Hydra - Revision history

Sushoff: /* Eratosthenes */

2026-08-26T15:06:22Z

Eratosthenes

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:06, 26 August 2026
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	'''Corvus''' is situated on the tail of Hydra and faces west. It has one dim star on its beak, two on its wing, two on its rump, and one at the tips of its legs. Seven in all.		'''Corvus''' is situated on the tail of Hydra and faces west. It has one dim star on its beak, two on its wing, two on its rump, and one at the tips of its legs. Seven in all.

	'''Crater''' is situated on Hydra, some distance from the coil, and is tilted towards the knees of Virgo. Crater has two dim stars on the rim, two in the centre of the Bowl, and two at the base. Six in total.</blockquote>		'''Crater''' is situated on Hydra, some distance from the coil, and is tilted towards the knees of Virgo. Crater has two dim stars on the rim, two in the centre of the Bowl, and two at the base. Six in total.</blockquote>'''Eratosthenes's star catalogue''' can be reconstructed from the list of stars he mentions in the last section of each of the constelllation descriptions. Hoffmann (2017)<ref name=":02">Hoffmann, S. M., <nowiki><i>Hipparchs Himmelsglobus</i></nowiki>. Springer Wiesbaden/ New York, 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-18683-8.</ref> made such a catalogue and used it for computational comparison with Hipparchus's, Ptolemy's and Babylonian data; it is based on the edition and translation by Pamias and Geus (2007)<ref>Eratosthenes: Sternsagen, übersetzt von Pamìas, Jordi und Geus, Klaus, Verlag Utopica, Oberhaid 2007</ref> and presented here in English translation.

	{\|class="wikitable"		{\|class="wikitable"
	\|+		\|+

Sushoff: /* Hyginus, Astronomica */

2026-08-26T13:27:43Z

Hyginus, Astronomica

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 ==== Hipparchus ====
 {| class="wikitable"
 |+
@@ Line 494: / Line 496: @@
 Duration of the setting: 4 hours = 240<sup>m</sup> = 60°.
 |Lib. III. Cap. II. § 1.
 |}
-{| class="wikitable"
-|+
+====== Star at the Tip of the Tail ======
-!Greek
 * the last star rising is the one at the tip of the tail (ὁ ἐν ἄκρᾳ τῇ οὐρᾷ).
 Dauer des Aufgangs : 7 1/15 St. = 424m = 106°.
 ====== Hipparchus's "lost" star Catalogue ======
@@ Line 749: / Line 699: @@
 |}
-===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====
+==== Hyginus, Astronomica ====
 <blockquote>This is the sign on which the Crow sits and over which the Bowl is placed. The following reason has been handed down: When Apollo was sacrificing, the crow, who was under his guardianship, was sent to a spring to get some pure water. Seeing several trees with their figs not yet ripe, he perched on one of them waiting for them to ripen. After some days when the figs had ripened and the crow had eaten some, Apollo, who was waiting, saw him come flying in haste with the bowl full of water. For this fault of tardiness Apollo, who had had to use other water because of the crow's delay, punished him in this way. As long as the figs are ripening, the crow cannot drink, because on those days he has a sore [?] throat,. So when the god wished to illustrate the thirst of the crow, he put the bowl among the constellations, and placed the water-snake underneath to delay the thirsty crow. For the crow seems to peck at the end of its tail to be allowed to go over to the bowl.

Sushoff: /* Hyginus, Astronomica */

2026-08-26T13:24:50Z

Hyginus, Astronomica

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Sushoff: /* Eratosthenes */

2026-08-24T20:39:50Z

Eratosthenes

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Sushoff: /* Babylonian */

2026-08-04T18:06:59Z

Babylonian

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:06, 4 August 2026
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	* [[MUŠ\|<sup>mul (d)</sup>MUŠ]]		* [[MUŠ\|<sup>mul (d)</sup>MUŠ]]
	* [[MUŠ.ḪUŠ\|<sup>(mul)</sup>MUŠ.ḪUŠ]]		* [[MUŠ.ḪUŠ\|<sup>(mul)</sup>MUŠ.ḪUŠ]]

			The Babylonian "serpent" has a dog's head, at least front legs (if not also hind legs), and wings.

