Auriga - Revision history

Sushoff at 11:42, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T11:42:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:42, 27 February 2026
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	=== Origin of Constellation ===		=== Origin of Constellation<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref> ===
	The constellation is called Auriga, but the brightest star in it is called Capella, the goat. A charioteer drives a chariot, but this particular charioteer has a goat on his shoulder and its young, two kids, in his left hand. This image seems strange because the goat family would rather hinder the charioteer in holding the reins – but this peculiar image is ancient; it already existed in Hellenism.		The constellation is called Auriga, but the brightest star in it is called Capella, the goat. A charioteer drives a chariot, but this particular charioteer has a goat on his shoulder and its young, two kids, in his left hand. This image seems strange because the goat family would rather hinder the charioteer in holding the reins – but this peculiar image is ancient; it already existed in Hellenism.

Sushoff at 20:18, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T20:18:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 26 February 2026
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	The Greek constellation ...		=== Origin of Constellation ===
			The constellation is called Auriga, but the brightest star in it is called Capella, the goat. A charioteer drives a chariot, but this particular charioteer has a goat on his shoulder and its young, two kids, in his left hand. This image seems strange because the goat family would rather hinder the charioteer in holding the reins – but this peculiar image is ancient; it already existed in Hellenism.

			Eratosthenes has three possible interpretations for this figure: The charioteer can either be the first Athenian and bringer of culture, Erichthonios. As the first human, he is said to have harnessed a chariot to horses and led a procession for the goddess Athena on the Acropolis. Alternatively, the charioteer may be a son of Hermes, the charioteer of King Oinomaos of Pisa, a region in the north-western Peloponnese. According to Eratosthenes, the goat is the goat of the nymph Amalthea, who has nothing to do with the charioteer in either version.

			The death of Zeus's nurses is a common narrative in archaic Greek mythology – only who the nurses are exactly is interpreted differently by different poets (see also bears). The Cretan cult of Zeus names Ida, the protective mountain in the form of a nymph, the honeybee nymph Melissa and the milk-giving goat Aix or Aiga with the nymphs Amalthea and Adrasteia. The name of the nymph Amalthea was later transferred to the goat.

			The juxtaposition of the charioteer and the goat in Eratosthenes could indicate that constellations from several different cultures in Alexander's empire were mixed together to form one constellation. The charioteer is linked to the Greek polis of Athens through the Erichthonios saga and to the Peloponnese through the Pelops-Oinomaos saga. The goat links the figure to the Cretan Zeus myth. It is quite possible that this reflects the newly developed ‘Greekness’ or the identity-forming ‘being Greek’ in Hellenism.

			On the Farnese Globe, the charioteer is depicted without a goat, i.e. at least in Hellenistic times, the goat was the name of a single star. The heliacal rising of the star Capella, or the goat constellation consisting of several stars representing a goat and her kids, was associated by the Greeks with the stormy season and seafaring. Since the Greek word ''aigis'' means both ‘stormy weather’ and ‘goat skin’, this could be the reason why Capella and not some other white star is referred to as a goat. The star's name could therefore have a calendrical function.

	~~=== Origin of Constellation ===~~		In any case, neither the star name nor the constellation has Babylonian roots, because in Babylonian astronomy, this constellation was not thought to represent an anthropomorphic figure, but rather a weapon: the so-called crooked wood, a throwing weapon. In Babylonian astral science, there is a goat constellation that plays an important role in medical cults. However, this is the (white) star [[Vega]], which is roughly opposite [[Capella]]. So either there is no connection here, or there is a significant shift.

	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====
			see

			* [[GAM3\|GAM<sub>3</sub>]]

	[[File:Kugel aur+tau.JPG\|thumb\|Kugel Globe: Auriga and Taurus (drawing by SMH 2024)]]		[[File:Kugel aur+tau.JPG\|thumb\|Kugel Globe: Auriga and Taurus (drawing by SMH 2024)]]

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	== Mythology ==		== Mythology ==
			Three Greek myths must be told for this constellation:

			'''The Athens legend:''' Erichthonios is said to have been a man who sprang from the earth goddess Gaia. She gave birth to him after the seed of the god Hephaistos fell on her, and this happened because Hephaistos had pursued Athena, who wanted to remain a virgin. Erichthonios was thus unwittingly fathered by a lustful god and grew out of the earth. He became an admired competitor and, together with another man, led the greatest religious festival in ancient Athens, the Panathenaea.

