Hydra - Revision history

YoulaAzkarrula at 02:26, 24 May 2026

2026-05-24T02:26:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:26, 24 May 2026
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	* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (medieval)]]		* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (medieval)]]

	[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Modern]]		[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Asian]] [[Category:Modern]]
	[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]]		[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]] [[Category:Hya]]

IanRidpath: /* Weblink */ Added Warburg link

2026-05-20T08:36:05Z

Weblink: Added Warburg link

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:36, 20 May 2026
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	== Weblink ==		== Weblink ==
			* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017075 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Hydra]
	*

	== References ==		== References ==

IanRidpath: /* Almagest */ Corrected typos/OCR errors

2026-05-20T08:34:29Z

Almagest: Corrected typos/OCR errors

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:34, 20 May 2026
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	\|τῶν έν τῇ κεφαλῇ ε τῶν ἡγοvμένωv β ὁ vοτιώτερος ἐπὶ τῶv μυκτήρων		\|τῶν έν τῇ κεφαλῇ ε τῶν ἡγοvμένωv β ὁ vοτιώτερος ἐπὶ τῶv μυκτήρων
	\|1		\|1
	\|The 5 stars in the head: the ~~southernmost_of~~ the 2 advance ones, which is on the nostrils		\|The 5 stars in the head: the southernmost of the 2 advance ones, which is on the nostrils
	\|sig Hya		\|sig Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|τῶν ἑπομένων αὐτοῑς β ὁ βόρειος ῶς ἑπὶ τοῦ κρανίου		\|τῶν ἑπομένων αὐτοῑς β ὁ βόρειος ῶς ἑπὶ τοῦ κρανίου
	\|3		\|3
	\|The 5 stars in the head: the northernmost of the 2 to ~~tl1e~~ rear ~~ofthese~~, which is about on the skull		\|The 5 stars in the head: the northernmost of the 2 to the rear of these, which is about on the skull
	\|eps Hya		\|eps Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|ὁ πᾶσιv ἑπόμεvος ὡς ἑπὶ τῆς γένvος		\|ὁ πᾶσιv ἑπόμεvος ὡς ἑπὶ τῆς γένvος
	\|5		\|5
	\|The 5 stars in the head: the ~~reannost~~ of all, about on the cheek		\|The 5 stars in the head: the rearmost of all, about on the cheek
	\|zet Hya		\|zet Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|τῶν ἐv τῇ έκφύσει του τραχήλου β ὁ ἡγούμενος		\|τῶν ἐv τῇ έκφύσει του τραχήλου β ὁ ἡγούμενος
	\|6		\|6
	\|The more advanced ~~ofthe~~ 2 ~~star~~~ in the place where the ~~neckjoins~~ [the head)		\|The more advanced of the 2 stars in the place where the neck joins [the head]
	\|omega Hya		\|omega Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|τῶν ἀπο νότου β συνεχῶν δ άμαvρος καὶ βόρειος		\|τῶν ἀπο νότου β συνεχῶν δ άμαvρος καὶ βόρειος
	\|11		\|11
	\|The faint, northernmost star of the 2 close ~~tagether~~ to the south		\|The faint, northernmost star of the 2 close together to the south
	\|BSC 3750		\|BSC 3750
	\|		\|
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	\|τῶν μετὰ τὴν καμπὴν ἑπομέvων γ ὁ ἡγούμενος		\|τῶν μετὰ τὴν καμπὴν ἑπομέvων γ ὁ ἡγούμενος
	\|13		\|13
	\|The most advanced ~~ofthe~~ 3 stars to the rear, ~~afl:er~~ the bend [in the neck		\|The most advanced of the 3 stars to the rear, after the bend [in the neck]
	\|kappa Hya		\|kappa Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|τῶv ἑξῆς ὠς ἐπ' εὐθείας γ ὁ ἡγούμενος		\|τῶv ἑξῆς ὠς ἐπ' εὐθείας γ ὁ ἡγούμενος
	\|16		\|16
	\|The most ~~advanccd~~ of the ~~ncxt~~ 3 stars almost on a straight line		\|The most advanced of the next 3 stars almost on a straight line
	\|mu Hya		\|mu Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|τῶν μετὰ τὴν βάσιν τού Κρατῆρος β ὁ βορειότερος		\|τῶν μετὰ τὴν βάσιν τού Κρατῆρος β ὁ βορειότερος
	\|19		\|19
	\|The northernmost of the 2 stars ~~aher~~ [i.c. to the rear ~~o.t~~] the base of Crater		\|The northernmost of the 2 stars after [i.e. to the rear of] the base of Crater
	\|beta Crt		\|beta Crt
	\|		\|
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	\|ὁ νοτιώτερος αυτῶν		\|ὁ νοτιώτερος αυτῶν
	\|20		\|20
	\|The southernmost of ~~thcm~~		\|The southernmost of them
	\|chi1 Hya		\|chi1 Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|τῶv μετα τούτους γ ὡς ἐν τριγώνῳ ὁ ἡγούμενος		\|τῶv μετα τούτους γ ὡς ἐν τριγώνῳ ὁ ἡγούμενος
	\|21		\|21
	\|The most advanced of the 3 stars ~~aller~~ these, as it ~~werc~~ in a triangle		\|The most advanced of the 3 stars after these, as it were in a triangle
	\|xi Hya		\|xi Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν και νοτιώτερος		\|ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν και νοτιώτερος
	\|22		\|22
	\|The middle and southernmost ~~onc~~		\|The middle and southernmost one
	\|omicron Hya		\|omicron Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|ὁ μετα τὸν Κόρκα ἐv τῷ παρούρῳ		\|ὁ μετα τὸν Κόρκα ἐv τῷ παρούρῳ
	\|24		\|24
	\|The star after Corvus, in the ~~scction~~ by the tail		\|The star after Corvus, in the section by the tail
	\|gamma Hya		\|gamma Hya
	\|		\|
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	\|ὁ ἐκ διαστήματος ἑπόμενος τοῑς ἐν τῷ τραχrjλῳ		\|ὁ ἐκ διαστήματος ἑπόμενος τοῑς ἐν τῷ τραχrjλῳ
	\|27		\|27
	\|The star some distance to the rear of those in the neck [ nos. 6-I5]		\|The star some distance to the rear of those in the neck [nos. 6-15]
	\|epsilon Sex		\|epsilon Sex
	\|		\|

