians this symbolised both the action of Khepri, the god of the morning sun, as he rolled out the sun each day, and of rebirth and renewal.

  PERSEUS

  Love has always been a powerful motivating force. To the ancient Greeks, it was the essence of all life, a magical energy that could be harnessed and used in the execution of incredible feats and displays of heroism. The constellations in this family depict different kinds of love, from the self-centred love of a hedonistic queen, to the selfless unconditional love of a daughter who is willing to put her life on the line for her people. There’s romantic love too, and that emotion that is so often inspired by beings of beauty: a sense of joy at the spark of creation. On reading the tales, it’s easy to see how these stars, lovingly charted by the ancients, won their rightful place in the night sky.

  1. Cassiopeia 2. Cepheus 3. Andromeda 4. Perseus 5. Pegasus 6. Cetus 7. Auriga 8. Lacerta 9. Triangulum

  CASSIOPEIA

  FAMILY PERSEUS

  LOCATION First quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN November

  NAME MEANING The Seated Queen

  STARS Gamma Cassiopeiae, Schedar (Alpha Cassiopeiae), Caph (Beta Cassiopeiae), Ruchbah (Delta Cassiopeiae), Segin (Epsilon Cassiopeiae)

  The stunning yet arrogant Queen Cassiopeia was married to King Cepheus of Ethiopia. As vain as she was magnificent, she boasted that she was more beautiful than the Nereids, a group of sea nymphs, which plunged her into deep and precarious waters. Some variations of the Greek myth claim she was boasting about her daughter Andromeda, or even about both of them! An unimpressed Poseidon, who ruled the oceans, sent the sea monster Cetus to destroy the coast of Cepheus’s kingdom. A local oracle advised Cepheus that the only way to appease the monster was to sacrifice Andromeda to it. Reluctantly Cepheus did so, chaining her to the rocks where she was saved by the hero Perseus in the nick of time. Cassiopeia’s heartless vanity remained throughout and she was tied to her throne and condemned to the skies where she orbits the North Pole for eternity, and spends half of the year hanging upside down from her starry prison.

  CEPHEUS

  FAMILY PERSEUS

  LOCATION Fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN October

  NAME MEANING The King

  STARS Alderamin (Alpha Cephei), Alfirk (Beta Cephei), Errai (Gamma Cephei), Delta Cephei, Herschel’s Garnet Star (Mu Cephei)

  The stunning Herschel’s Garnet Star, one of the largest and brightest in the Milky Way, resides in this constellation, which is named in Greek myth after King Cepheus of Ethiopia, a land that lay at the Mediterranean tip of the Red Sea. His queen was the vain but beautiful Cassiopeia. Cepheus is most famous for consulting the Oracle of Ammon when his land was under attack from the sea monster Cetus. The oracle told him the only way to save his kingdom would be to offer up his daughter, the lovely Andromeda, to the ravening beast. The story has a happy ending as Andromeda was saved from the monster by the hero Perseus.

  ANDROMEDA

  FAMILY PERSEUS

  LOCATION First quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN November

  NAME MEANING The Chained Maiden

  STARS Alpheratz (Alpha Andromedae), Mirach (Beta Andromedae), Almach (Gamma Andromedae)

  Andromeda is celebrated in Greek myth as the beautiful Ethiopian princess whose parents, King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia, had her chained to a rock as a sacrifice to the grisly sea monster Cetus in the hope that this would stop him from ravaging their shores. Indeed, it’s said that the virtuous Andromeda was willing to give her life for her kingdom. Luckily, the hero Perseus happened to fly by on his winged sandals and, overcome by her beauty and moved by her plight, offered to slay the monster in return for her hand in marriage. Andromeda’s parents readily agreed, and a great battle took place between Perseus and Cetus, with Perseus the victor. Andromeda and Perseus later went on to wed and had seven children. After Andromeda’s death, the feisty Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare and patroness of heroic endeavours, placed Andromeda’s image among the stars in a V-shaped constellation to honour the princess for her selfless deed.

  PERSEUS

  FAMILY PERSEUS

  LOCATION First quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  WBEST SEEN IN December

  NAME MEANING The Hero

  STARS Mirfak (Alpha Persei), Algol (Beta Persei), Atik (Zeta Persei)

  Named after the legendary Greek hero Perseus, this large constellation lays claim to Algol, a bright-red star said to represent the head of the Gorgon Medusa, a monstrous winged female with snaky hair and a face that turned any living being who looked upon her to stone. Perseus famously killed Medusa by using his shield as a mirror to avoid her direct gaze; he lopped off her head and used it to turn many of his foes to stone. The son of Zeus, Perseus features in numerous myths, including that of Andromeda and the sea monster Cetus (also nearby constellations). A great warrior and intrepid adventurer, he is most often depicted wearing a helmet that made him invisible, winged sandals and carrying a jewelled sword in one hand and Medusa’s terrifying head in the other. It’s no surprise, therefore, that this hero of the hea
vens boasts a stunning meteor shower, the Perseids, that rivals any other in the night sky.

  PEGASUS

  FAMILY PERSEUS

  LOCATION Fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere

  WHEN TO SEE IT October

  NAME MEANING The Winged Horse

  STARS Enif (Epsilon Pegasi), Scheat (Beta Pegasi), Markab (Alpha Pegasi)

  Like a glorious starburst, Pegasus was born when Perseus beheaded the Gorgon Medusa, according to Greek myth. A beautiful white-winged stallion, he sprang from Medusa’s severed neck and fled to Mount Helicon, the sacred home of the Muses, the goddesses of the arts. His name is derived from the Greek pege (plural pegai) which means ‘spring’, ‘spring-fed well’ or ‘fountain’, and it’s said that he created the glistening spring Hippocrene, also known as the horse’s fountain, by striking his hoof against a rock. Those who drank from this magical spring were blessed with inspiration – not unlike those who gaze at this wondrous constellation, the seventh largest in the night sky. Pegasus was later tamed by the Greek hero Bellerophon and helped him destroy the fire-breathing monster Chimera. He then served Zeus by carrying his thunderbolts, thus earning his place among the stars.

  CETUS

  FAMILY PERSEUS

  LOCATION First quadrant of the southern hemisphere

  BEST SEEN IN December

  NAME MEANING The Sea Monster

  STARS Diphda (Beta Ceti), Menkar (Alpha Ceti), Mira (Omicron Ceti), Tau Ceti

  Cetus is the sea monster in the Greek myth of Andromeda and Perseus. Sent to ravage the coastline by Poseidon after Andromeda’s mother, Cassiopeia, offended the Nereid sea nymphs by claiming she would always win in a beauty contest with them, he was eventually killed by Perseus. Although it’s thought he was a whale, in the myth the description differs. It suggests he was more like a giant sea dragon with terrifying jaws, clawed forefeet and a fish’s tail. Whatever the truth, his size is the one common denominator, and just like the constellation he represents – one of the largest in the sky – he commands the heavens.