Virgo - Revision history

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

2026-02-27T18:22:15Z

Setting (Lib II Cap VI §10)

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:22, 27 February 2026
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	\|}		\|}

	====== Setting (Lib II Cap ~~VI §10~~) ======		====== Setting (Lib III Cap IV §3) ======
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	!		!
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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Leo 27
	\|		\|Lib 26
	\|		\|Sgr 11
	\|		\|Cap 16
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|the one at the end of the left wing
	\|		\|the one in the northern foot
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|2 2/3 hours = ~~160~~ min = ~~40°~~		\| colspan="4" \|2 8/15 hours = 152 min = 38°
	\|}		\|}

Sushoff: /* Rising (Lib II Cap V §10) */

2026-02-27T17:28:04Z

Rising (Lib II Cap V §10)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:28, 27 February 2026
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	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====

	====== Rising (Lib II Cap ~~V §10~~) ======		====== Rising (Lib III Cap III §3) ======
	<blockquote>The Rising of ...</blockquote>		<blockquote>The Rising of ...</blockquote>
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
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	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|		\|Leo 22
	\|		\|Lib 8
	\|		\|Tau 14 1/2
	\|		\|Cnc 9
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
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	\|-		\|-
	\|star		\|star
	\|		\|of the four in the head the northern and front
	\|		\|the one in the right foot
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|duration		\|duration
	\| colspan="4" \|~~2 1~~/8 hours = ~~127.5~~ min = ~~31 7/8~~ degree		\| colspan="4" \|3 4/5 hours = 228 min = 57 degree
	\|}		\|}

Sushoff at 13:05, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T13:05:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:05, 27 February 2026
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	----		----
	[[File:Virgo (vir).tiff\|thumb\|Virgo as defined in the 1920s. IAU and Sky & Telescope]]		[[File:Virgo (vir).tiff\|thumb\|Virgo as defined in the 1920s. IAU and Sky & Telescope]]
	Virgo, The Maiden, is a constellation in the zodiac. It is documented since the 4th century BCE (at least). Prior to this, there had been the constellation of The Furrow at this place. The young lady is a goddess, that much is certain – but which one, the Greeks disagree. Eratosthenes lists a total of five suggestions as to who she might be!		Virgo, The Maiden, is a constellation in the zodiac. It is documented since the 4th century BCE (at least). Prior to this, there had been the constellation of The Furrow at this place.<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref> The young lady is a goddess, that much is certain – but which one, the Greeks disagree. Eratosthenes lists a total of five suggestions as to who she might be!



	== Etymology and History of the Constellation Name ==		== Etymology and History of the Constellation Name ==
	The word ‘virgin’ has an old-fashioned connotation. It no longer refers to women on the marriage market, but exclusively to sexual purity – in earlier times, ideally a characteristic of unmarried women for the purpose of reliably determining paternity and thus financial responsibility, but today no longer necessarily synonymous. So let's say ‘young lady’ to this figure – or Parthenos in Greek, an adult girl.		The word ‘virgin’ has an old-fashioned connotation. It no longer refers to women on the marriage market, but exclusively to sexual purity – in earlier times, ideally a characteristic of unmarried women for the purpose of reliably determining paternity and thus financial responsibility, but today no longer necessarily synonymous. So let's say ‘young lady’ to this figure – or Parthenos in Greek, an adult girl.<ref name=":0" />

	===Origin of Constellation===		===Origin of Constellation===
	Hesiod and Aratos, he writes, call her Dike, goddess of justice. Others said it was Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest and fertility, Tyche, the Greek goddess of chance and luck, Isis, the most powerful Egyptian sorceress and goddess, or Atargatis, the greatest Syrian goddess. The mermaid-like Atargatis is equated with Derketo and thus also with the constellation Andromeda, the other maiden in the sky. In this case, there could be a confusion. Such confusion is supported by the fact that the constellation Virgo, for example, is missing from the Leiden Aratea from the Carolingian period, even though it is located in the zodiac and is therefore of great importance.		<ref name=":0" />Hesiod and Aratos, he writes, call her Dike, goddess of justice. Others said it was Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest and fertility, Tyche, the Greek goddess of chance and luck, Isis, the most powerful Egyptian sorceress and goddess, or Atargatis, the greatest Syrian goddess. The mermaid-like Atargatis is equated with Derketo and thus also with the constellation Andromeda, the other maiden in the sky. In this case, there could be a confusion. Such confusion is supported by the fact that the constellation Virgo, for example, is missing from the Leiden Aratea from the Carolingian period, even though it is located in the zodiac and is therefore of great importance.

