Hydra - Revision history

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

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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 ==

Sushoff at 13:23, 20 January 2026

2026-01-20T13:23:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:23, 20 January 2026
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			Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:Hydra IAU.svg\|alt=IAU Hydra chart\|thumb\|IAU Hydra chart]]		[[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: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]]

Dorvic: /* Hyginus, Astronomica */

2025-05-03T04:08:46Z

Hyginus, Astronomica

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:08, 3 May 2025
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	===== 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. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>		<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.

			Istros and several others have said that the Crow was Coronis, daughter of Phlegyas. She bore Aesculapius to Apollo, but after Ischys, son of Elatus, had lain with her, the crow, which had noted it, reported it to Apollo. For his unpleasant news Apollo changed him to black instead of his former white color, and transfixed Ischys with his arrows.

			About the Bowl Phylarchus writes this tale: In the Chersonnese near Troy where many have said the tomb of Protesilaus is located, there is a city, Elaeusa by name. When a certain Demophon was ruling there, a sudden plague fell on the land with a strange death-rate among the citizens. Demophon, greatly disturbed by this, sent to the oracle of Apollo seeking a remedy, and was told that every year one girl of noble rank should be sacrificed to their household gods. Demophon, passing over his own daughters, would choose by lot one of the daughters of the nobles, and kept doing this until his scheme offended a certain man of highest rank. He said he wouldn't allow his daughter to be entered in the drawing unless the daughters of the king were included. The king, angered by this, killed the noble's daughter without drawing of lots. This deed Mastusius, father of the girl, for a time out of patriotism pretended he did not resent, for the girl might have perished if the lots had been taken. Little by little, time led the king to forget. When the girl's father had shown himself to be on most friendly terms with the king, he said he was going to make a solemn sacrifice and invited the king and his daughters to join the celebration. The king, suspecting nothing, sent his daughters ahead; since he was busy with a state affair, he would come later. When this happened as Mastusius wished, he killed the king's daughters, and mixing their blood with wine in a bowl, bade it be given as a drink to the king on his arrival. The king asked for his daughters, and when he learned what had happened, he ordered Mastusius and the bowl to be thrown into the sea. The cape where he was thrown, to memorialize him is called Mastusian; the harbour still is called the Bowl. Astronomers of old pictured it in the stars, so that men might remember that no one can profit from an evil deed with impunity, nor can hostilities often be forgotten. Some, with Eratosthenes, say that it is the bowl Icarus used when he showed wine to men; others the jar into which Mars was thrown by Otus and Ephialtes. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>

	=== Almagest ===		=== Almagest ===

Dorvic at 04:08, 3 May 2025

2025-05-03T04:08:19Z

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	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. <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.

	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.		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) </blockquote>

	===== Ancient Greek =====		===== Ancient Greek =====
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	\|}		\|}

			===== 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. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>

	=== Almagest ===		=== Almagest ===