			'''The legend of Pelops''', on the other hand, bears witness to ancient brutality:

			Myrtilos was responsible for King Oinomaos' royal chariot. The king had promised his daughter to the man who could defeat him in a chariot race, which was impossible because he would strike his opponents from behind with a spear and kill them. The suitor Pelops therefore outwitted the king with the help of Myrtilos and a pact with the sea god Poseidon. Myrtilos sabotaged the chariot, causing Oinomaos to be dragged to his death and Pelops to win. But then Myrtilos himself claimed the king's daughter, whereupon he was thrown into the sea and drowned. A variation of the legend claims that Poseidon had given his favourite Pelops winged horses, with which he defeated Oinomaos. In any case, Pelops became the new king, which is commemorated to this day in the name of the island, Peloponnese.

			'''The goat legend:''' When Zeus was born, the mother goddess Rhea was tired of her husband Kronos swallowing all newborn children. She gave Kronos a stone to swallow and handed the infant over to the Titaness Themis, a goddess of justice, who gave him to the nymphs. Ida nursed him in a cave, Amalthea fed him with the milk of her goat, and the goat Aix defended him from Kronos's gaze, losing a horn in the process. This magical goat's horn, known as the cornucopia, is always filled with whatever its owner desires. Thus Zeus was raised as a boy by his nurses, who were later joined by Ida's sister Adrasteia.

	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==

Sushoff: /* Rising (Lib II Cap V §10) */

2026-02-24T08:26:56Z

Rising (Lib II Cap V §10)

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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Tau 23
	\|		\|Cnc 1 1/2
	\|		\|Vir 2
	\|		\|Lib 22
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|the one in the left foot (iota)
	\|		\|the one in the head (delta, ksi)
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|~~2 2/~~3 hours = ~~160~~ min = ~~40°~~		\| colspan="4" \|3 hours = 180 min = 45°
	\|}		\|}

Sushoff: /* Rising (Lib II Cap V §10) */

2026-02-23T16:33:29Z

Rising (Lib II Cap V §10)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:33, 23 February 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Psc 10 1/2
	\|		\|Tau 15 1/2
	\|		\|Sgr 20
	\|		\|Cap 29
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|those in the head
	\|		\|the in the foot
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|~~2 1/8~~ hours = ~~127.5~~ min = ~~31 7/8~~ degree		\| colspan="4" \|3 hours = 180 min = 45 degree
	\|}		\|}

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-02-22T17:33:24Z

Hipparchus

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:33, 22 February 2026
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	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====

			====== Rising (Lib II Cap V §10) ======
			<blockquote>The Rising of ...</blockquote>
			{\| class="wikitable"
			\|+
			!
			! colspan="2" \|east
			! colspan="2" \|south
			\|-
			!
			!lam1
			!lam2
			!lam1
			!lam2
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|star
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|duration
			\| colspan="4" \|2 1/8 hours = 127.5 min = 31 7/8 degree
			\|}

			====== Setting (Lib II Cap VI §10) ======
			{\| class="wikitable"
			!
			! colspan="2" \|west
			! colspan="2" \|south
			\|-
			!
			!lam1
			!lam2
			!lam1
			!lam2
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|star
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|duration
			\| colspan="4" \|2 2/3 hours = 160 min = 40°
			\|}

			====== Stars Mentioned ======
			{\| class="wikitable"
			\|+
			!
			!Greek
			!German
			!English
			!ident.
			!src
			!
			!lam_culm
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|Lib II Cap V §10
			\|rising, east, first
			\|
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|Lib II Cap V §10
			\|rising, east, last
			\|
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|Lib II Cap VI §2
			\|setting CrB, south, last
			\|Psc 13.5
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|Lib II Cap VI §13
			\|setting Aql, south, first
			\|Ari 2
			\|-
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|Lib III Cap I §9
			\|rising Ori, south, last
			\|Psc 13
			\|}

	===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====		===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====

YoulaAzkarrula: /* Almagest Ἠνίοχος. */

2026-02-06T10:47:56Z

Almagest Ἠνίοχος.