	The reason for identifying Tyche with this constellation is supposedly that it has no head star. Ptolemy contradicts this, however, as in the Almagest two stars are indicated on the skull and two on the face – i.e. four head stars. The figure depicted in the Almagest also has wings, however. In standard iconography, none of the above-mentioned goddesses are depicted with wings. Atargatis can then be ruled out, as she is a fish-like deity. Isis and Tyche can be depicted with wings. Dike is less likely; like her Latin counterpart Justicia, her symbol is the scales. However, she has accompanying deities with wings, e.g. Nemesis, the goddess of righteous wrath.		The reason for identifying Tyche with this constellation is supposedly that it has no head star. Ptolemy contradicts this, however, as in the Almagest two stars are indicated on the skull and two on the face – i.e. four head stars. The figure depicted in the Almagest also has wings, however. In standard iconography, none of the above-mentioned goddesses are depicted with wings. Atargatis can then be ruled out, as she is a fish-like deity. Isis and Tyche can be depicted with wings. Dike is less likely; like her Latin counterpart Justicia, her symbol is the scales. However, she has accompanying deities with wings, e.g. Nemesis, the goddess of righteous wrath.

Sushoff at 11:00, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T11:00:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:00, 26 February 2026
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	----		----
	[[File:Virgo (vir).tiff\|thumb\|Virgo as defined in the 1920s. IAU and Sky & Telescope]]		[[File:Virgo (vir).tiff\|thumb\|Virgo as defined in the 1920s. IAU and Sky & Telescope]]
	Virgo, The Maiden, is a constellation in the zodiac. It is documented since the 4th century BCE (at least). Prior to this, there had been the constellation of The Furrow at this place.		Virgo, The Maiden, is a constellation in the zodiac. It is documented since the 4th century BCE (at least). Prior to this, there had been the constellation of The Furrow at this place. The young lady is a goddess, that much is certain – but which one, the Greeks disagree. Eratosthenes lists a total of five suggestions as to who she might be!



	== Etymology and History of the Constellation Name ==		== Etymology and History of the Constellation Name ==
	~~Who is depicted here?~~		The word ‘virgin’ has an old-fashioned connotation. It no longer refers to women on the marriage market, but exclusively to sexual purity – in earlier times, ideally a characteristic of unmarried women for the purpose of reliably determining paternity and thus financial responsibility, but today no longer necessarily synonymous. So let's say ‘young lady’ to this figure – or Parthenos in Greek, an adult girl.

	~~History~~ of ~~Naming~~ the ~~Region~~		===Origin of Constellation===
			Hesiod and Aratos, he writes, call her Dike, goddess of justice. Others said it was Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest and fertility, Tyche, the Greek goddess of chance and luck, Isis, the most powerful Egyptian sorceress and goddess, or Atargatis, the greatest Syrian goddess. The mermaid-like Atargatis is equated with Derketo and thus also with the constellation Andromeda, the other maiden in the sky. In this case, there could be a confusion. Such confusion is supported by the fact that the constellation Virgo, for example, is missing from the Leiden Aratea from the Carolingian period, even though it is located in the zodiac and is therefore of great importance.

	~~Mediaeval~~ and ~~Renaissance Time~~		The reason for identifying Tyche with this constellation is supposedly that it has no head star. Ptolemy contradicts this, however, as in the Almagest two stars are indicated on the skull and two on the face – i.e. four head stars. The figure depicted in the Almagest also has wings, however. In standard iconography, none of the above-mentioned goddesses are depicted with wings. Atargatis can then be ruled out, as she is a fish-like deity. Isis and Tyche can be depicted with wings. Dike is less likely; like her Latin counterpart Justicia, her symbol is the scales. However, she has accompanying deities with wings, e.g. Nemesis, the goddess of righteous wrath.
	~~===Origin~~ of ~~Constellation===~~
	[[File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|thumb\|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).]]		While Artemis is the mistress of the female initiation rite, commemorated in the constellation [[Ursa Major]], Demeter is the mistress of the male initiation rite of Eleusis near Athens. The season of spring, when both constellations are visible in the sky throughout the night, may have been the archaic reason for these figures. Demeter could also be identified with the Babylonian goddess Shala, whose iconography features an ear of grain.[[File:Leo+vir umzeichng4plani black.png\|thumb\|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:Kugel cnc+leo+hya+vir.JPG\|thumb\|Kugel Globe: Cancer, Leo, Hydra, Virgo (drawing by SMH 2024)]]		[[File:Kugel cnc+leo+hya+vir.JPG\|thumb\|Kugel Globe: Cancer, Leo, Hydra, Virgo (drawing by SMH 2024)]]

