Bootes - Revision history

Sushoff: /* Mythology */

2026-02-27T11:43:47Z

Mythology

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:43, 27 February 2026
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	=== Origin of Constellation ===		=== Origin of Constellation ===
	The word “Boötes” is used by Aratus, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy. Eratosthenes, however, calls the constellation “Arktophylakos,” bear keeper.		The word “Boötes” is used by Aratus, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy. Eratosthenes, however, calls the constellation “Arktophylakos,” bear keeper.<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref>

	Eratosthenes explains that the bear keeper is Arkas, a son of Zeus who grew up among shepherds. The word bear keeper refers to its proximity to the Greek constellation Ursa Major, which he guards. In Roman times, however, its seven brightest stars were interpreted as seven oxen driven by the ox driver.		Eratosthenes explains that the bear keeper is Arkas, a son of Zeus who grew up among shepherds. The word bear keeper refers to its proximity to the Greek constellation Ursa Major, which he guards. In Roman times, however, its seven brightest stars were interpreted as seven oxen driven by the ox driver.
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	== Mythology ==		== Mythology ==
	Eratosthenes reports that Arkas was the son of Zeus and Callisto, the daughter of Lycaon. After the birth, Lycaon is said to have invited Zeus to a feast, at which he served him the dismembered newborn. Zeus was horrified, overturned the table, destroyed the palace with a thunderbolt, put the boy back together, gave him a beautiful form, and had him raised among shepherds. When the young man, unaware of his origins, wanted to marry his mother and was therefore to be sacrificed according to the law, Zeus saved him once again. He carried him up to the stars.		<ref name=":0" />Eratosthenes reports that Arkas was the son of Zeus and Callisto, the daughter of Lycaon. After the birth, Lycaon is said to have invited Zeus to a feast, at which he served him the dismembered newborn. Zeus was horrified, overturned the table, destroyed the palace with a thunderbolt, put the boy back together, gave him a beautiful form, and had him raised among shepherds. When the young man, unaware of his origins, wanted to marry his mother and was therefore to be sacrificed according to the law, Zeus saved him once again. He carried him up to the stars.

	In another version of the legend, mythographers report that Arkas' mother Callisto was transformed into a bear: either by Artemis, who punished her for not remaining a virgin until initiation, or by her suitor Zeus, to protect her from the revenge of his wife Hera, or by Hera herself, who wanted revenge. Whatever the reason, as a young man, Arkas encountered the bear and did not recognize his mother. He hunted her until she fled to the temple of Zeus. Since it was forbidden to enter, the situation gave Zeus the opportunity to transport both of them to the heavens.		In another version of the legend, mythographers report that Arkas' mother Callisto was transformed into a bear: either by Artemis, who punished her for not remaining a virgin until initiation, or by her suitor Zeus, to protect her from the revenge of his wife Hera, or by Hera herself, who wanted revenge. Whatever the reason, as a young man, Arkas encountered the bear and did not recognize his mother. He hunted her until she fled to the temple of Zeus. Since it was forbidden to enter, the situation gave Zeus the opportunity to transport both of them to the heavens.

IanRidpath: Diacritic

2026-02-26T23:35:59Z

Diacritic

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:35, 26 February 2026
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	Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}		Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
	----		----
	[[File:Boötes IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|~~Bootes~~ star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)]]		[[File:Boötes IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Boötes star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. ~~“Bootes”~~ is not a proper name, but it term is sometimes used as if it was because there is always the question of the correct translation: some say “bear keeper” and others “ox driver.” Both are correct. One refers to the Greek constellations, the other to the Roman asterisms. At the same time, both are incorrect, because the Greek word βοώτηϛ means ~~“plowman~~.”		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. “Boötes” is not a proper name, but it term is sometimes used as if it was because there is always the question of the correct translation: some say “bear keeper” and others “ox driver.” Both are correct. One refers to the Greek constellations, the other to the Roman asterisms. At the same time, both are incorrect, because the Greek word βοώτηϛ means “ploughman.”