Show changes

Sushoff at 13:10, 20 January 2026

2026-01-20T13:10:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:10, 20 January 2026
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			Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:Auriga (aur).tif\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Auriga star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]		[[File:Auriga (aur).tif\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Auriga star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]].		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]].

Dorvic at 15:17, 2 May 2025

2025-05-02T15:17:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:17, 2 May 2025
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	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====

			===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====
			<blockquote>In Latin we call him "auriga" — Erichthonius by name, as Eratosthenes shows. Jupiter seeing that he first among men yoked horses in four-horse chariots, admired the genius of a man who could rival the invention of Sol, who first among the gods made use of the quadriga. Erichthonius first invented the four-horse chariot, as we said before, and also first established sacrifices to Minerva, and a temple on the citadel of the Athenians. Euripides gives the following account of his birth. Vulcan, inflamed by Minerva's beauty, begged her to marry him, but was refused. She hid herself in the place called Hephaestius, on account of the love of Vulcan. They say that Vulcan, following her there, tried to force her, and when, full of passion he tried to embrace her, he was repulsed, and some of his seed fell to the ground. Minerva overcome by shame, with her foot spread dust over it. From this the snake Erichthonius was born, who derives his name from the earth and their struggle. Minerva is said to have hidden him, like a cult-object, in a chest. She brought the chest to the daughters of Erechtheus and gave it to them to guard, forbidding them to open it. But man is by nature so curious, that the oftener he is forbidden to do something, the more he desired to do it. So the girls opened the chest and saw the snake. As a result they were driven mad by Minerva, and threw themselves from the Acropolis. But the snake fled to the shield of Minerva, and was reared by her.

			Others have said that Erichthonius merely had snake-legs, and in his youth established the Panathenaic Games for Minerva, himself competing in the four-horse chariot race. In return for these deeds he was placed among the constellations.

			Some too, who have written about the stars, have said that the Charioteer was an Argive by birth, named Orsilochus, who first invented the four-horse chariot, and for his invention gained a place among the stars.

			Others identified him as the son of Mercury and Clytie, Myrtilus by name, the charioteer of Oinomaus. After his death, the manner of which is common knowledge, his father is said to have put his form in the sky.

			On his left shoulder (the goat) Capra stands, and in his left hand the Kids seem to be placed. They tell this story about him. A certain Olenus, son of Vulcan, had two daughters, the nymphs Aex and Helice, who were nurses of Jove. Others have said that certain cities were named from them — Olenus in Aulis, Helice in the Peloponnesus, and Aex in Haemonia — about which Homer writes in the second book of the Iliad. But Parmeniscus say that a certain Melisseus was king in Crete, and to his daughters Jove was brought to nurse. Since they did not have milk, they furnished him a she-goat, Amalthea by name, who is said to have reared him. She often bore twin kids, and at the very time that Jove was brought to her to nurse, had borne a pair. And so because of the kindness of the mother, the kids, too were placed among the constellations. Cleostratus of Tenedos is said to have first pointed out these kids among the stars.

			But Musaeus says Jove was nursed by Themis and the nymph Amalthea, to whom he was given by Ops, his mother. Now Amalthea had as a pet a certain goat which is said to have nursed Jove.

			Some have called Aex the daughter of Sol, who surpassed many in beauty of body, but in contrast to this beauty, had a most horrible face. Terrified by it, the Titans begged Terra to hide her body, and Terra is said to have hidden her in a cave in the island of Crete. Later she became nurse of Jove, as we have said before. But when Jupiter, confident in his youth, was preparing for war against the Titans, oracular reply was given to him that if he wished to win, he should carry on the war protected with the skin of a goat, aigos, and the head of the Gorgon. The Greeks call this the aegis. When this was done, as we have shown above, Jupiter, overcoming the Titans, gained possession of the kingdom. Covering the remaining bones of the goat with a skin, he gave life to them and memorialised them, picturing them with stars. Afterwards he gave to Minerva the aegis with which he had been protected when he won.