			===== Egyptian =====
			In Ptolemaic times (1st century BCE), when Egypt was ruled by the Romans, new Egyptian temples were built: a Chnum temple in Esna and a Hathor temple Dendera (south and north of Thebes/ Luxor). They display a cultural mixture of Babylonian and Egyptian constellations.
			<gallery>
			File:Leo+Com DenderaEckig GZotti.JPG\|Leo (and Com); rectangular zodiac of Dendera
			File:Leo+Com+Hya DenderaCirc Louvre.JPG\|Leo with Com, Hya, Crv, circular zodiac of Dendera (CC BY [https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010028871 Musée du Louvre, Département des Antiquités égyptiennes])
			</gallery>

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

Sushoff: /* Stars within the Constellation Area */

2026-08-04T16:05:55Z

Stars within the Constellation Area

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Sushoff at 16:05, 4 August 2026

2026-08-04T16:05:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 4 August 2026
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	\| dec = -33.90812978 to 6.41880152		\| dec = -33.90812978 to 6.41880152
	\| areatotal = 1124.77		\| areatotal = 1124.77
	\| numbermainstars = ~~230~~		\| numbermainstars = 171
	\| numberbfstars = ~~167~~		\| numberbfstars = 120
	\| numberstarsplanets =		\| numberstarsplanets =
	\| numberbrightstars = 7		\| numberbrightstars = 6
	\| numbernearbystars =		\| numbernearbystars =
	\| brighteststarname = [[Alphard]]		\| brighteststarname = [[Alphard]]
	\| starmagnitude = 0.97		\| starmagnitude = 1.97
	\| neareststarname =		\| neareststarname =
	\| stardistance =		\| stardistance =

Sushoff at 08:47, 29 July 2026

2026-07-29T08:47:49Z

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ----
 [[File:Hydra IAU.svg|alt=IAU Hydra chart|thumb|IAU Hydra chart]]
 [[File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium mulapin.jpg|thumb|Babylonian predecessor of Hydra: MUŠ, a creature with a snake-body with a wing, a dog-head and front legs; painting by Jessica Gullberg, in Stellarium by Susanne M Hoffmann]]
 [[File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png|thumb|clay tablets VAT 7847+AO6448]]

IanRidpath: Superscripts, typos, added link

2026-07-22T15:18:11Z

Superscripts, typos, added link

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:18, 22 July 2026
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	==== Aratus ====		==== Aratus ====
	[[File:Hya kugel smh2024.jpg\|thumb\|Constellation Hydra with Crater and Corvus on the Kugel Globe (1st century BCE), detail from drawing by SMH.<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M (2025), Some Results on the Ancient Globes, Globe Studies – The Journal of the International Coronelli Society, 69, 4169.</ref>]]<blockquote>But yet another constellation sweeps across the horizon: they call it the Hydra. Like a living thing [445] it winds at great length, its head comes below the middle of the Crab, its coil under the Lion’s body, and its tail hangs over the Centaur himself. On its middle coil lies the Bowl, and on the last one the figure of a Raven that looks like one pecking the coil. [450] Yes, and there too Procyon shines brightly beneath the Twins. (Kidd 1997) </blockquote>For Aratus pi Hya is part of the snake which can be derived from the simultaneously setting constellations (663).		[[File:Hya kugel smh2024.jpg\|thumb\|Constellation Hydra with Crater and Corvus on the Kugel Globe (1st century BCE), detail from drawing by SMH.<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M (2025), Some Results on the Ancient Globes, Globe Studies – The Journal of the International Coronelli Society, 69, 4169.</ref>]]<blockquote>But yet another constellation sweeps across the horizon: they call it the Hydra. Like a living thing [445] it winds at great length, its head comes below the middle of the Crab, its coil under the Lion’s body, and its tail hangs over the Centaur himself. On its middle coil lies the Bowl, and on the last one the figure of a Raven that looks like one pecking the coil. [450] Yes, and there too Procyon shines brightly beneath the Twins. (Kidd 1997) </blockquote>For Aratus Pi Hya is part of the snake which can be derived from the simultaneously setting constellations (663).