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	=== Origin of Constellation ===		=== Origin of Constellation ===
	The word ~~“Bootes”~~ is used by Aratus, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy. Eratosthenes, however, calls the constellation “Arktophylakos,” bear keeper.		The word “Boötes” is used by Aratus, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy. Eratosthenes, however, calls the constellation “Arktophylakos,” bear keeper.

	Eratosthenes explains that the bear keeper is Arkas, a son of Zeus who grew up among shepherds. The word bear keeper refers to its proximity to the Greek constellation Ursa Major, which he guards. In Roman times, however, its seven brightest stars were interpreted as seven oxen driven by the ox driver.		Eratosthenes explains that the bear keeper is Arkas, a son of Zeus who grew up among shepherds. The word bear keeper refers to its proximity to the Greek constellation Ursa Major, which he guards. In Roman times, however, its seven brightest stars were interpreted as seven oxen driven by the ox driver.

	What seems particularly unusual to the modern observer is that the brightest star in the area does not belong to the figure of ~~Bootes~~: the anthropomorphic figure is formed by weaker stars of 2.5 to 4 mag – the brightest star stands incongruously between the legs of this figure and is called Arcturus, the guardian or watchman. In Greek, therefore, the star's name fits the figure.		What seems particularly unusual to the modern observer is that the brightest star in the area does not belong to the figure of Boötes: the anthropomorphic figure is formed by weaker stars of 2.5 to 4 mag – the brightest star stands incongruously between the legs of this figure and is called Arcturus, the guardian or watchman. In Greek, therefore, the star's name fits the figure.

	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====
	Whether this was also the case in Babylonian culture cannot be said with certainty. In MUL.APIN, each constellation is assigned a deity, and in this region of the sky, the untranslatable word ŠU.PA is found. Perhaps it is derived from the Akkadian word for “bright” and refers to Arcturus, or perhaps it refers to a group of stars in the area. The star is associated with Enlil, the god of agriculture. His attributes include the wagon or cart and the plow, which orbit in the circumpolar region.		Whether this was also the case in Babylonian culture cannot be said with certainty. In MUL.APIN, each constellation is assigned a deity, and in this region of the sky, the untranslatable word ŠU.PA is found. Perhaps it is derived from the Akkadian word for “bright” and refers to Arcturus, or perhaps it refers to a group of stars in the area. The star is associated with Enlil, the god of agriculture. His attributes include the wagon or cart and the plow, which orbit in the circumpolar region.

	It is therefore conceivable that the Babylonian god, who can be seen as a shepherd or plowman, was a model for the Greek ~~Bootes~~. However, the evidence for this is indirect.		It is therefore conceivable that the Babylonian god, who can be seen as a shepherd or plowman, was a model for the Greek Boötes. However, the evidence for this is indirect.

	see		see

Sushoff: /* Mythology */

2026-02-24T17:50:37Z

Mythology

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:50, 24 February 2026
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	----		----
	[[File:Boötes IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Bootes star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)]]		[[File:Boötes IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Bootes star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. ~~The~~ term		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. “Bootes” is not a proper name, but it term is sometimes used as if it was because there is always the question of the correct translation: some say “bear keeper” and others “ox driver.” Both are correct. One refers to the Greek constellations, the other to the Roman asterisms. At the same time, both are incorrect, because the Greek word βοώτηϛ means “plowman.”

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	The ~~Greek~~ constellation ...		=== Origin of Constellation ===
			The word “Bootes” is used by Aratus, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy. Eratosthenes, however, calls the constellation “Arktophylakos,” bear keeper.

			Eratosthenes explains that the bear keeper is Arkas, a son of Zeus who grew up among shepherds. The word bear keeper refers to its proximity to the Greek constellation Ursa Major, which he guards. In Roman times, however, its seven brightest stars were interpreted as seven oxen driven by the ox driver.

