Figuras Tabula Uranoscopica, Exhibens Orbitas Duorum Istorum Insignium Cometarium … 1665
Did you ever lie on the grass at night, look at the stars and wonder what’s up there? So did the ancient people. But they saw animals, fish, ships, people and much more. They saw “constellations” – groups of the brighter stars that form distinctive patterns visible from Earth. At the time of this sky chart covering a portion of the night sky most of the names were derived from Greek mythology. They saw Gemini (the twins) shown at the upper right, Leo (the lion), Argo (the ship), and many others. In the second century AD the astronomer Ptolemy identified 48 constellations. Through the years forty more were added. There is a story behind each of them, but we’ll look at only two: Berenice at the upper left and Canis Major (Greater Dog) at the lower right.
First, Berenice, or Berenice’s Hair. In the second century BCE, King Ptolemy of Egypt was away at war. His wife, Queen Berenice II, had long golden hair of which she, the king and the nation were justly proud. Berenice began to worry about her husband’s safe return. One night in her prayers she offered to give her hair to the goddess Aphrodite if her husband returned safely. After weeks of waiting and tension Ptolemy finally returned safe and sound. When Berenice told him about her promise to sacrifice her hair, Ptolemy was naturally upset.
But Berenice was determined to follow through on her promise to Aphrodite. Her beautiful locks were cut off and laid on the temple altar by the priests. The next day when the king went to the temple to see his wife’s hair, he was furious to find the hair had been stolen. To appease him, the court astronomer announced that the offering had so pleased Aphrodite that she had it placed in the sky where it could be admired by the whole world. The next night the astronomer pointed to a cluster of stars that have since been called Berenice’s Hair. The king was satisfied. All’s well that ends well. Although both Berenice and Ptolemy were real, historical figures, no such authority can be attached to the tale.
Canis Major at the lower right represents one of the dogs following Orion, the hunter. It It contains Sirius, the brightest object in our sky besides the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, and Venus. Sirius is also one of the nearest stars and is twice as large as our sun. It is located in the head of the dog. The star’s name means “scorching”, since the summer heat occurs just after Sirius’ rising past the morning sun. The ancient Greeks referred to such times in the summer as “dog days”, as only dogs would be mad enough to go out in the heat, leading to the star being known as the “dog star”. Subsequently, the constellation was named Canis Major (Greater Dog). Sirius is recorded in the earliest astronomical records (approximately 2,000 BCE), and the astronomer Ptolemy included it among his 48 published in 150 AD.
Tales from the Rare Map Cabinet by Luke A. Vavra
Stock Number N7017 Luke
SKY CHART SOLD
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