Greek Mythology

andConstellations

AndromedaAndromeda is also known as ‘The

Captive Princess’. She is the beautiful daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus of Ethiopia. The myth goes that Andromeda was to be sacrificed to the Sea Monster for the sins of her mother, only be rescued by the hero Perseus.

Andromeda

OrionOrion is also known as ‘The Hunter’. Orion represents a great hunter who

was the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. The myth goes on to say that

Orion was killed by a scorpion, possibly for retribution (punishment).

Canis MajorCanis Major is also known as ‘The

Greater Dog’. Canis Major represents Laelaps, the fastest dog in the world

who’s prey couldn’t escape him. He is one of the companions of the great

hunter Orion.

Canis MinorCanis Minor is also known as

‘The Little Dog’. Canis Minor is the smaller constellation of Orion's two hunting dogs.

CygnusCygnus is also known as ‘The Swan’. The myth goes on to

say that in order for the goddess Nemesis to escape

from the god Zeus, she changed into many different animals. When she changed

into a goose, Zeus immediately transformed himself into a swan and won the love of Nemesis.

Ursa MajorUrsa Major is also known as ‘The Great Bear’ or ‘The Big Dipper’.

Zeus, the king of the gods, fell in love with Callisto and they had a son

named Arcas. Hera, Zeus’s wife, was angry and jealous, so she turned

Callisto into a bear.

Ursa MinorUrsa Minor is also know as ‘The

Little Bear’ and ‘The little Dipper’. It is often shown as a

baby bear with an unusually long tail. This constellation is named after Ida, who nursed the infant Zeus (king of the ancient Greek gods). It is still not clear why she

is depicted as a little bear.

HerculesHercules is also known as ‘The

Strongman’. His father was king Zeus. When Hercules was still a baby,

Hera, Zeus’s wife, decided that Hercules must be killed because she

was very jealous. She sent two snakes to murder him as he lay in his crib, but because Hercules was very strong, he strangled them both with

his bare hands. Hercules grew up and was ordered to undertake 12 labors

(tasks), including dragon slaying.

DracoDraco is also known as ‘The Dragon’. Draco was the dragon that guarded the

golden apples for the Queen of the gods. The golden apple tree was a wedding

present to Hera when she married Zeus. Draco was killed by the warrior Hercules.

The ancient Greeks visualized Hercules with one foot on the dragons head.

CassiopeiaCassiopeia is also known as ‘The Vain

Queen’. She was the wife of King Cepheus and the mother of Princess Andromeda.

Cassiopeia and King Cepheus attempted to sacrifice their daughter Andromeda to

god of the sea Poseidon to rid themselves of a curse. However, the hero Perseus

saved Andromeda.

Cassiopeia

PerseusPerseus is also known as ‘The

Victorious Hero’. Perseus was the son of Jupitor and Danae, daughter of King

Acrisius. He was ordered by King Polydectes to slay the evil Gorgon

Medusa who could turn anyone into stone by her gaze. He was able to achieve this

task with a little help from Zeus (who gave him the sword), Hades (who gave him the cap of invisibility), Hermes (who gave him winged sandals), and Athena

(who gave him a powerful shield).

PegasusPegasus is also known as ‘The

Winged Horse’. Pegasus came out of Medusa, the ugly monster with

snakes for hair, when she was killed by Perseus. Pegasus is said to have pawed the ground to create a spring

of water. In fact, Pegasus means ‘waters’ in Greek! Zeus, the king of the gods, used Pegasus to carry his

thunder and lightning to Earth.

CepheusCepheus is also known as ‘Mythical King

of Ethiopia’. Cepheus is Cassiopeia’s husband. He was instructed to chain his

daughter Andromeda to a rock in sacrifice to the monster. Zeus placed Cepheus in

the sky after his tragic death because he was the descended from one of Zeus’s

loves, the nymph lo.