Ursa Major

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Doris Vickers, IanRidpath

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UMa star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope)

One of the 88 IAU constellations. The figure of the bear is Greek; it is one of the few constellations that are already documented in Homer. It has been handed down through all Greek eras. Aratos mentions that the constellation is also called the Chariot, but this is not documented anywhere else in Greek literature. Alternative to the Greek image of a large bear, many cultures saw different figures in this area - most of them only using the seven brightest stars. The ‘Chariot’ and the ‘Chariot of Heaven’ are two Babylonian constellations in the northern circumpolar region, and the Big Dipper (American English), Northern Dipper (Chinese), Plough (British English), Charles's Wain (Old English/ Norse) are certainly some of them. In Dutch and French a saucepan or casserole. For the Navajo, an indigenous people of the North American West, it represents seven human figures.

Etymology and History

The Greek Great She-Bear, which includes many weaker stars, is also called Kynosura, the Dog's Tail, because it has such a long tail.

The Roman mythographer Hyginus adds that the Romans did not see a bear or a wagon here, but seven threshing oxen, the Septemtrionis. The pattern of seven bright stars has a specific name all over the world – only the Greeks used numerous faint stars and called the area ‘Bear’.  

In a time when there was no bright star at the north celestial pole, seafaring peoples used this asterism for navigation because it runs quite close to the pole. At that time, the direction was not so important in astronavigation at sea, because ships always sailed close to the coast and could see land from time to time. The fact that Strabo's Greek geography book describes all the countries of the then known world not only by their position relative to the sun in winter and summer, but also by characteristic animals, explains the name of this constellation: basically, the star figure could also be called a dog, mouse or fox, because its outline can only be recognised as ‘some kind of animal’. However, as this constellation indicates the direction north, i.e. the ‘land of bears’ or the climate zone where bears live, the name was prefigured by the geographical aspect.   

In Mesopotamia, the bright stars were regarded as The Chariot. However, it has not yet been clearly established where the other Babylonian chariot, the Chariot of Heaven, is located. The suggestion that the two Babylonian constellations ‘Wagon’ and ‘Wagon of Heaven’ are located in the places of the Greek Ursae seems quite possible based on Aratus' mention. However, this is not well documented due to a lack of rise and set data. It has also been suggested that the ‘Chariot of Heaven’ also refers to the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major, rather than designating another constellation. The chariot is so important to the Mesopotamians because it is the seat of one of their most important gods: the god of agriculture, Enlil.

Origin of Constellation

Babylonian

see

• ^{mul (giš)}MAR.GID2.DA, eriqqu
• ^{mul (giš)}MA.GID2.DA AN.NA, eriqqu ša šamê

Greco-Roman

Aratos

Two poles terminate it at the two ends; [25] but one is not visible, while the opposite one in the north is high above the horizon. On either side of it two Bears wheel in unison, and so they are called the Wagons. They keep their heads for ever pointing to each other’s loins, and for ever they move with shoulders leading, [30] aligned towards the shoulders, but in opposite directions. If the tale is true, these Bears ascended to the sky from Crete by the will of great Zeus, because when he was a child then in fragrant Lyctus near Mount Ida, they deposited him in a cave and tended him for the year, [35] while the Curetes of Dicte kept Cronus deceived. Now one of the Bears men call Cynosura by name, the other Helice. Helice is the one by which Greek men at sea judge the course to steer their ships, while Phoenicians cross the sea relying on the other. [40] Now the one is clear and easy to identify, Helice, being visible in all its grandeur as soon as night begins; the other is slight, yet a better guide to sailors, for it revolves entirely in a smaller circle: so by it the Sidonians sail the straightest course.