			Euhemerus says that a certain Aex was the wife of Pan. When she was embraced by Jove she bore a son whom she called son of Pan. So the child was called Aegipan, and Jove, Aegiochus. Since he was very fond of him, he placed in memory the form of a goat among the stars. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>

	===== Geminos =====		===== Geminos =====

Dorvic: /* Aratos */

2025-05-02T06:05:27Z

Aratos

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	===== Aratos =====		===== Aratos =====
	~~[156] But if it be thy wish~~ to ~~mark~~ Charioteer ~~[Auriga]~~ and ~~his~~ stars, and ~~if the fame~~ has ~~come to thee~~ of the Goat ~~[Capella]~~ herself and the Kids, who often on ~~the darkening deep have seen~~ men ~~storm-~~tossed, ~~thou wilt~~ find ~~him in all his might, leaning forward at~~ the left ~~hand~~ of the Twins. ~~Over against him wheels the top of Helice’s head, but on~~ his left shoulder is ~~set~~ the ~~holy~~ Goat, ~~that, as legend tells, gave the~~ breast to Zeus~~. Her~~ the interpreters of Zeus call the Olenian Goat. ~~Large~~ is ~~she~~ and ~~bright~~, but there at the wrist ~~of the Charioteer~~ faintly ~~gleam the Kids~~.		If you are minded to observe the Charioteer and the Charioteer’s stars, and rumour has reached you of the Goat herself and the Kids, who have often looked down on men being tossed upon the heaving sea, [160] you will find the Charioteer lying large to the left of the Twins, while opposite Helice circles his head at that extremity. Fastened to his left shoulder is the sacred Goat, who is said to have tendered her breast to Zeus: the interpreters of Zeus call her the Olenian Goat. [165] Now he is large and brilliant, but her Kids there on the Charioteer’s wrist shine faintly.

	~~[167] At~~ the feet of Charioteer ~~seek~~ for the ~~crouching~~ horned Bull ~~[Taurus]~~. ~~Very lifelike are his signs;~~ so ~~clear~~ defined ~~his~~ head: ~~not by~~ other sign ~~would one mark~~ the head ~~of an ox~~, ~~since in such wise those very~~ stars~~, wheeling on either side, fashion~~ it. ~~Oft-spoken~~ is ~~their name and not all unheard-of are~~ the Hyades. ~~Broadcast~~ are ~~they on~~ the ~~forehead of the Bull. One star occupies~~ the ~~tip~~ of ~~his~~ left horn and the right foot of the Charioteer, ~~who is close by. Together~~ they are ~~carried in their course, but ever earlier is~~ the Bull ~~than~~ the Charioteer to ~~set beneath~~ the ~~West~~, ~~albeit they fare together at their rising~~.		Near the feet of the Charioteer look for the horned Bull crouching. This constellation is very recognisable, so clearly defined is its head: one needs no other [170] sign to identify the ox’s head, so well do the stars themselves model both sides of it as they go round. Their name is also very popular: the Hyades are not just nameless. They are set out all along the Bull’s face; the point of its left horn [175] and the right foot o f the adjacent Charioteer are occupied by a single star, and they are pinned together as they go. But the Bull is always ahead o f the Charioteer in sinking to the horizon, though it rises simultaneously.

	[713] Nor lags behind the Charioteer at the rising of the Bull, for close are set their courses. But not with that sign does he rise completely, but the Twins bring him wholly up. The Kids and the sole of the Charioteer’s left foot and the Goat herself journey with the Bull,

	(Kidd 1997)		(Kidd 1997)

Dorvic: /* Aratos */

2025-05-02T05:11:11Z

Aratos

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:11, 2 May 2025
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	[713] Nor lags behind the Charioteer at the rising of the Bull, for close are set their courses. But not with that sign does he rise completely, but the Twins bring him wholly up. The Kids and the sole of the Charioteer’s left foot and the Goat herself journey with the Bull,		[713] Nor lags behind the Charioteer at the rising of the Bull, for close are set their courses. But not with that sign does he rise completely, but the Twins bring him wholly up. The Kids and the sole of the Charioteer’s left foot and the Goat herself journey with the Bull,

	Kidd (1997)		(Kidd 1997)

	===== Eratosthenes =====		===== Eratosthenes =====