Sagittarius

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Youla Azkarrula, Doris Vickers

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Sgr star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).

One of the 88 IAU constellations. Originally, it depicted the Mesopotamian god Pabilsaĝ (PA.BIL.SAG), a god of agriculture and war, later equated with Ninurta and depicted as a mixed creature of a human body attaced to horse body with wings and an additional scorpion tail. This complex image was simplified in Greek reception, and there drawn as a centaur.

Etymology and History

profile of the figure of Pabilsag from a 12th century BC kudurru. è.c. (Roland Laffitte 2023)

earliest known Greek depiction: Kugel Globe (1st c. BCE): two centaurs in Cen and Sgr with Lup+Ara in between (drawing by SMH 2024).

Origin of Constellation

This figure came to Greek culture from Mesopotamia as a zodiac sign. Since MUL.APIN, it has been called Pabilsang (PA.BIL.SAG). This is a deity depicted as a hybrid creature: a male upper body sits on a horse's body, which has a scorpion's tail and wings. Pabilsang is equated with Ninurta, a god of agriculture and war. This explains why he holds a bow and arrow – either for hunting or for defence.

Such a hybrid creature was unknown to the Greeks. The most similar creature in Greek culture and mythology is a centaur, which at least combines horse and human (although it does not have a scorpion's tail and wings). However, Eratosthenes questions whether this is a centaur: He has illustrations in which the archer has only two legs – horse legs. For this reason, and because centaurs cannot use bows and arrows, Eratosthenes prefers the opinion that this is the satyr Krotos, the son of the nurse of the Muses. He is considered a cultural founder, having invented the bow and arrow and used it to hunt animals.

Eratosthenes' belief that Sagittarius has a ship with him also points to a Babylonian influence and an accidental equation of the two-legged and four-legged figures. The Babylonian constellation Ship (MA₂.GUR₈) refers to a river boat and must have been located near Sagittarius. Based on depictions of Babylonian river boats, the constellation Corona Australis is usually equated with the Babylonian ship. However, centaurs do not travel on ships, which is why, according to Eratosthenes, the ship is another argument against the centaur.

Eratosthenes' claim that Sagittarius is bipedal may seem surprising at first, as today he is depicted as a four-legged centaur in all common star charts.

The Almagest mentions three feet, a horse's body and a human torso, from which we can conclude that Ptolemy also thought of Sagittarius as a centaur. So how did Eratosthenes come to the conclusion that it could be a man with horse's legs?

On the zodiac of Dendera, a depiction in an Egyptian temple that was restored in the Ptolemaic period in the 1st century (i.e. only about 100 to 150 years after Eratosthenes), there are two Sagittarians: one with two legs and one with four legs. The four-legged one is in the part of the sky where the constellation Sagittarius is located. The two-legged archer stands next to the star Sirius. This is significant in that Sirius and the stars around it formed the two Babylonian constellations ‘Arrow’ (KAK.SI.SA) and ‘Bow’ (PAN). The strong Babylonian influences are not surprising here, as there is evidence of a significant transfer of Babylonian mathematical astronomy to Greek astronomy in Egypt, especially in the 2nd century BCE.

Babylonian

see

• PA.BIL.SAG

Greco-Roman

Aratus

[300] After much suffering at sea even in the previous month, when the sun inflames the bow and the Drawer of the bow, you should put ashore in the evening and not continue to trust the night. A sign of that season and that month will be the rising of the Scorpion at the end of night. [305] The Archer actually draws his great bow near the sting; the rising Scorpion stands a little ahead of him, and he then rises shortly after. At that time the head of Cynosura runs very high up at the end of night, and just before dawn Orion sets entirely, and Cepheus from hand to waist. (Kidd 1997)

Hipparchus

Rising (Lib II Cap V §10)

The Rising of ...

	east		south
	lam1	lam2	lam1	lam2
star
duration	2 1/8 hours = 127.5 min = 31 7/8 degree

Setting (Lib II Cap VI §10)

	west		south
	lam1	lam2	lam1	lam2
star
duration	2 2/3 hours = 160 min = 40°

Stars Mentioned

	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

Many have called this sign the Centaurus; others deny the name, for the reason that no Centaurus makes use of arrows. The question is raised, too why he is formed with horse flanks but a Satyr's tail. Some say that he is Crotus, son of Eupheme, nurse of the Muses. As Sositheus, writer of tragedies, says, he had his home on Mount Helicon and took his pleasure in the company of the Muses, sometimes even following the pursuit of hunting. He attained great fame for his diligence, for he was very swift in the woods, and clever in the arts. As a reward for his zeal the Muses asked Jove to represent him in some star group, and Jove did so. Since he wished to display all his skills in one body, he gave him horse flanks because he rode a great deal. He added arrows, since these would show both his keenness and his swiftness, and he gave him a Satyr's tail because the Muses took no less pleasure in Crotus than Liber did in the Satyrs. Before his feet are a few stars arranged in a circle, which some said were a wreath, thrown off as by one at play. (Mary Ward 1960)