	~~=== Origin~~ of ~~Constellation ===~~		What seems particularly unusual to the modern observer is that the brightest star in the area does not belong to the figure of Bootes: the anthropomorphic figure is formed by weaker stars of 2.5 to 4 mag – the brightest star stands incongruously between the legs of this figure and is called Arcturus, the guardian or watchman. In Greek, therefore, the star's name fits the figure.

	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====
			Whether this was also the case in Babylonian culture cannot be said with certainty. In MUL.APIN, each constellation is assigned a deity, and in this region of the sky, the untranslatable word ŠU.PA is found. Perhaps it is derived from the Akkadian word for “bright” and refers to Arcturus, or perhaps it refers to a group of stars in the area. The star is associated with Enlil, the god of agriculture. His attributes include the wagon or cart and the plow, which orbit in the circumpolar region.

			It is therefore conceivable that the Babylonian god, who can be seen as a shepherd or plowman, was a model for the Greek Bootes. However, the evidence for this is indirect.

	see		see

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	== Mythology ==		== Mythology ==
			Eratosthenes reports that Arkas was the son of Zeus and Callisto, the daughter of Lycaon. After the birth, Lycaon is said to have invited Zeus to a feast, at which he served him the dismembered newborn. Zeus was horrified, overturned the table, destroyed the palace with a thunderbolt, put the boy back together, gave him a beautiful form, and had him raised among shepherds. When the young man, unaware of his origins, wanted to marry his mother and was therefore to be sacrificed according to the law, Zeus saved him once again. He carried him up to the stars.

			In another version of the legend, mythographers report that Arkas' mother Callisto was transformed into a bear: either by Artemis, who punished her for not remaining a virgin until initiation, or by her suitor Zeus, to protect her from the revenge of his wife Hera, or by Hera herself, who wanted revenge. Whatever the reason, as a young man, Arkas encountered the bear and did not recognize his mother. He hunted her until she fled to the temple of Zeus. Since it was forbidden to enter, the situation gave Zeus the opportunity to transport both of them to the heavens.

	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==

Sushoff: /* Setting (Lib II Cap VI §10) */

2026-02-23T16:38:36Z

Setting (Lib II Cap VI §10)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 23 February 2026
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	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====

	====== Rising (Lib II Cap V ~~§10~~) ======		====== Rising (Lib II Cap V §1) ======
	<blockquote>The Rising of ...</blockquote>		<blockquote>The Rising of ...</blockquote>
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
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	\|}		\|}

	====== Setting (Lib II Cap VI ~~§10~~) ======		====== Setting (Lib II Cap VI §1) ======
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	!		!
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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Sco 6
	\|		\|Cap 18 1/2
	\|		\|Cap 22
	\|		\|Ari 4
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|the southernmost of the those in the left foot
	\|		\|the northernmost of those in the club
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|2 2/3 hours = ~~160~~ min = ~~40°~~		\| colspan="4" \|4 2/3 hours = 280 min = 70°
	\|}		\|}

Sushoff: /* Babylonian */

2026-02-23T14:52:31Z

Babylonian

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:52, 23 February 2026
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	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====
			see

			* Enlil, [[En-lil2\|<sup>d</sup>''En-lil'']]<sub>2</sub>
			* [[ŠU.PA]]

	==== Greco-Roman ====		==== Greco-Roman ====
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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Vir 1
	\|		\|Vir 27
	\|		\|Tau 26 1/2
	\|		\|Gem 27
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|the one in the head
	\|		\|the one in the right foot
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|2 ~~1/8~~ hours = ~~127.5~~ min = ~~31 7/8~~ degree		\| colspan="4" \|2 hours = 120 min = 30 degree
	\|}		\|}