	==== Eratosthenes ====		==== Eratosthenes ====
	Eratosthenes in his Catasterismi gives two sections per constellation: First, he describes the story that led to the object/ animal/ god becoming a constellation. Then, he describes the positions of the stars in the figure.		Eratosthenes in his Catasterismi gives two sections per constellation: First, he describes the story that led to the object/animal/god becoming a constellation. Then, he describes the positions of the stars in the figure.

	Pamias and Zucker (2013,<ref>Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud (2013). Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, Belles Lettres, Paris</ref> 121-125): '''Hydra to which also belongs the Cup and the Raven'''		Pamias and Zucker (2013,<ref>Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud (2013). Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, Belles Lettres, Paris</ref> 121-125): '''Hydra to which also belongs the Cup and the Raven'''
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	\|8		\|8
	\|The middle star of the following three in the bend of the neck		\|The middle star of the following three in the bend of the neck
	\|~~tau2~~ Hya		\|tau<sup>2</sup> Hya
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\|10		\|10
	\|The southernmost of them		\|The southernmost of them
	\|~~tau1~~ Hya		\|tau<sup>1</sup> Hya
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\|14		\|14
	\|The middle one		\|The middle one
	\|~~upsilon1~~ Hya		\|upsilon<sup>1</sup> Hya
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\|15		\|15
	\|The rearmost of the three		\|The rearmost of the three
	\|~~upsilon2~~ Hya		\|upsilon<sup>2</sup> Hya
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\|20		\|20
	\|The southernmost of them		\|The southernmost of them
	\|~~chi1~~ Hya		\|chi<sup>1</sup> Hya
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\|-		\|-
	\|29		\|29
	\|τ 2 Hydrae		\|τ<sup>2</sup> Hydrae
	\|HIP 46776		\|HIP 46776
	\|Constellation lines		\|Constellation lines
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	\|-		\|-
	\|30		\|30
	\|υ 2 Hydrae		\|υ<sup>2</sup> Hydrae
	\|HIP 49402		\|HIP 49402
	\|Constellation lines		\|Constellation lines
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	\|-		\|-
	\|31		\|31
	\|τ 1 Hydrae		\|τ<sup>1</sup> Hydrae
	\|HIP 46509		\|HIP 46509
	\|Constellation lines		\|Constellation lines
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	\|-		\|-
	\|40		\|40
	\|ϕ 3 Hydrae		\|ϕ<sup>3</sup> Hydrae
	\|HIP 52085		\|HIP 52085
	\|Constellation lines		\|Constellation lines
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	\|-		\|-
	\|41		\|41
	\|χ 1 Hydrae		\|χ<sup>1</sup> Hydrae
	\|HIP 54204		\|HIP 54204
	\|Inside the hull		\|Inside the hull
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	\|-		\|-
	\|100		\|100
	\|χ 2 Hydrae		\|χ<sup>2</sup> Hydrae
	\|HIP 54255		\|HIP 54255
	\|Inside the hull		\|Inside the hull
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	\|-		\|-
	\|128		\|128
	\|ϕ 2 Hydrae		\|ϕ<sup>2</sup> Hydrae
	\|HIP 51905		\|HIP 51905
	\|Inside the hull		\|Inside the hull
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	=== Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation ===		=== Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation ===
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium mulapin.jpg\|~~the~~ Babylonian version of the "Hydra and Corvus" super-constellation does not contain a cup or jar. ~~visualized~~ in Stellarium (drawing by Jessica Gullberg)		File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium mulapin.jpg\|The Babylonian version of the "Hydra and Corvus" super-constellation does not contain a cup or jar. Visualized in Stellarium (drawing by Jessica Gullberg)
	File:Cnc Hya KAKSISA stellarium.jpg\|~~the~~ lonely star in front of the dragon-head (Procyon) rised simultaneously with the faint stars of The Crab in ancient Babylon. Procyon and the head / foot of the dragon may serve as a replacement for Cancer		File:Cnc Hya KAKSISA stellarium.jpg\|The lonely star in front of the dragon-head (Procyon) rised simultaneously with the faint stars of The Crab in ancient Babylon. Procyon and the head / foot of the dragon may serve as a replacement for Cancer
	File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|Leo and Virgo above the MUŠ-Dragon, two claytablet drawings from the Seleucid era (roughly 2nd century BCE), CC BY SMH based upon the drawings by E. Weidner (1967) and Thureau-Dangin (1922).		File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|Leo and Virgo above the MUŠ-Dragon, two claytablet drawings from the Seleucid era (roughly 2nd century BCE), CC BY SMH based upon the drawings by E. Weidner (1967) and Thureau-Dangin (1922).
	File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium farnese.jpg\|The Greeks introduced a Crater atop the snake. On the Farnese Globe, the body of the snake forms a vessel for Corvus and Crater.		File:Hya+crt+crv stellarium farnese.jpg\|The Greeks introduced a Crater atop the snake. On the Farnese Globe, the body of the snake forms a vessel for Corvus and Crater.
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	* name in the Almagest: ὁ ἐπ᾽ἄκρας τῆς οὐρᾶς (the one at the end of the tail)		* name in the Almagest: ὁ ἐπ᾽ἄκρας τῆς οὐρᾶς (the one at the end of the tail)