Almagest Τοξότης.

id	Greek (Heiberg 1898)	English (Toomer 1984)	ident.
	Τοξότου ἀστερισμός.	Constellation of Sagittarius
1	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀκύδος τοῦ βέλους	The star on the point of the arrow	gam Sgr
2	ὁ ἐν τῇ λαβῇ τῆς ἀριστερᾶρ χειρός	The star in the [bow-Jgrip held by the left hand	del Sgr
3	ὁ ἐν τῷ νοτίῳ μέρει τοῦ τόξου	The star in the Southern portion of the bow	eps Sgr
4	τῶν ἐν τῷ βορείῳ μέρει τοῦ τόξου ὁ νοτιώτερος	The southernmost of the [2] stars in the northern portion of the bow	lam Sgr
5	ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν ἐπ’ ἄκρου τοῦ τόξου.	The northernmost of these, on the tip of the bow	mu Sgr
6	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ἅμου.	The star on the left shoulder	sig Sgr
	ὁ τούτου προηγούμενος κατὰ τοῦ βέλους	The one in advance of this, just over the arrow	phi Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ νεφελοειδὴς καὶ διπλοῦς,	The star on the eye, which is nebulous and double	nu1 + nu2 Sgr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ γ’ ὁ ἠγούμενος.	The most advanced of the 3 stars in the head	xi Sgr
	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν	The middle one of these	omi Sgr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος τῶν τριῶ.	The reannost of the three	pi Sgr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ βορεύῳ ἐφαπτίδι γ’ ὁ κότιος.	The southernmost of the 3 stars in the northern cloak·attachment	43 Sgr
	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν	The middle one of these	rho Sgr
	ὁ βόρειος τῶν τριῶη	The northernmost of the three	ups Sgr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος τοῦς τρισὶν ἀμαυρός	The faint sfar to the rear of these three	55 Sgr
	τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς νοτίου ἐφαπτίδος β ὁ βορειότερος;	The northernmost of the 2 stars on the southern cloak-attachment	61 Sgr
	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν	The southernmost of them	57 Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ὥμου.	The star on the right shoulder	chi1 Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ἀγκῶνος..	The star on the right elbow	51+52 Sgr
	τῶν ἐν τῷ νώτῳ ἡ ὁ κατὰ τοῦ μεταφρένου.	The three stars in the back: the one just above the place between the shoulders	psi Sgr
	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν καὶ κατὰ τῆς ὡμοπλάτης.	The three stars in the back: the middle one, just above the shoulder-blade	tau Sgr
	ὁ λοιπὸς καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν μασχάλην.	The three stars in the back: the other one, under the armpit	zet Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐμπροσθίου καὶ ἀριστεροῦ σφυροῦ	The star on the front left hock	bet1 + bet2 Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ γόνατος τοῦ αὐτοῦ ποδός	The one on the knee of the same leg	alf Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐμπροσθίου καὶ δεξιοῦ σφυροῦ	The star on the front right hock	eta Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ μηροῦ	The star on the left thigh	kap1 + kap2 Sgr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὀπισθύου δεξιοῦ πήχεως.	The star on the right hind lower leg	iot Sgr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ ἐκφύσει τῆς οὐρᾶς ὃ τῆς βορείου πλευρᾶς ὁ προηγούμερος	The four stars [forming a quadrilateral] in the place where the tail joins [the body]: the advance star on the northern side	omega Sgr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος τῆς βορείου πλευρᾶς.	The four stars [forming a quadrilateral] in the place where the tail joins [the body]: the rear star on the northern side	60 Sgr
	τῆς νοτίου πλευρᾶς ὁ προηγούμενος.	The four stars [forming a quadrilateral] in the place where the tail joins [the body]: the advance star on the southern side	59 Sgr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος τῆς νοτίου πλευρᾶς	The four stars [forming a quadrilateral] in the place where the tail joins [the body]: the rear star on the southern side	62 Sgr
	ἀστέρες λα, ὧν β’ μεγέθους β, γ’ 3, δ’ θ, εη, σ’ β, νεφελοειδής	{31 stars, 2 of the second magnitude, 9 of the third, 9 of the fourth, 8 of the fifth, 2 of the sixth, [1] nebulous

Convex Hull for the stars inside Toxotes (CC BY Youla Azkarrula).