(Kidd 1997)

Eratosthenes

Var. 1. Hesiod says that she is the daughter of Lycaon; she lived in Arcadia and had chosen to spend her time in the mountains, in the company of Artemis, hunting wild beasts. Violated by Zeus, she stayed with the goddess, without the latter but later her secret was discovered when, shortly before secret was discovered when, shortly before giving birth, Artemis saw her taking a bath. The goddess, furious the goddess angrily changed her into a beast, and thus changed into a bear, she gave birth to Arcas. While she was in the mountains, she was chased hunted by goatherds and delivered her cub to Lycaon. Later, she was tempted to enter the inviolable sanctuary of Zeus, because she was unaware of the law concerning it. Her own son Arcas and the Arcadians pursued her there pursued her there and were on the point of executing her for breaking the law in question, when Zeus, because of the bond to her, removed her from the pursuers and placed her among the constellations. In view of her adventure, the god gave her the name ‘Bear ’. She has seven dull stars on her head, two on each of her ears, one shining star on her shoulders, one on her chest, two on her foreleg, one shining on her back, one shining on the belly, two on the hind legs, two on the tip of the leg and three on the tail. In all, twenty-four.

Var. 2: Hesiod tells us that the Great Bear is the daughter of Lycaon; she lived in Arcadia and had chosen to hunt in the mountains in the mountains, in the company of Artemis, to hunt wild beasts. Violated by Zeus, she began by her misadventure from Artemis, but when she was about to give, the goddess saw her taking a bath. The goddess was furious, changed her into a beast, and in this state she gave birth to a bear who was named Arcas. Amphis, the comic poet, says that Zeus took the guise of Artemis and went to the mountain and, during a common hunt, raped her. In time, her belly swelled up, but when she was questioned she said that the one responsible for her misfortune was none other than Artemis. The goddess was furious and turned her into a beast. While she was in the mountains, she was chased by goatherds, and handed over with her young to Lycaon. Later, she was tempted to enter the inviolable sanctuary of Zeus, because she was unaware of the law that concerned him. Her own son Arcas and the Arcadians pursued her there, and both she and her son were about to be put to death for having broken the law in question, when Zeus, on account of the bond which united him to them, placed her among the constellations, naming her ‘Bear’ because of her adventure. She has seven stars on her head, two on each of her ears, one on the shoulder ... a bright one, two on the hind leg, and three on the tail.

The tale reflects the female initiation rites led by the goddess Artemis. The bathing scene is an expression of the stripping ritual (ἐκδυσία) that marks the end of a maiden's innocence. The anecdote of blaming a goddess for fathership might stem from a comedia, just to entertain the audience.

Hyginus, Astronomica

We begin, then as we said above, with the Great Bear. Hesiod says she is named Callisto, daughter of Lycaon, who ruled in Arcadia. Out of her zeal for hunting she joined Diana, and was greatly loved by the goddess because of their similar temperaments. Later, when made pregnant by Jove, she feared to tell the truth to Diana. But she couldn’t conceal it long, for as her womb grew heavier near the time of her delivery, when she was refreshing her tired body in a stream, Diana realized she had not preserved her virginity. In keeping with her deep distrust, the goddess inflicted no light punishment. Taking away her maiden features, she changed her into the form of a bear, called arktos in Greek . In this form she bore Arcas.

But as Amphis, writer of comedies, says, Jupiter, assuming the form of Diana, followed the girl as if to aid her in hunting, and embraced her when out of sight of the rest. Questioned by Diana as to the reason for her swollen form, she replied that it was the goddess’ fault, and because of this reply, Diana changed her into the shape we mentioned above. When wandering like a wild beast in the forest, she was caught by certain Aetolians and brought into Arcadia to King Lycaon along with her son as a gift, and there, in ignorance of the law, she is said to have rushed into the temple of Jove Lycaeus. Her son at once followed her, and the Arcadians in pursuit were trying to kill them, when Jupiter, mindful of his indiscretion, rescued her and placed her and her son among the constellations. He named her Arctos, and her son Arctophylax. About him we shall speak later.

Some, too, have said that when Callisto was embraced by Jove, Juno in anger turned her into a bear; then, when she met Diana hunting, she was killed by her, and later, on being recognized, was placed among the stars.

But others say that when Jupiter was pursuing Callisto in the woods, Juno, suspecting what had happened, hurried there so that she could say she had caught him openly. But Jove, the more easily to conceal his fault, left her changed to bear form. Juno, then, finding a bear instead of a girl in that place, pointed her out for Diana, who was hunting, to kill. Jove was distressed to see this, and put in the sky the likeness of a bear represented with stars.