	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====
			In MUL.APIN in the 2nd millennium, the zodiac did not yet exist. In the zodiac precursor ‘Moon Path’, this constellation was still called ‘the furrow with the ear of grain’. It was associated with the goddess Shala, a rain goddess and wife of the storm god. Shala's ear of grain, which lies in the furrow, is the stable element in this constellation. The brightest star is called ‘the ear of corn’ not only in MUL.APIN, but also in Greek (stachys) and Latin ([[Spica]]). The Latin name is still used today.

			see

			* [[AB.SIN\|AB.SIN<sub>2</sub>]] The Furrow
			* ''Šala''

	==== Greco-Roman ====		==== Greco-Roman ====
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	\|6.56		\|6.56
	\|}		\|}

	~~== Ancient Greek Star Lore (Mythology) ==~~

	== Transformation of constellation image ==		== Transformation of constellation image ==
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	File:Kugel cnc+leo+hya+vir.JPG\|Cancer, Leo, Virgo above Hydra on Greek Kugel Globe (1st century)		File:Kugel cnc+leo+hya+vir.JPG\|Cancer, Leo, Virgo above Hydra on Greek Kugel Globe (1st century)
	</gallery>		</gallery>

			== Mythology/ Religion ==
			The immortal Dike, daughter of Zeus and Themis, once lived on Earth. She could not be seen by men, but she lived among women. As humans became increasingly brutal, waging wars and revolts against each other and no longer respecting justice, she first retreated to the mountains and finally disappeared into the heavens in disgust at the boundless injustice. This is reported by Hesiod, Aratus and Eratosthenes. They allude to a popular ancient fable that teaches the struggle for justice, because otherwise humanity will perish.

			The story of Demeter is closely intertwined with that of her daughter Persephone. Persephone was abducted by Hades to be his wife, prompting Demeter to search for her. So Demeter is certainly not a ‘virgin’ if she has a daughter – just as Isis and Atargatis are not. If one wants to link the story of the abduction of the daughter with the constellation, Persephone herself could at best be this lady. She is also sometimes depicted with wings and assists her mother in the initiation ritual, so that the archaic context would also fit. However, she is missing from Eratosthenes' list of suggestions.

	==Weblinks==		==Weblinks==

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-02-22T18:00:39Z

Hipparchus

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:00, 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 */

2026-02-06T10:23:17Z

Almagest

Show changes

Sushoff at 13:39, 20 January 2026

2026-01-20T13:39:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:39, 20 January 2026
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			Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:Virgo (vir).tiff\|thumb\|Virgo as defined in the 1920s. IAU and Sky & Telescope]]		[[File:Virgo (vir).tiff\|thumb\|Virgo as defined in the 1920s. IAU and Sky & Telescope]]
	Virgo, The Maiden, is a constellation in the zodiac. It is documented since the 4th century BCE (at least). Prior to this, there had been the constellation of The Furrow at this place.		Virgo, The Maiden, is a constellation in the zodiac. It is documented since the 4th century BCE (at least). Prior to this, there had been the constellation of The Furrow at this place.

Sushoff at 13:25, 5 September 2025

2025-09-05T13:25:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:25, 5 September 2025
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	== References ==		== References ==
	[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:West Asian]][[Category:Almagest]]		[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:West Asian]][[Category:Almagest]]
	[[Category:Ancient Greek]] [[Category:European]][[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]]		[[Category:Ancient Greek]] [[Category:European]][[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]][[Category:Zodiac]]
	[[Category:4work]]		[[Category:4work]]