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-02-22T17:33:48Z

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 Boώrης */

2026-02-06T10:55:43Z

Almagest Boώrης

Show changes

Sushoff at 13:11, 20 January 2026

2026-01-20T13:11:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:11, 20 January 2026
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			Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:Boötes IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Bootes star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)]]		[[File:Boötes IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Bootes star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. The term		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. The term

Dorvic at 15:05, 2 May 2025

2025-05-02T15:05:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:05, 2 May 2025
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	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====

			===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====
			<blockquote>He is said to be Arcas, the son of Jove and Callisto, whom Lycaon served at a banquet, cut up with other meat, when Jupiter came to him as a guest. For Lycaon wanted to know whether the one who had asked for his hospitality was a god or not. For this deed he was punished by no slight punishment, for Jupiter, quickly overturning the table, burned the house with a thunderbolt, and turned Lycaon himself into a wolf. But the scattered limbs of the boy he put together, and gave him to a certain Aitolian to care for. When, grown to manhood, he was hunting in the woods, he saw his mother changed to bear form, and did not recognize her. Intent on killing her, he chased her into the temple of Jove Lycaeus, where the penalty for entering is death, according to Arcadian law. And so, since both would have to die, Jupiter, out of pity, snatched them up and put them among the stars, as I have said before. As a result, Arcas is seen following the Bear, and since he guards Arctos, he is called Arctophylax.

			Some have said that he is Icarus, father of Erigone, to whom, on account of his justice and piety, Father Liber gave wine, the vine, and the grape, so that he could show men how to plant the vine, what would grow from it, and how to use what was produced. When he had planted the vine, and by careful tending with a pruning-knife had made it flourish, a goat is said to have broken into the vineyard, and nibbled the tenderest leaves he saw there. Icarus, angered by this, took him and killed him and from his skin made a sack, and blowing it up, bound it tight, and cast it among his friends, directing them to dance around it. And so Eratosthenes says: Around the goat of Icarus they first danced.

			Others say that Icarus, when he had received the wine from Father Liber, straightway put full wineskins on a wagon. For this he was called Bootes. When he showed it to the shepherds on going round through the Attic country, some of them, greedy and attracted by the new kind of drink, became stupefied, and sprawling here and there, as if half-dead, kept uttering unseemly things. The others, thinking poison had been given the shepherds by Icarus, so that he could drive their flocks into his own territory, killed him, and threw him into a well, or, as others say, buried him near a certain tree. However, when those who had fallen asleep, woke up, saying that they had never rested better, and kept asking for Icarus in order to reward him, his murderers, stirred by conscience, at once took to flight and came to the island of the Ceans. Received there as guests, they established homes for themselves.

			But when Erigone, the daughter of Icarus, moved by longing for her father, saw he did not return and was on the point of going out to hunt for him, the dog of Icarus, Maera by name, returned to her, howling as if lamenting the death of its master. It gave her no slight suspicion of murder, for the timid girl would naturally suspect her father had been killed since he had been gone so many months and days. But the dog, taking hold of her dress with its teeth, led her to the body. As soon as the girl saw it, abandoning hope, and overcome with loneliness and poverty, with many tearful lamentations she brought death on herself by hanging from the very tree beneath which her father was buried. And the dog made atonement for her death by its own life. Some say that it cast itself into the well, Anigrus by name. For this reason they repeat the story that no one afterward drank from that well. Jupiter, pitying their misfortune, represented their forms among the stars. And so many have called Icarus, Bootes, and Erigone, the Virgin, about whom we shall speak later. The dog, however, from its own name and likeness, they have called Canicula. It is called Procyon by the Greeks, because it rises before the greater Dog. Others say these were pictured among the stars by Father Liber.