This constellation, as many have stated, does not set, and those who desire some reason for this fact say that Tethys, wife of Ocean, refuses to receive her when the other stars come there to their setting, because Tethys was the nurse of Juno, in whose bed Callisto was a concubine.

Araethus of Tegea, however, writer of histories, says that she wasn’t Callisto, but Megisto, and wasn’t the daughter of Lycaon, but of Ceteus, and so granddaughter of Lycaon. He says, too, that Ceteus himself was called the Kneeler. The other details agree with what has been said above. All this is shown to have taken place on the Arcadian mountain Nonacris. (Mary Ward 1960)

Hipparchus

Rising and Setting

No rising and setting of the constellation in the latitudes of Greece.

Stars Mentioned

	Greek	German	English	ident.	src		lam_culm
					Lib x Cap y §10
		von UMa der nördlichere von den beiden Sternen in den Vorderfüßen	the northern one of the two stars in the front feet	iota UMa
		UMa: helle an der Hüfte	the bright one in the whip	delta UMa
		UMa: der helle an der Brust	the bright one in the chest	beta UMa
		UMa: hintere Knie	rear knee	psi UMa
		UMa: Schultern	shoulder	alpha UMa
		UMa: der vorangehende in den Hinterfüßen UMa: die vorangehenden in den Hinterfüße	the front one in the rear feet	nu UMa(?) lam UMa
		UMa: Ende des Schwanzes	tip of the tail	eta UMa
		Große Bärin, helle in den vorderen Knieen	the bright one in the front knees	tet UMa
		Schnauze der Großen Bärin	the snout	omi UMa
		UMa: helle in Vorderbein	the bright one in the front leg	tet UMa

Almagest Ἄρκτος μεγάλη.