	The Greek term ἄκρᾳ can be translated as "at the farthest point" or "at the end" (or "~~hightest~~" which doesn't apply here).		The Greek term ἄκρᾳ can be translated as "at the farthest point" or "at the end" (or "highest" which doesn't apply here).

	== Weblink ==		== Weblink ==
	* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017075 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Hydra]		* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017075 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Hydra]
			* Ian Ridpath's ''Star Tales'' – [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/hydra.html Hydra]

	== References ==		== References ==

Sushoff: /* Eratosthenes */

2026-06-12T08:45:51Z

Eratosthenes

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:45, 12 June 2026
Line 22:		Line 22:

	==== Eratosthenes ====		==== Eratosthenes ====
	Eratosthenes in his Catasterismi gives two sections per constellation: First, he describes the story that led to the object/ animal/ god becoming a constellation. Then, he describes the positions of the stars in the figure. <blockquote>This constellation is plural because of one event event. The raven is associated with the cult of Apollo, as a bird is dedicated to each of the gods. As the gods were making a sacrifice, he was sent to a fountain to collect a libation; seeing a fig tree near the fountain bearing figs that were unripe figs, he waited for them to ripen; after a while, when they were time, when they were ripe and he had eaten the figs, realising eaten the figs, realising that he had committed a sacrilege, he also seized the hydra that was in the fountain and brought it with the cup, claiming that the hydra had been drinking day after day from the spring. But Apollo discovered what had happened and imposed on the raven a punishment commensurate with his fault : to be thirsty among men at this time of year as Aristotle says in his books On Beasts. For leave a clear reminder of the sacrilege that had been committed against the gods, Apollo represented and placed among the constellations the Hydra, the Crater, and the Raven who cannot drink from it or go near it.		Eratosthenes in his Catasterismi gives two sections per constellation: First, he describes the story that led to the object/ animal/ god becoming a constellation. Then, he describes the positions of the stars in the figure.

	~~The Hydra has three bright stars on the tip of its head head~~, ~~six on its first fold~~, ~~the last of which is bright~~, ~~three on the second fold~~, ~~four on the third~~, ~~two on the fourth, and nine stars without brilliance which go from the fifth fold to the tail. In all, twenty~~-~~seven. The Raven is located on the tail of~~ Hydra and looks towards the setting sun. It has a star without luster on the beak, two on the wing, two on the rump, and one on the tip of the legs. In all, seven. The Crater is located on the Hydra, at a certain distance from the fold, and is inclined towards the knees of the the Virgin. The Crater has two stars without luster on the rim, two in the centre of the Cup, and ~~two at~~ the ~~the base. In all, six. (Pamias and Zucker 2013) </blockquote>~~		Pamias and Zucker (2013,<ref>Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud (2013). Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, Belles Lettres, Paris</ref> 121-125): '''Hydra to which also belongs the Cup and the Raven'''