Sushoff at 12:29, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T12:29:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:29, 27 February 2026
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	[[File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|thumb\|clay tablets VAT 7847+AO6448]]		[[File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|thumb\|clay tablets VAT 7847+AO6448]]
	[[File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium farnese.jpg\|thumb\|Hydra (as a vessel) with Corvus and Crater on the Farnese Globe (2nd century CE), mapped to Stellarium by SMH 2021.]]		[[File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium farnese.jpg\|thumb\|Hydra (as a vessel) with Corvus and Crater on the Farnese Globe (2nd century CE), mapped to Stellarium by SMH 2021.]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. The name "Hydra" refers to a watersnake from Greek mythology. Still, the underlying constellation originally referred to a Babylonian creature that consisted of a dog-headed snake with wings, the [[MUŠ]]. For Aratos and Eratosthenes, the constellations Hydra, Corvus, and Crater belong together; they form a super-constellation consisting of several figures. They tell a star legend whose main character is the raven, who is said to have carried the Hydra to Apollo. However, this contradicts the figure in the sky: the raven is tiny compared to the Hydra and looks more like it is riding on it. This legend testifies to the actually foreign origin of the constellation: The giant snake and the raven were adopted as an image from Mesopotamia. The description or listing of these figures is already documented in MUL.APIN in the 2nd millennium BCE. It is one of the few constellations for which there is even evidence of an engraving from Mesopotamia – although only from the Seleucid period, i.e., under Greek rule.		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. The name "Hydra" refers to a watersnake from Greek mythology. Still, the underlying constellation originally referred to a Babylonian creature that consisted of a dog-headed snake with wings, the [[MUŠ]].<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref> For Aratos and Eratosthenes, the constellations Hydra, [[Corvus]], and [[Crater]] belong together; they form a super-constellation consisting of several figures. They tell a star legend whose main character is the raven, who is said to have carried the Hydra to Apollo. However, this contradicts the figure in the sky: the raven is tiny compared to the Hydra and looks more like it is riding on it. This legend testifies to the actually foreign origin of the constellation: The giant snake and the raven were adopted as an image from Mesopotamia. The description or listing of these figures is already documented in MUL.APIN in the 2nd millennium BCE. It is one of the few constellations for which there is even evidence of an engraving from Mesopotamia – although only from the Seleucid period, i.e., under Greek rule.