			In the meantime in the district of the Athenians many girls without cause committed suicide by hanging, because Erigone, in dying, had prayed that Athenian girls should meet the same kind of death she was to suffer if the Athenians did not investigate the death of Icarus and avenge it. And so when these things happened as described, Apollo gave oracular response to them when they consulted him, saying that they should appease Erigone if they wanted to be free from the affliction. So since she hanged herself, they instituted a practice of swinging themselves on ropes with bars of wood attached, so that the one hanging could be moved by the wind. They instituted this as a solemn ceremony, and they perform it both privately and publicly, and call it aletis, aptly terming her mendicant who, unknown and lonely, sought for her father with the god. The Greeks call such people aletides.

			In addition to this, Canicula, rising with its heat, scorched the land of the Ceans, and robbed their fields of produce, and caused the inhabitants, since they had welcomed the bandits, to be plagued by sickness, and to pay the penalty to Icarus with suffering. Their king, Aristaeus, son of Apollo and Cyrene, and father of Actaeon, asked his father by what means he could free the state from affliction. The god bade them expiate the death of Icarus with many victims, and ask from Jove that when Canicula rises he should send wind for forty days to temper the heat of Canicula. This command Aristaeus carried out, and obtained from Jove the favour that the Etesian winds should blow. Some have called them Etesian because they spring up at a certain time each year, for etos in Greek is annus in Latin. Some, too, have called them Etesian because they were "asked for" from Jove, and so obtained. But we shall leave this undecided, lest we be though to have anticipated everything.

			To return to the matter at hand, Hermippus, who wrote about the stars, says that Ceres lay with Iasion, son of Thuscus. Many agree with Homer that for this he was struck with a thunderbolt. From them, as Petellides, Cretan writer of histories, shows, two sons were born, Philomelus and Plutus, who were never on good terms, for Plutus, who was richer, gave nothing of his wealth to his brother. Philomelus, however, compelled by necessity, bought two oxen with what he had, and became the inventor of the wagon. So, by plowing and cultivating the fields, he supported himself. His mother, admiring his invention, represented him plowing among the stars, and called him Bootes. From him they say Parias was born, who called the people Parians and the town Parion from his own name. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>

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

Dorvic: /* Aratos */

2025-05-02T05:56:13Z

Aratos

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:56, 2 May 2025
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	===== Aratos =====		===== Aratos =====
	[91] Behind Helice, like ~~to one that drives~~, ~~is borne along~~ Arctophylax whom men ~~also~~ call ~~Boötes~~, ~~since~~ he ~~seems~~ to ~~lay hand on~~ the ~~wain~~-~~like~~ Bear. ~~Very bright~~ is ~~he all~~; ~~but beneath~~ his belt ~~wheels~~ a star~~, bright beyond~~ the ~~others, Arcturus himself~~.		[91] Behind Helice there comes, like a man driving, Arctophylax, whom men call Bootes, because he is seen to be just touching the Wagon-Bear. All of him is very conspicuous; below his belt circles Arcturus itself, a star distinct from the rest.

	~~[96] Beneath both feet of Boötes mark the Maiden [Virgo],~~

	[580?] No longer great on both sides of the horizon is Arctophylax but only the lesser portion is visible, while the greater part is wrapt in night. For with four signs of the Zodiac Boötes sets and is received in the bosom of ocean; and when he is sated with the light he takes till past midnight in the loosing of this oxen, in the season when he sets with the sinking sun. Those nights are named after his late setting. So these stars are setting, but another, facing them, no dim star, even Orion with glittering belt and shining shoulders and trusting in the might of his sword, and brining all the River, rises from the other horn, the East.		[580?] No longer great on both sides of the horizon is Arctophylax but only the lesser portion is visible, while the greater part is wrapt in night. For with four signs of the Zodiac Boötes sets and is received in the bosom of ocean; and when he is sated with the light he takes till past midnight in the loosing of this oxen, in the season when he sets with the sinking sun. Those nights are named after his late setting. So these stars are setting, but another, facing them, no dim star, even Orion with glittering belt and shining shoulders and trusting in the might of his sword, and brining all the River, rises from the other horn, the East.