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Kaus Australis	HIP 90185	Constellation lines	1.81
2	Nunki	HIP 92855	Constellation lines	2.067
3	Ascella	HIP 93506	Constellation lines	2.59
4	Kaus Media	HIP 89931	Constellation lines	2.668
5	Kaus Borealis	HIP 90496	Constellation lines	2.81
6	Albaldah	HIP 94141	Constellation lines	2.88
7	Alnasl	HIP 88635	Constellation lines	2.99
8	η Sagittarii	HIP 89642	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.11
9	ϕ Sagittarii	HIP 92041	Constellation lines	3.14
10	τ Sagittarii	HIP 93864	Constellation lines	3.31
11	ξ 2 Sagittarii	HIP 93085	Inside the hull	3.51
12	NAME SDG	NAME SDG	Inside the hull	3.6
13	ο Sagittarii	HIP 93683	Inside the hull	3.77
14	Polis	HIP 89341	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.85
15	ρ 1 Sagittarii	HIP 95168	Constellation lines	3.93
16	Rukbat	HIP 95347	Constellation lines	3.943
17	Arkab Prior	HIP 95241	Inside the hull	4.01
18	Meridiana	HIP 94114	Inside the hull	4.087
19	β Coronae Australis	HIP 94160	Inside the hull	4.095
20	ι Sagittarii	HIP 98032	Constellation lines	4.13
21	γ 1 Coronae Australis	HIP 93825	Inside the hull	4.21
22	Arkab Posterior	HIP 95294	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.27
23	θ 1 Sagittarii	HIP 98412	Constellation lines	4.37
24	59 Sgr	HIP 98162	Constellation lines	4.528
25	-	HIP 88839	Inside the hull	4.56
26	δ Coronae Australis	HIP 94005	Inside the hull	4.571
27	62 Sgr	HIP 98688	Constellation lines	4.58
28	52 Sgr	HIP 96465	Constellation lines	4.598
29	υ Sagittarii	HIP 95176	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.61
30	-	HIP 89678	Inside the hull	4.627
31	γ 1 Sagittarii	HIP 88567	Inside the hull	4.69
32	Terebellum	HIP 98066	Constellation lines	4.7
33	ζ Coronae Australis	HIP 93542	Inside the hull	4.725
34	-	HIP 98761	Constellation lines	4.764
35	Ainalrami	HIP 92761	Constellation lines	4.845
36	60 Sgr	HIP 98353	Constellation lines	4.846
37	ϵ Coronae Australis	HIP 93174	Inside the hull	4.85
38	ψ Sagittarii	HIP 94643	Constellation lines	4.86
39	21 Sgr	HIP 90289	Inside the hull	4.86
40	-	HIP 91918	Constellation lines	4.87
41	56 Sgr	HIP 97290	Inside the hull	4.873
42	43 Sgr	HIP 94820	Constellation lines	4.878
43	1 Sgr	HIP 89153	Inside the hull	4.98
44	ν 2 Sagittarii	HIP 92845	Inside the hull	4.98
45	-	HIP 98842	Constellation lines	4.99
46	61 Sgr	HIP 98258	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.998
47	χ 1 Sagittarii	HIP 95477	Constellation lines	5.009
48	55 Sgr	HIP 96950	Constellation lines	5.045
49	ξ 1 Sagittarii	HIP 93057	Constellation lines	5.054
50	λ Coronae Australis	HIP 91875	Inside the hull	5.111
51	M 22	M 22	Inside the hull	5.2
52	29 Sgr	HIP 92390	Inside the hull	5.21
53	μ Coronae Australis	HIP 92226	Inside the hull	5.217
54	77 G. Sgr	HIP 91014	Inside the hull	5.276
55	54 Sgr	HIP 96808	Inside the hull	5.296
56	θ 2 Sagittarii	HIP 98421	Inside the hull	5.299
57	-	HIP 99461	Inside the hull	5.32
58	V3961 Sgr	HIP 97749	Inside the hull	5.33
59	V4050 Sgr	HIP 90074	Inside the hull	5.34
60	PZ 6AB	HIP 88060	Constellation lines (Vertex)	5.36
61	28 Sgr	HIP 92111	Inside the hull	5.366
62	V686 CrA	HIP 92989	Inside the hull	5.38
63	75 G. Sgr	HIP 90763	Inside the hull	5.386
64	χ 3 Sagittarii	HIP 95503	Inside the hull	5.43