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	The Greek constellation of the Water Snake is a derivative of the Babylonian constellation of the MUŠ-Dragon, a dog-headed creature with the body of a gigantic snake with front legs and wings.		The Greek constellation of the Water Snake is a derivative of the Babylonian constellation of the MUŠ-Dragon, a dog-headed creature with the body of a gigantic snake with front legs and wings.
	=== Origin of Constellation ===		=== Origin of Constellation ===
	The Babylonian constellation is mentioned as early as 2nd millennium BCE; it occurs in lexical texts and texts of the Three Stars Each-genre. It is also mentioned in the first list (uranology) of MUL.APIN, where the Raven (or Crow) is mentioned at the tip of the tail of the huge creature in the sky.		The Babylonian constellation is mentioned as early as 2nd millennium BCE;<ref name=":0" /> it occurs in lexical texts and texts of the Three Stars Each-genre. It is also mentioned in the first list (uranology) of MUL.APIN, where [[Corvus]], the Raven (or Crow) is mentioned at the tip of the tail of the huge creature in the sky.

			==== Babylonian ====
			see

			* [[MUŠ\|<sup>mul (d)</sup>MUŠ]]
			* [[MUŠ.ḪUŠ\|<sup>(mul)</sup>MUŠ.ḪUŠ]]

	==== Aratus ====		==== Aratus ====

Sushoff: /* Greek/ Greco-Roman folklore */

2026-02-24T19:11:58Z

Greek/ Greco-Roman folklore

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:11, 24 February 2026
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	[[File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|thumb\|clay tablets VAT 7847+AO6448]]		[[File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|thumb\|clay tablets VAT 7847+AO6448]]
	[[File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium farnese.jpg\|thumb\|Hydra (as a vessel) with Corvus and Crater on the Farnese Globe (2nd century CE), mapped to Stellarium by SMH 2021.]]		[[File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium farnese.jpg\|thumb\|Hydra (as a vessel) with Corvus and Crater on the Farnese Globe (2nd century CE), mapped to Stellarium by SMH 2021.]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. The name "Hydra" refers to a watersnake from Greek mythology. Still, the underlying constellation originally referred to a Babylonian creature that consisted of a dog-headed snake with wings, the [[MUŠ]].		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. The name "Hydra" refers to a watersnake from Greek mythology. Still, the underlying constellation originally referred to a Babylonian creature that consisted of a dog-headed snake with wings, the [[MUŠ]]. For Aratos and Eratosthenes, the constellations Hydra, Corvus, and Crater belong together; they form a super-constellation consisting of several figures. They tell a star legend whose main character is the raven, who is said to have carried the Hydra to Apollo. However, this contradicts the figure in the sky: the raven is tiny compared to the Hydra and looks more like it is riding on it. This legend testifies to the actually foreign origin of the constellation: The giant snake and the raven were adopted as an image from Mesopotamia. The description or listing of these figures is already documented in MUL.APIN in the 2nd millennium BCE. It is one of the few constellations for which there is even evidence of an engraving from Mesopotamia – although only from the Seleucid period, i.e., under Greek rule.

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
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	=== Greek/ Greco-Roman folklore ===		=== Greek/ Greco-Roman folklore ===
			Eratosthenes recounts that the raven was sent by the gods to fetch water for a sacrifice. As long as there was no wine, spring water was considered the most sacred drink. However, on its way, the raven saw a fig tree with green fruit, waited there until they ripened, and ate its fill of the delicious figs. In order to have an excuse for the delay to the gods, he grabbed the water snake in the spring, carried it together with the crater to the gods, and claimed that it had drunk the water he had been sent to fetch.

			Apollo, a god of light, divination, and truth, saw through the deception. He punished the raven by condemning it to live among humans and suffer from thirst for a similar length of time. He also placed the image of the raven in the sky, together with the crater and the water snake, as a warning against deception and slander.

			While the water snake is innocent in Eratosthenes' version, according to another legend, the Hydra is the monster that was fought and defeated by Heracles. The story is part of the Hercules myth, but the constellation Hercules is far away from the Hydra and has nothing to do with either the raven or the crater. This seems to be a later ancient (Roman?) reinterpretation, because Eratosthenes' version does not seem particularly convincing when looking at the sky.

