Hercules - Revision history

Sushoff at 12:24, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T12:24:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 27 February 2026
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	The peculiar position and orientation of the figure raises the suspicion that it is older and perhaps not of Greek origin. There is a hypothesis that a Babylonian mythical creature may have stood here. However, this could only apply to the northern parts of Hercules and only to very early periods, i.e. the Sumerian culture. There is no trace of such a creature in the Babylonian MUL.APIN of the late 2nd millennium, and the Babylonian constellation Canis Major was always located in the southern parts of Hercules.		The peculiar position and orientation of the figure raises the suspicion that it is older and perhaps not of Greek origin. There is a hypothesis that a Babylonian mythical creature may have stood here. However, this could only apply to the northern parts of Hercules and only to very early periods, i.e. the Sumerian culture. There is no trace of such a creature in the Babylonian MUL.APIN of the late 2nd millennium, and the Babylonian constellation Canis Major was always located in the southern parts of Hercules.
	===Origin of Constellation===		===Origin of Constellation===
	In Greek, the figure is simply called “the kneeling man” and is initially unnamed: Aratos calls it the inscrutable image and knows neither the name of the man whose hardship forces him to his knees nor the reason why he is hanging upside down. Compared to all other constellations, whose heads point north, this figure is surprisingly rotated 180° and its head is next to that of the Serpent Bearer.		<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref>In Greek, the figure is simply called “the kneeling man” and is initially unnamed: Aratos calls it the inscrutable image and knows neither the name of the man whose hardship forces him to his knees nor the reason why he is hanging upside down. Compared to all other constellations, whose heads point north, this figure is surprisingly rotated 180° and its head is next to that of the Serpent Bearer.

	Eratosthenes, on the other hand, states that the kneeling figure is Heracles. This is justified by its proximity to the snake (our constellation Draco), because Heracles' struggle for the apples of the Hesperides is linked to the myth surrounding this snake. The celestial figure presses its knee onto the snake (dragon) and steps on its head with its foot.		Eratosthenes, on the other hand, states that the kneeling figure is Heracles. This is justified by its proximity to the snake (our constellation Draco), because Heracles' struggle for the apples of the Hesperides is linked to the myth surrounding this snake. The celestial figure presses its knee onto the snake (dragon) and steps on its head with its foot.

Sushoff: /* Origin of Constellation */

2026-02-24T19:06:44Z

Origin of Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:06, 24 February 2026
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	----		----
	[[File:Hercules IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Her star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]		[[File:Hercules IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Her 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]]. The name of the modern constellation is Latinised from Greek "Herakles", a hero in ancient mythology. As the image of the constellation appears strangely turned upside down for the northern observer looking southwards, the image likely has a foreign origin. Possible remote Sumerian sources have been considered, but a comprehensive transformation history with archaeological proof and historical evidence is yet to be written.

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
			On modern star charts, Heracles is depicted with a lion's skin and club, as described by Eratosthenes. Sometimes the club is entwined by a snake with several dog heads: this is one of the representations of the hellhound Cerberus – in ancient times usually a multi-headed dog, but sometimes also depicted with a snake's tail. According to ancient myth, Heracles fights with it and brings the defeated creature to the upper world as a trophy. In Bayer's Uranometria (1603), Hercules appears to be carrying a wooden branch: this is likely to be monkshood, the poisonous herb that, according to legend, was created when the saliva of the hellhound dripped onto the earth.

	The peculiar position and orientation of the figure raises the suspicion that it is older and perhaps not of Greek origin. There is a hypothesis that a Babylonian mythical creature may have stood here. However, this could only apply to the northern parts of Hercules and only to very early periods, i.e. the Sumerian culture. There is no trace of such a creature in the Babylonian MUL.APIN of the late 2nd millennium, and the Babylonian constellation Canis Major was always located in the southern parts of Hercules.		The peculiar position and orientation of the figure raises the suspicion that it is older and perhaps not of Greek origin. There is a hypothesis that a Babylonian mythical creature may have stood here. However, this could only apply to the northern parts of Hercules and only to very early periods, i.e. the Sumerian culture. There is no trace of such a creature in the Babylonian MUL.APIN of the late 2nd millennium, and the Babylonian constellation Canis Major was always located in the southern parts of Hercules.
	===Origin of Constellation===		===Origin of Constellation===
			In Greek, the figure is simply called “the kneeling man” and is initially unnamed: Aratos calls it the inscrutable image and knows neither the name of the man whose hardship forces him to his knees nor the reason why he is hanging upside down. Compared to all other constellations, whose heads point north, this figure is surprisingly rotated 180° and its head is next to that of the Serpent Bearer.