65	-	HIP 91989	Inside the hull	5.439
66	24 Sgr	HIP 91004	Inside the hull	5.461
67	14 Sgr	HIP 89369	Inside the hull	5.473
68	134 G. Sgr	HIP 93667	Constellation lines	5.482
69	193 G. Sgr	HIP 95865	Constellation lines	5.49
70	V4024 Sgr	HIP 93996	Inside the hull	5.49
71	228 G. Sgr	HIP 97260	Inside the hull	5.512
72	60 G. Sgr	HIP 90124	Inside the hull	5.518
73	50 Sgr	HIP 95564	Inside the hull	5.569
74	18 Sgr	HIP 90260	Inside the hull	5.574
75	162 G. Sgr	HIP 94986	Constellation lines	5.579
76	165 G. Sgr	HIP 95077	Inside the hull	5.579
77	κ 1 Sagittarii	HIP 100469	Inside the hull	5.59
78	131 G. Sgr	HIP 93498	Constellation lines	5.628
79	κ 2 Sagittarii	HIP 100591	Constellation lines (Vertex)	5.64
80	51 Sgr	HIP 96406	Inside the hull	5.64
81	209 G. Sgr	HIP 96496	Inside the hull	5.642
82	186 G. Sgr	HIP 95619	Constellation lines	5.644
83	37 G. Sgr	HIP 89020	Constellation lines	5.65
84	262 G. Sgr	HIP 98470	Inside the hull	5.66
85	33 Sgr	HIP 92747	Inside the hull	5.678
86	189 G. Sgr	HIP 95823	Inside the hull	5.701
87	V701 CrA	HIP 93552	Inside the hull	5.716
88	152 G. Sgr	HIP 94434	Inside the hull	5.765
89	84 G. Sgr	HIP 91405	Inside the hull	5.772
90	94 G. Sgr	HIP 91974	Inside the hull	5.811
91	ρ 2 Sagittarii	HIP 95188	Inside the hull	5.845
92	-	HIP 94157	Inside the hull	5.855
93	-	HIP 91438	Inside the hull	5.86
94	57 Sgr	HIP 97783	Constellation lines	5.896
95	-	HIP 90485	Inside the hull	5.902
96	V4089 Sgr	HIP 96234	Inside the hull	5.91
97	180 G. Sgr	HIP 95456	Constellation lines	5.93
98	116 G. Sgr	HIP 92931	Inside the hull	5.93
99	83 G. Sgr	HIP 91347	Inside the hull	5.931
100	260 G. Sgr	HIP 98461	Inside the hull	5.948
101	218 G. Sgr	HIP 96760	Inside the hull	5.957
102	264 G. Sgr	HIP 98575	Inside the hull	5.999
103	132 G. Sgr	HIP 93537	Inside the hull	6
104	179 G. Sgr	HIP 95408	Inside the hull	6.011
105	140 G. Sgr	HIP 93925	Inside the hull	6.027
106	RS Sgr	HIP 89637	Inside the hull	6.03
107	233 G. Sgr	HIP 97515	Inside the hull	6.031
108	121 G. Sgr	HIP 93134	Constellation lines	6.08
109	258 G. Sgr	HIP 98485	Inside the hull	6.097
110	108 G. Sgr	HIP 92643	Inside the hull	6.098
111	148 G. Sgr	HIP 94144	Inside the hull	6.11
112	V4333 Sgr	HIP 96440	Inside the hull	6.12
113	197 G. Sgr	HIP 95965	Inside the hull	6.13
114	224 G. Sgr	HIP 97067	Inside the hull	6.131
115	178 G. Sgr	HIP 95396	Inside the hull	6.132
116	123 G. Sgr	HIP 93140	Inside the hull	6.141
117	62 G. Sgr	HIP 90290	Inside the hull	6.142
118	-	HIP 98077	Inside the hull	6.15
119	58 G. Sgr	HIP 90012	Inside the hull	6.154
120	38 G. Sgr	HIP 89086	Inside the hull	6.16
121	-	HIP 93858	Inside the hull	6.16
122	49 G. Sgr	HIP 89622	Inside the hull	6.168
123	280 G. Sgr	HIP 99570	Inside the hull	6.191
124	26 Sgr	HIP 91689	Inside the hull	6.205
125	-	HIP 93470	Inside the hull	6.209
126	V4200 Sgr	HIP 97944	Inside the hull	6.213
127	128 G. Sgr	HIP 93423	Inside the hull	6.215
128	[SC96] GC 607	[SC96] GC 607	Inside the hull	6.22
129	[SC96] Mis 1381	[SC96] Mis 1381	Inside the hull	6.22
130	Gumala	HIP 94645	Inside the hull	6.237
131	70 Sgr	HIP 89980	Inside the hull	6.25
132	-	HIP 94730	Inside the hull	6.25
133	V4199 Sgr	HIP 95159	Inside the hull	6.26
134	150 G. Sgr	HIP 94272	Inside the hull	6.272