Dorvic at 03:54, 3 May 2025

2025-05-03T03:54:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:54, 3 May 2025
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	===== Aratos =====		===== Aratos =====
	[96] Beneath the two feet ~~o f~~ Bootes you can observe the Maiden, who carries in her hand the radiant Spica. Whether she is the daughter of Astraeus, who, they say, was the original father of the stars, or of some other, [100] may her way be peaceful! There is, however, another tale current among men, that once she actually lived on earth, and came face to face with men, and did not ever spurn the tribes of ancient men and women, but sat in their midst although she was immortal. [105] And they called her Justice: gathering together the elders, either in the market-place or on the broad highway, she urged them in prophetic tones to judgements for the good o f the people. At that time they still had no knowledge of painful strife or quarrelsome conflict or noise of battle, [no] but lived just as they were; the dangerous sea was far from their thoughts, and as yet no ships brought them livelihood from afar, but oxen and ploughs and Justice herself, queen of the people and giver of civilised life, provided all their countless needs. That was as long as the earth still nurtured the Golden Age. [115] But with the Silver she associated little, and now not at all willingly, as she longed for the ways of the earlier folk. But nevertheless she was still with this Silver Age too. She would emerge from the sounding mountains towards evening all alone, and not engage anyone in friendly conversation. [120] But filling the broad hillsides with people, she would then speak menacingly, rebuking them for their wickedness, and say she would never more come face to face with them, even if they called her: ‘What an inferior generation your golden fathers have left! And you are likely to beget a still more evil progeny. [125] There will surely be wars, yes, and unnatural bloodshed among men, and suffering from their troubles will come upon them.’ So saying she made for the mountains, and left the people all staring after her. But when these men also had died and there were born [130] the Bronze Age men, more destructive than their predecessors, who were the first to forge the criminal sword for murder on the highways, and the first to taste the flesh of ploughing oxen, then Justice, conceiving a hatred for the generation of these men, flew up to the sky and took up her abode in that place, [135] where she is still visible to men by night as the Maiden near conspicuous Bootes.		<blockquote>[96] Beneath the two feet of Bootes you can observe the Maiden, who carries in her hand the radiant Spica. Whether she is the daughter of Astraeus, who, they say, was the original father of the stars, or of some other, [100] may her way be peaceful! There is, however, another tale current among men, that once she actually lived on earth, and came face to face with men, and did not ever spurn the tribes of ancient men and women, but sat in their midst although she was immortal. [105] And they called her Justice: gathering together the elders, either in the market-place or on the broad highway, she urged them in prophetic tones to judgements for the good o f the people. At that time they still had no knowledge of painful strife or quarrelsome conflict or noise of battle, [no] but lived just as they were; the dangerous sea was far from their thoughts, and as yet no ships brought them livelihood from afar, but oxen and ploughs and Justice herself, queen of the people and giver of civilised life, provided all their countless needs. That was as long as the earth still nurtured the Golden Age. [115] But with the Silver she associated little, and now not at all willingly, as she longed for the ways of the earlier folk. But nevertheless she was still with this Silver Age too. She would emerge from the sounding mountains towards evening all alone, and not engage anyone in friendly conversation. [120] But filling the broad hillsides with people, she would then speak menacingly, rebuking them for their wickedness, and say she would never more come face to face with them, even if they called her: ‘What an inferior generation your golden fathers have left! And you are likely to beget a still more evil progeny. [125] There will surely be wars, yes, and unnatural bloodshed among men, and suffering from their troubles will come upon them.’ So saying she made for the mountains, and left the people all staring after her. But when these men also had died and there were born [130] the Bronze Age men, more destructive than their predecessors, who were the first to forge the criminal sword for murder on the highways, and the first to taste the flesh of ploughing oxen, then Justice, conceiving a hatred for the generation of these men, flew up to the sky and took up her abode in that place, [135] where she is still visible to men by night as the Maiden near conspicuous Bootes.

	Above her two shoulders there circles a star [on her right wing: it is called again the Vintager], of similar magnitude and inset with a brightness equal to [140] that of the star which can be seen beneath the tail of the Great Bear. Impressive is the Bear, and impressive are the stars that she has nearby: once you have sighted them, you do not need any other guide, such are the stars that in beauty and magnitude move before her feet, one in front of the forelegs, one before the legs that descend from her loins, [145] and another under the hind knees. But all of them, individually in different positions, go on their way without a name.		Above her two shoulders there circles a star [on her right wing: it is called again the Vintager], of similar magnitude and inset with a brightness equal to [140] that of the star which can be seen beneath the tail of the Great Bear. Impressive is the Bear, and impressive are the stars that she has nearby: once you have sighted them, you do not need any other guide, such are the stars that in beauty and magnitude move before her feet, one in front of the forelegs, one before the legs that descend from her loins, [145] and another under the hind knees. But all of them, individually in different positions, go on their way without a name. (Kidd 1997)</blockquote>

	(Kidd 1997)

	===== Eratosthenes =====		===== Eratosthenes =====

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

			===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====
			<blockquote>Hesiod calls her the daughter of Jove and Themis. Aratus says that she is thought to be daughter of Astraeus and Aurora, who lived at the time of the Golden Age of men and was their leader. On account of her carefulness and fairness she was called Justice, and at that time no foreign nations were attacked in war, nor did anyone sail over the seas, but they were wont to live their lives caring for their fields. But those born after their death began to be less observant of duty and more greedy, so that Justice associated more rarely with men. Finally the disease became so extreme that it was said the Brazen Race was born; then she could not endure more, and flew away to the stars. Others call her Fortune — others, Ceres, and they dispute the more about her because her head is dimly seen. Some have called her Erigone, daughter of Icarus, whom we have spoken of before. Others call her a daughter of Apollo by Chrysothemis, an infant, named Parthenos. Because she died young she was put by Apollo among the constellations. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>