			Eratosthenes, on the other hand, states that the kneeling figure is Heracles. This is justified by its proximity to the snake (our constellation Draco), because Heracles' struggle for the apples of the Hesperides is linked to the myth surrounding this snake. The celestial figure presses its knee onto the snake (dragon) and steps on its head with its foot.

			The peculiar position and orientation of the figure raises the suspicion that it is older and perhaps not of Greek origin. There is a hypothesis that a Babylonian mythical creature may have stood here. However, this could only apply to the northern parts of Hercules and only to very early epochs, i.e., Sumerian culture. There is no trace of such a creature in the Babylonian MUL.APIN from the end of the 2nd millennium, and the southern parts of Hercules have always been home to the Babylonian constellation Canis Major.

	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-02-23T16:47:01Z

Hipparchus

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 23 February 2026
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	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====

	====== Rising (Lib II Cap V ~~§10~~) ======		====== Rising (Lib II Cap V §3) ======
	<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 §3) ======
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	!		!

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-02-23T16:45:35Z

Hipparchus

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:45, 23 February 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Vir 11
	\|		\|Sco 7 1/2
	\|		\|Gem 7 1/2
	\|		\|Leo 14
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|the one in the right foot and the one in the right knee
	\|		\|the one at the end of the left hand
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|~~2 1~~/8 hours = ~~127.5~~ min = ~~31 7/8~~ degree		\| colspan="4" \|4 3/5 hours = 276 min = 69 degree
	\|}		\|}

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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Sgr 14
	\|		\|Aqr 16
	\|		\|Aqr 23
	\|		\|Tau 7 1/2
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|the one at the end of the right hand
	\|		\|the one in the left foot
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|~~2 2~~/3 hours = ~~160~~ min = ~~40°~~		\| colspan="4" \|4 3/5 hours = 276 min = 69°
	\|}		\|}

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-02-22T17:44:55Z

Hipparchus

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:44, 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 Ἐγγόνασι. */

2026-02-06T10:53:49Z

Almagest Ἐγγόνασι.

Show changes

Sushoff at 13:23, 20 January 2026

2026-01-20T13:23:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:23, 20 January 2026
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			Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:Hercules IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Her star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]		[[File:Hercules IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Her 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]].

Sushoff: /* Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation */

2025-06-08T11:04:19Z

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:04, 8 June 2025
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	The branch with the apples resembled the myth according to which he stole the "golden apples" as one of his celebrated deeds.		The branch with the apples resembled the myth according to which he stole the "golden apples" as one of his celebrated deeds.

	John Senex even labelled the apples, as Ian Ridpath points out:<ref>Ian Ridpath, Star Tales (Online Edition), [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/cerberusramus.html Cerberus et Ramus]</ref> <blockquote>Hercules holds Ramus, the apple branch, and Cerberus, the three-headed monster, in his outstretched hand, as depicted by the English cartographer John Senex (1678–1740) on his chart of the northern celestial hemisphere, ''Stellarum Fixarum Hemisphaerium Boreale'', published 1721/2. This chart was based on the pirated edition of John Flamsteed's unfinished star catalogue that had been published by Edmond Halley in 1712. Senex called the combined figure '''Ramus Cerberus''', and it appeared again on his planisphere of the northern sky issued posthumously in 1746. Johann Bode adopted the combined figure on his Uranographia atlas of 1801 but changed its name to '''Cerberus et Ramus''', and that is the name by which it became most widely known.</blockquote>		John Senex even labelled the apples, as Ian Ridpath points out:<ref>Ian Ridpath, Star Tales (Online Edition), [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/cerberusramus.html Cerberus et Ramus]</ref> <blockquote>Hercules holds Ramus, the apple branch, and Cerberus, the three-headed monster, in his outstretched hand, as depicted by the English cartographer John Senex (1678–1740) on his chart of the northern celestial hemisphere, ''Stellarum Fixarum Hemisphaerium Boreale'', published 1721/2. This chart was based on the pirated edition of John Flamsteed's unfinished star catalogue that had been published by Edmond Halley in 1712. Senex called the combined figure '''Ramus Cerberus''', and it appeared again on his planisphere of the northern sky issued posthumously in 1746. Johann Bode adopted the combined figure on his Uranographia atlas of 1801 but changed its name to '''Cerberus et Ramus''', and that is the name by which it became most widely known.</blockquote>[https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/3341770 Bode's map in the Uranographia (1801) is available in the digital collection of ETH Zurich].