id	Greek (Heiberg 1898)	English (Toomer 1984)	ident.
	άρκτου μεγάλης ἀστερισμός.	Constellation of Ursa Major
1	ὁ ἐπ’ ἄκρου τοῦ ῥύγχους	The star on the end of the snout	omi UMa
2	τῶν ἐν τοῦς δυσὶν ὀφθαλμοῦς ὁ προηγούμενος	The more advanced or the s.tars in the two eyes	2 UMa
3	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The one to the rear	pi2 UMa
4	τῶν ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ β ὁ προηγούμευος.	The more advanced of the two stars in the forehead	rho UMa
5	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The one to the rear	sig2 UMa
6	ὁ ἐπ’ ἄκρου τοῦ ἠγουμένου ὡτίου	The star on the tip of the advance ear	24 UMa
	τῶν ἐν τῷ τραχήλῳ β’ ὁ προηγούμενος	The more advanced of the two stars in the neck	tau UMa
	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν.	The one to the rear	23 UMa
	τῶν ἐν τῷ στήθει δύο ὁ βορειότερος	The northernmost of the two stars in the chest	ups UMa
	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν.	The southernmost of them	phi UMa
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ γόνατος.	The star on the left knee	tet UMa
	τῶν ἐν τῷ ἐμπροσθίῳ ἀριστερῷ ἀκρόποδι ὁ βορειότερος.	The northernmost or the ( two J in the front left paw	iot UMa
	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν.	The southernmost of them	kap UMa
	ὁ ἐπάνω τοῦ δεξιοῦ γόνατος.	The star above the right knee	18 UMa
	ὁ ὑποκάτω τοῦ δεξιοῦ γόνατόρ	The star below the right knee	15 UMa
	τῶν ἐκ τῷ τετραπλεύρῳ ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ νώτου,	The stars in the quadrilateral: the one on the back	alf UMa
	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς λαγόνος αὐτῶν.	The stars in the quadrilateral: the one on the flank	bet UMa
	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἐκφύσεως τῆς οὐρᾶς.	The stars in the quadrilateral: the one on the place where the tail joins [the body]	del UMa
	ὁ λοιπὸς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ὀπισθίου μηροῦ	The stars in the quadrilateral: the remaining one, on the left hind thigh	gam UMa
	τῶν ἐν τῷ ὀπισθίῳ ἀριστερῷ ἀκρόποδι ὁ προηγούμενος	The more advanced or the [two stars] in the left hind paw	lam UMa
	ὁ τούτῳ ἑπόμενος	The one to the rear of it	mu UMa
	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀριστερᾶς ἀγκύλης.	The star on the left knee-bend	psi UMa
	τῶν ἐν τῷ δεξιῷ ὀπισθίῳ ἀκρόποδι ὁ βορειότερος.	The northernmost of the [two stars] in the right hind paw	nu UMa
	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν	The southernmost of them	xi UMa
	τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς οὐρᾶς γ’ ὁ μετὰ τὴν ἔκφυσιν πρῶτος	The first ofthe three stars on the tail next to the place where it joins [the body]	eps UMa
	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν.	The middle one	eps UMa
	ὁ τρίτος καὶ ἐπ’ ἄκρας τῆς οὐρᾶς	The third, on the end of the tail	eta UMa
	ἀστέρες κξ, ὥν μεγέθους β’ς, γ ἡ, δ’ ἡ, ε ἔ-	127 stars, 6 of the second magnitude, 8 of the third, 8·of the fourth, 5 of the fifth
	Τῶν ὑπ’ αὐτὴν ἀμορφώτων.	Stars under [Ursa Major] outside the constellation
	ὁ ὑπὸ τὴν οὐρὰν ἄπωθεν εἰς νότου.	The star under the tail, at some distance towards the south	alf CVn
	ὁ τούτου προηγούμενος ἀμαυρότερος.	The rather faint star in advance of it	bet CVn
	τῶν μεταξὺ τῶν ἐμπροσθίωυ ποδῶν τῆς άρκτου καὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ Λέουτος ὁ νοτιώτερος.	The southernmost of the [two] stars between the front legs of Ursa [Major] and the head of Leo	40 Lyn
	ὁ τούτου βορειότερος.	The one north of it	38 Lyn
	τῶν λοιπῶν καὶ ἀμαυρῶν τ’ ὁ ἐπόμενος.	The rearmost of the remaining three faint stars	10 LMi
	ὁ τούτου προηγούμενος.	The one in advance of this	HR 3809
	ὁ ἔτι τούτου προηγούμενος.	The one in advance again of the latter	HR 3612
	ὁ μεταξὺ τῶν ἐμπροσθίου ποδῶν καὶ τῶν Αιδύμωυ.	The star between the front legs [of Ursa Major] and Gemini	31 Lyn
	ἀμόρφωτοι ἤ, ὥν γ’ μεγέδους α, δ’ β, ε’α, ἀμαυροὶ δ.	8 stars outside the constellation, I of the third magnitude, 2 of the fourth, 1 of the fifth, 4 faint