	=== Babylonian belief ===		=== Babylonian belief ===

YoulaAzkarrula: /* Almagest */

2026-02-06T09:37:09Z

Almagest

Show changes

Rolandlaffitte: /* Arabic */

2026-02-03T15:53:03Z

Arabic

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:53, 3 February 2026
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	=== Arabic ===		=== Arabic ===
	[[File:Hya RL2026.png\|thumb\|Hydra in Laffitte (2025).]]		[[File:Hya RL2026.png\|thumb\|Hydra in Laffitte (2025, 365). ''Fig. 77 : Ὕδρη / Hydrē'', « l’Hydre », ''et Κρατήρ'' / ''Kratēr'', « la Coupe »,]]
	''– al-Šuğā<sup>c</sup>,'' « le Gros Serpent », et ''al-Bāṭiyya'', « la Petite Jarre » (''ap.'' ''Urania’s Mirror'')<ref>Roland Laffitte (2025). 550 noms hérités des Arabes. </ref>		''– al-Šuğā<sup>c</sup>,'' « le Gros Serpent », et ''al-Bāṭiyya'', « la Petite Jarre » (''ap.'' ''Urania’s Mirror'')<ref>Roland Laffitte (2025). 550 noms hérités des Arabes. </ref>

Rolandlaffitte: /* Arabic */

2026-02-03T15:42:24Z

Arabic

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 3 February 2026
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	=== Arabic ===		=== Arabic ===
			[[File:Hya RL2026.png\|thumb\|Hydra in Laffitte (2025).]]
	''– al-Šuğā<sup>c</sup>,'' « le Gros Serpent », et ''al-Bāṭiyya'', « la Petite Jarre » (''ap.'' ''Urania’s Mirror'')<ref>Roland Laffitte (2025). 550 noms hérités des Arabes. </ref>		''– al-Šuğā<sup>c</sup>,'' « le Gros Serpent », et ''al-Bāṭiyya'', « la Petite Jarre » (''ap.'' ''Urania’s Mirror'')<ref>Roland Laffitte (2025). 550 noms hérités des Arabes. </ref>

Rolandlaffitte: /* Arabic */

2026-02-03T15:26:12Z

Arabic

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:26, 3 February 2026
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	=== Arabic ===		=== Arabic ===
			''– al-Šuğā<sup>c</sup>,'' « le Gros Serpent », et ''al-Bāṭiyya'', « la Petite Jarre » (''ap.'' ''Urania’s Mirror'')<ref>Roland Laffitte (2025). 550 noms hérités des Arabes. </ref>

			'''''Dhanab al Shuja''''' ''(γ Hya : 2,99) /'' '''ذنب الشجع'''

			Recently introduced, this name is the Arabic ''Ḏanab'' ''al-Šuğā<sup>c</sup>'', ‘the Tail of the Hydra’, in an Arabic or Persian catalogue using Greek formatting and as yet unidentified. NB : We have ''fī aṣal al-ḏanab'', ‘at the root of the tail,’ and ''<sup>c</sup>and al-ḏanab'', ‘at the tail,’ π/ γ Hya, and ''<sup>c</sup>alā ṭaraf al-ḏanab'', ‘at the tip of the tail,’ π/ γ Hya, c/ the translators of Ptolemy, then al-Ṣūfī and al-Battānī, but ''Ṭarf al-ḏanab'', ‘the tip of the tail’, c/ al-Bīrūnī. However, this name does not appear in any known text. Abs. c/ Allen. ''Dhanab'' ''al-Shuja'', Pultar, ''Dhanab'' ''al-Shuja'' and ''Cauda Hydrae.''

	== Mythology ==		== Mythology ==

Rolandlaffitte: /* Mythology */

2026-02-03T15:19:28Z

Mythology

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:19, 3 February 2026
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	File:Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Noctua, Corvus, Crater, Sextans Uraniæ, Hydra, Felis, Lupus, Centaurus, Antlia Pneumatica, Argo Navis, and Pyxis Nautica.jpg\|In early modern time, some scholars extended the snake-body of Hydra beyond pi Hydrae and placed a second bird ([[Solitaire]] or [[Noctua]]) at this new end.		File:Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Noctua, Corvus, Crater, Sextans Uraniæ, Hydra, Felis, Lupus, Centaurus, Antlia Pneumatica, Argo Navis, and Pyxis Nautica.jpg\|In early modern time, some scholars extended the snake-body of Hydra beyond pi Hydrae and placed a second bird ([[Solitaire]] or [[Noctua]]) at this new end.
	</gallery>		</gallery>

			=== Arabic ===

	== Mythology ==		== Mythology ==