135	69 G. Sgr	HIP 90510	Inside the hull	6.276
136	254 G. Sgr	HIP 98351	Inside the hull	6.28
137	-	HIP 93074	Inside the hull	6.284
138	109 G. Sgr	HIP 92635	Inside the hull	6.29
139	V4198 Sgr	HIP 93887	Inside the hull	6.293
140	64 G. Sgr	HIP 90336	Inside the hull	6.296
141	Cl Collinder 394	Cl Collinder 394	Inside the hull	6.3
142	143 G. Sgr	HIP 93993	Inside the hull	6.3
143	263 G. Sgr	HIP 98579	Inside the hull	6.306
144	90 G. Sgr	HIP 91901	Inside the hull	6.308
145	53 Sgr	HIP 96729	Inside the hull	6.321
146	96 G. Sgr	HIP 92016	Inside the hull	6.331
147	167 G. Sgr	HIP 95211	Inside the hull	6.338
148	-	HIP 94243	Inside the hull	6.344
149	V3879 Sgr	HIP 91781	Inside the hull	6.35
150	127 G. Sgr	HIP 93315	Inside the hull	6.356
151	133 G. Sgr	HIP 93543	Inside the hull	6.357
152	48 G. Sgr	HIP 89620	Inside the hull	6.36
153	80 G. Sgr	HIP 91172	Inside the hull	6.366
154	125 G. Sgr	HIP 93234	Inside the hull	6.378
155	151 G. Sgr	HIP 94372	Inside the hull	6.39
156	C 1806-240	C 1806-240	Inside the hull	6.4
157	-	HIP 93371	Inside the hull	6.4
158	V4434 Sgr	HIP 99920	Inside the hull	6.4
159	36 G. Sgr	HIP 89010	Inside the hull	6.405
160	V4405 Sgr	HIP 92079	Inside the hull	6.42
161	269 G. Sgr	HIP 98785	Inside the hull	6.428
162	-	HIP 94130	Inside the hull	6.435
163	[SC96] Mis 1401	[SC96] Mis 1401	Inside the hull	6.45
164	[SC96] GC 625	[SC96] GC 625	Inside the hull	6.45
165	115 G. Sgr	HIP 92972	Inside the hull	6.45
166	-	HIP 92866	Inside the hull	6.47
167	244 G. Sgr	HIP 98012	Inside the hull	6.47
168	-	HIP 96274	Inside the hull	6.475
169	166 G. Sgr	HIP 95149	Inside the hull	6.48
170	V4190 Sgr	HIP 91132	Inside the hull	6.481
171	M 55	M 55	Inside the hull	6.49
172	-	HIP 93209	Inside the hull	6.497
173	-	HIP 90576	Inside the hull	6.5
174	V* V4045 Sgr	HIP 89178	Constellation lines	6.52
175	-	HIP 94124	Constellation lines	6.533
176	-	HIP 92329	Constellation lines	6.69
177	-	HIP 92301	Inside the hull	6.7
178	-	HIP 96932	Constellation lines	6.88
179	-	HIP 93149	Constellation lines	7.2

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Babylonian "Sagittarius", Dictionnaire des Antiquités grecques et romaines, Daremberg et Saglio, article Zodiaque, vol. V 2. Source : Wikisource, https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Dictionnaire_des_Antiquit%C3%A9s_grecques_et_romaines_-_Daremberg_-_V_2.djvu/444
• 
  Kugel Globe (1st c. BCE): Sgr, CrA and Sco
• 
  Sagittarius in Hevelius (1690)
• 
  Sagittarius in Flamsteed (1776).
• 
  Bode (1805) Sagittarius and Sobieski's Shield
• 
  Sgr in Jamieson (1822)
• 
  Sagittarius in Sidney Hall (1825) Urania's Mirror.

Mythology

Eratosthenes tells us that the satyr Krotos watched the Muses playing and then clapped his hands in rapturous delight. Others followed suit, and thus applause after a musical performance was invented. For this non-verbal sign of appreciation, he was transported to heaven.

This is a beautiful star legend, but it does not explain why this hybrid creature is holding a bow and arrow. The story demonstrates once again the Greeks' perplexity with images from a foreign (Babylonian) culture.

References

• References (general)
• References (Babylonian)
• References (ancient Greco-Roman)
• References (medieval)