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Alioth	HIP 62956	Constellation lines (Vertex)	1.77
2	Dubhe	HIP 54061	Constellation lines	1.79
3	Alkaid	HIP 67301	Constellation lines (Vertex)	1.86
4	Mizar	HIP 65378	Constellation lines	2.22
5	Merak	HIP 53910	Constellation lines	2.37
6	Phecda	HIP 58001	Constellation lines	2.44
7	ψ Ursae Majoris	HIP 54539	Constellation lines	3.01
8	Tania Australis	HIP 50801	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.05
9	Talitha	HIP 44127	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.14
10	θ Ursae Majoris	HIP 46853	Constellation lines	3.18
11	Megrez	HIP 59774	Constellation lines	3.32
12	Muscida	HIP 41704	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.42
13	Tania Borealis	HIP 50372	Constellation lines	3.45
14	Alkaphrah	HIP 44471	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.55
15	23 UMa	HIP 46733	Constellation lines	3.67
16	Taiyangshou	HIP 57399	Inside the hull	3.72
17	υ Ursae Majoris	HIP 48319	Constellation lines	3.81
18	26 UMa	HIP 47006	Inside the hull	4.463
19	15 UMa	HIP 44901	Inside the hull	4.48
20	ϕ Ursae Majoris	HIP 48402	Constellation lines	4.557
21	24 UMa	HIP 46977	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.57
22	τ Ursae Majoris	HIP 45075	Constellation lines	4.64
23	ω Ursae Majoris	HIP 53295	Inside the hull	4.664
24	24 CVn	HIP 66234	Inside the hull	4.7
25	ρ Ursae Majoris	HIP 44390	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.76
26	5 CVn	HIP 60485	Inside the hull	4.761
27	-	HIP 51459	Inside the hull	4.79
28	σ 2 Ursae Majoris	HIP 45038	Constellation lines	4.8
29	18 UMa	HIP 45493	Inside the hull	4.805
30	ET UMa	HIP 50933	Inside the hull	4.93
31	15 LMi	HIP 48113	Inside the hull	5.1
32	44 UMa	HIP 53261	Inside the hull	5.111
33	σ 1 Ursae Majoris	HIP 44857	Inside the hull	5.136
34	37 UMa	HIP 51814	Inside the hull	5.148
35	21 CVn	HIP 64906	Inside the hull	5.15
36	-	HIP 52469	Inside the hull	5.15
37	16 UMa	HIP 45333	Inside the hull	5.18
38	44 Lyn	HIP 47965	Inside the hull	5.2
39	-	HIP 57477	Inside the hull	5.254
40	17 UMa	HIP 45455	Inside the hull	5.266
41	31 UMa	HIP 48682	Inside the hull	5.269
42	3 CVn	HIP 60122	Inside the hull	5.29
43	Intercrus	HIP 46471	Inside the hull	5.393
44	-	HIP 53781	Inside the hull	5.448
45	CG UMa	HIP 45915	Inside the hull	5.47
46	-	HIP 49005	Inside the hull	5.485
47	70 UMa	HIP 60212	Inside the hull	5.524
48	-	HIP 52136	Inside the hull	5.537
49	6 UMa	HIP 43903	Inside the hull	5.56
50	42 UMa	HIP 53064	Inside the hull	5.562
51	-	HIP 56510	Inside the hull	5.628
52	-	HR 4439	Inside the hull	5.64
53	43 UMa	HIP 53043	Inside the hull	5.661
54	-	HIP 56290	Inside the hull	5.68
55	-	HIP 55797	Inside the hull	5.7
56	73 UMa	HIP 60795	Inside the hull	5.7
57	-	HIP 49363	Inside the hull	5.708
58	-	HIP 47594	Inside the hull	5.717
59	5 UMa	HIP 43644	Inside the hull	5.74
60	-	HIP 44504	Inside the hull	5.74
61	32 UMa	HIP 50448	Inside the hull	5.76
62	39 UMa	HIP 52478	Inside the hull	5.782
63	-	HIP 59920	Inside the hull	5.81
64	71 UMa	HIP 60584	Inside the hull	5.81
65	66 UMa	HIP 58181	Inside the hull	5.824
66	-	HIP 55086	Inside the hull	5.873
67	-	HIP 45590	Inside the hull	5.938
68	-	HIP 47401	Inside the hull	5.947
69	-	HIP 44613	Inside the hull	5.95
70	-	HIP 48802	Inside the hull	5.959
71	-	HIP 50546	Inside the hull	6.01
72	-	HIP 50635	Inside the hull	6.012
73	-	HR 4917	Inside the hull	6.02
74	60 UMa	HIP 56789	Inside the hull	6.076
75	-	HIP 51448	Inside the hull	6.09
76	37 Lyn	HIP 45836	Inside the hull	6.11
77	-	HIP 56731	Inside the hull	6.113
78	1 CVn	HIP 59708	Inside the hull	6.171
79	-	HIP 53706	Inside the hull	6.197
80	-	HIP 58225	Inside the hull	6.2
81	-	HIP 60988	Inside the hull	6.2
82	-	HIP 61053	Inside the hull	6.2
83	-	HIP 47791	Inside the hull	6.21
84	EZ UMa	HIP 46247	Inside the hull	6.227
85	11 CVn	HIP 62516	Inside the hull	6.245
86	U UMa	HIP 50222	Inside the hull	6.25
87	-	HIP 48266	Inside the hull	6.262
88	-	HIP 57045	Inside the hull	6.266
89	-	HIP 56083	Inside the hull	6.278
90	-	HIP 55936	Inside the hull	6.28
91	-	HIP 48638	Inside the hull	6.286
92	EE UMa	HIP 56135	Inside the hull	6.302
93	35 UMa	HIP 51401	Inside the hull	6.309
94	68 UMa	HIP 59458	Inside the hull	6.31
95	-	HIP 48861	Inside the hull	6.324
96	-	HIP 60305	Inside the hull	6.325
97	-	HIP 56944	Inside the hull	6.335
98	41 UMa	HIP 52685	Inside the hull	6.34
99	-	HIP 43624	Inside the hull	6.35
100	-	HIP 49408	Inside the hull	6.35
101	-	HIP 51290	Inside the hull	6.357
102	-	HIP 53860	Inside the hull	6.358
103	-	HIP 46168	Inside the hull	6.368
104	-	HIP 47633	Inside the hull	6.37
105	-	HIP 53798	Inside the hull	6.39
106	-	HIP 50509	Inside the hull	6.4
107	-	HIP 47231	Inside the hull	6.41
108	-	HIP 56170	Inside the hull	6.41
109	-	HIP 65754	Inside the hull	6.417
110	-	HIP 52929	Inside the hull	6.43
111	-	HIP 53157	Inside the hull	6.43
112	-	HIP 65698	Inside the hull	6.43
113	-	HIP 44717	Inside the hull	6.435
114	-	HR 3725	Inside the hull	6.435
115	-	HIP 55485	Inside the hull	6.44
116	-	HIP 50606	Inside the hull	6.453
117	-	HIP 66385	Inside the hull	6.46
118	-	HIP 42434	Inside the hull	6.47
119	-	HIP 46879	Inside the hull	6.47
120	-	HIP 56809A	Inside the hull	6.47
121	-	HIP 47664	Inside the hull	6.477
122	-	HIP 47521	Inside the hull	6.49
123	-	HIP 56120	Inside the hull	6.49
124	-	HIP 55044	Inside the hull	6.49
125	-	HIP 62600	Inside the hull	6.495
126	-	HR 4098	Inside the hull	6.5
127	-	HIP 50505	Inside the hull	6.65