	===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===		===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===

Sushoff: /* Medieval and Early Modern Europe */

2025-06-08T11:02:37Z

Medieval and Early Modern Europe

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:02, 8 June 2025
Line 241:		Line 241:
	The branch with the apples resembled the myth according to which he stole the "golden apples" as one of his celebrated deeds.		The branch with the apples resembled the myth according to which he stole the "golden apples" as one of his celebrated deeds.

	John Senex even labelled the apples, as Ian Ridpath points out:<ref>Ian Ridpath, Star Tales (Online Edition), [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/cerberusramus.html Cerberus et Ramus]</ref> <blockquote>Hercules holds Ramus, the apple branch, and Cerberus, the three-headed monster, in his outstretched hand, as depicted by the English cartographer John Senex (1678–1740) on his chart of the northern celestial hemisphere, ''Stellarum Fixarum Hemisphaerium Boreale'', published 1721/2. This chart was based on the pirated edition of John Flamsteed's unfinished star catalogue that had been published by Edmond Halley in 1712. Senex called the combined figure Ramus Cerberus, and it appeared again on his planisphere of the northern sky issued posthumously in 1746. Johann Bode adopted the combined figure on his Uranographia atlas of 1801 but changed its name to Cerberus et Ramus, and that is the name by which it became most widely known.</blockquote>		John Senex even labelled the apples, as Ian Ridpath points out:<ref>Ian Ridpath, Star Tales (Online Edition), [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/cerberusramus.html Cerberus et Ramus]</ref> <blockquote>Hercules holds Ramus, the apple branch, and Cerberus, the three-headed monster, in his outstretched hand, as depicted by the English cartographer John Senex (1678–1740) on his chart of the northern celestial hemisphere, ''Stellarum Fixarum Hemisphaerium Boreale'', published 1721/2. This chart was based on the pirated edition of John Flamsteed's unfinished star catalogue that had been published by Edmond Halley in 1712. Senex called the combined figure '''Ramus Cerberus''', and it appeared again on his planisphere of the northern sky issued posthumously in 1746. Johann Bode adopted the combined figure on his Uranographia atlas of 1801 but changed its name to '''Cerberus et Ramus''', and that is the name by which it became most widely known.</blockquote>

	===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===		===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===

Sushoff: /* Medieval and Early Modern Europe */

2025-06-08T10:58:52Z

Medieval and Early Modern Europe

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:58, 8 June 2025
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	=== Medieval and Early Modern Europe ===		=== Medieval and Early Modern Europe ===
			[[File:Ramus+Cerberus Senex.JPG\|thumb\|Ramus et Cerberus in Senex (1721/2), thanks to [https://crouchrarebooks.com/ Daniel Crouch] and Ian Ridpath.]]
	Traditionally, this hero carries a lion's skin and a club. Yet, in Early Modern Europe, all sorts of variants occured: instead of the skin that was supposed to protect him, he then was depicted with branches of apples or instead of branches with a three-headed snake in his hand.		Traditionally, this hero carries a lion's skin and a club. Yet, in Early Modern Europe, all sorts of variants occured: instead of the skin that was supposed to protect him, he then was depicted with branches of apples or instead of branches with a three-headed snake in his hand.