	~~===== Ancient Greek =====~~		<blockquote>'''Var. 1 (Περὶ τοῦ Ὕδρου, ἐφ ᾧ Κρατὴρ καὶ Κόραξ)''': This constellation has multiple meanings due to a remarkable event. The raven is associated with the cult of Apollo, as each god has a bird dedicated to them. As the gods were making a sacrifice, he was sent to fetch water from a spring to make a libation, for before the advent of wine, spring water was considered the most sacred of all; seeing a fig tree near the spring bearing unripe figs, he waited for them to ripen; after some time, when they were ripe and he had eaten the figs, realising that he had committed a sacrilege, he also seized the hydra that was in the spring and brought it along with the cup, claiming that the hydra had drunk the water from the spring day after day. But Apollo discovered the truth and imposed upon the raven a punishment commensurate with his fault: to be thirsty amongst men during this time of year, as Aristotle says in his books On the Animals; and Archelaus says much the same in his On the Particular Natures.

			'''Var. 2 (Ὕδρου ἐν ᾧ Κρατ<ὴρ καὶ Κόραξ>)''': This constellation is plural [a super-constellation] because of one remarkable event. The raven is associated with the cult of Apollo, as a bird is dedicated to each of the gods. As the gods were performing a sacrifice, he was sent to fetch water from a spring for a libation; seeing a fig tree near the spring bearing unripe figs, he waited for them to ripen; after some time, when they were ripe and he had eaten the figs, realising that he had committed a sacrilege, he also seized the hydra that was in the fountain and brought it along with the cup, claiming that the hydra had drunk the water from the spring day after day. But Apollo discovered what had happened and imposed upon the raven a punishment commensurate with his offence: to be thirsty amongst men during this time of year, as Aristotle states in his books On Animals. To leave a clear reminder of the sacrilege that had been committed against the gods, Apollo depicted and placed among the constellations the Hydra, the Crater, and the Raven, which cannot drink from it nor approach it.

			'''The Hydra''' has three bright stars at the tip of its head, six on its first coil, the last of which is bright, three on the second coil, four on the third, two on the fourth, and nine dim stars stretching from the fifth coil to the tail. Twenty-seven in all.

	~~===== English (our translation) =====~~		'''Corvus''' is situated on the tail of Hydra and faces west. It has one dim star on its beak, two on its wing, two on its rump, and one at the tips of its legs. Seven in all.
	~~<blockquote>~~'''Hydra ~~to which also belongs the Cup~~ and the ~~Raven'''~~

	This constellation is plural [a super-constellation] because of one event. The raven is associated with the cult of Apollo, as a bird is dedicated to each of the gods. As the gods were making a sacrifice, he was sent to a fountain to collect a libation; seeing a fig tree near the fountain bearing figs that were unripe, he waited for them to ripen. At the time, when they were ripe and he had eaten the figs. Realising that he had committed a sacrilege, he also seized the watersnake (hydra) that was in the fountain and brought it with the cup, claiming that the hydra had been drinking day after day from the spring. But Apollo discovered what had happened and imposed on the raven punishment commensurate with his fault: to be thirsty among men at this time of the year, as Aristotle says in his books On the Animals. For the sacrilege that had been committed against the gods, Apollo placed the Hydra, the Crater, and the Raven, who cannot drink or bath among the constellations.		'''Crater''' is situated on Hydra, some distance from the coil, and is tilted towards the knees of Virgo. Crater has two dim stars on the rim, two in the centre of the Bowl, and two at the base. Six in total.</blockquote>

	The Hydra has three bright stars on the tip of its head, six on its first fold, the last of which is bright, three on the second fold, four on the third, two on the fourth, and nine stars without brilliance which go from the fifth fold to the tail. In all, twenty-seven. The Raven is located on the tail of Hydra and looks towards the setting sun. It has a star without luster on the beak, two on the wing, two on the rump, and one on the tip of the legs. In all, seven. The Crater is ~~located~~ on ~~the~~ Hydra, ~~at a certain~~ distance from the ~~fold~~, and is ~~inclined~~ towards the knees of ~~the Virgin~~. ~~The~~ Crater has two stars ~~without luster~~ on the rim, two in the centre of the ~~Cup~~, and two at the base.</blockquote>

	==== Hipparchus ====		==== Hipparchus ====