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

Dorvic: /* Aratos */

2025-05-02T05:59:20Z

Aratos

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:59, 2 May 2025
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	===== Aratos =====		===== Aratos =====
	[96] Beneath the two feet o f Bootes you can observe the Maiden, who carries in her hand the radiant Spica. Whether she is the daughter of Astraeus, who, they say, was the original father of the stars, or of some other, [100] may her way be peaceful! There is, however, another tale current among men, that once she actually lived on earth, and came face to face with men, and did not ever spurn the tribes of ancient men and women, but sat in their midst although she was immortal. [105] And they called her Justice: gathering together the elders, either in the market-place or on the broad highway, she urged them in prophetic tones to judgements for the good o f the people. At that time they still had no knowledge of painful strife or quarrelsome conflict or noise of battle, [no] but lived just as they were; the dangerous sea was far from their thoughts, and as yet no ships brought them livelihood from afar, but oxen and ploughs and Justice herself, queen of the people and giver of civilised life, provided all their countless needs. That was as long as the earth still nurtured the Golden Age. [115] But with the Silver she associated little, and now not at all willingly, as she longed for the ways of the earlier folk. But nevertheless she was still with this Silver Age too. She would emerge from the sounding mountains towards evening all alone, and not engage anyone in friendly conversation. [120] But filling the broad hillsides with people, she would then speak menacingly, rebuking them for their wickedness, and say she would never more come face to face with them, even if they called her: ‘What an inferior generation your golden fathers have left! And you are likely to beget a still more evil progeny. [125] There will surely be wars, yes, and unnatural bloodshed among men, and suffering from their troubles will come upon them.’ So saying she made for the mountains, and left the people all staring after her. But when these men also had died and there were born [130] the Bronze Age men, more destructive than their predecessors, who were the first to forge the criminal sword for murder on the highways, and the first to taste the flesh of ploughing oxen, then Justice, conceiving a hatred for the generation of these men, flew up to the sky and took up her abode in that place, [135] where she is still visible to men by night as the Maiden near conspicuous Bootes.		[96] Beneath the two feet o f Bootes you can observe the Maiden, who carries in her hand the radiant Spica. Whether she is the daughter of Astraeus, who, they say, was the original father of the stars, or of some other, [100] may her way be peaceful! There is, however, another tale current among men, that once she actually lived on earth, and came face to face with men, and did not ever spurn the tribes of ancient men and women, but sat in their midst although she was immortal. [105] And they called her Justice: gathering together the elders, either in the market-place or on the broad highway, she urged them in prophetic tones to judgements for the good o f the people. At that time they still had no knowledge of painful strife or quarrelsome conflict or noise of battle, [no] but lived just as they were; the dangerous sea was far from their thoughts, and as yet no ships brought them livelihood from afar, but oxen and ploughs and Justice herself, queen of the people and giver of civilised life, provided all their countless needs. That was as long as the earth still nurtured the Golden Age. [115] But with the Silver she associated little, and now not at all willingly, as she longed for the ways of the earlier folk. But nevertheless she was still with this Silver Age too. She would emerge from the sounding mountains towards evening all alone, and not engage anyone in friendly conversation. [120] But filling the broad hillsides with people, she would then speak menacingly, rebuking them for their wickedness, and say she would never more come face to face with them, even if they called her: ‘What an inferior generation your golden fathers have left! And you are likely to beget a still more evil progeny. [125] There will surely be wars, yes, and unnatural bloodshed among men, and suffering from their troubles will come upon them.’ So saying she made for the mountains, and left the people all staring after her. But when these men also had died and there were born [130] the Bronze Age men, more destructive than their predecessors, who were the first to forge the criminal sword for murder on the highways, and the first to taste the flesh of ploughing oxen, then Justice, conceiving a hatred for the generation of these men, flew up to the sky and took up her abode in that place, [135] where she is still visible to men by night as the Maiden near conspicuous Bootes.

			Above her two shoulders there circles a star [on her right wing: it is called again the Vintager], of similar magnitude and inset with a brightness equal to [140] that of the star which can be seen beneath the tail of the Great Bear. Impressive is the Bear, and impressive are the stars that she has nearby: once you have sighted them, you do not need any other guide, such are the stars that in beauty and magnitude move before her feet, one in front of the forelegs, one before the legs that descend from her loins, [145] and another under the hind knees. But all of them, individually in different positions, go on their way without a name.

	(Kidd 1997)		(Kidd 1997)