Greek Mythology

According to Hesiod, the Great Bear was the daughter of Lycaon of Arcadia and went hunting with the goddess Artemis. After being seduced and impregnated by Zeus, she managed to hide this for a long time. It was only when she took a bath shortly before or during the birth that the goddess saw her and, in her anger, transformed her into a bear. She gave birth to a son who was named Arkas.  The name can be linked, in folk etymology, to both the Greek word for bear, ‘arktos,’ and Arcadia, so that Arkas can be stylised as the progenitor of the Arcadians. Hesiod's story vividly describes a female initiation rite of undressing (for bathing). If the undressed woman is already pregnant, the initiation is superfluous.

Eratosthenes then describes another event: the bear and her cub were hunted on the mountain by goat herders and finally handed over to King Lycaon. When the animal entered the cella of the temple of Zeus, it (unintentionally) broke a law and was sentenced to death along with its offspring. Zeus, however, abducted them and placed them among the stars.

Aratos presents an alternative story: the bear is Kynosura, one of Zeus's nurses. Zeus was raised in a cave in Crete because his mother hid him from his father. Bees fed him honey, a goat fed him milk, and several other animals and mountains defended him and offered him protection. They were all personified as nymphs, and the bear-like nymph Kynosura was placed in the sky out of gratitude.

Star Names

al-Ẓibā’, «°les Gazelles°» (CC BY Roland Laffitte 2024)

al-Ẓibā’, « les Gazelles » (CC BY Roland Laffitte 2024)

al-Ẓibā’ in Roland Laffitte, Le ciel des Arabes, p. 112-113.

ο2ρπ2σ2d UMa +αβ CVn + α/31 Lyn
	Arabic	French	English	Author
	al-Ẓibā’	les Gazelles	the Gazelles	Qutayba
Lyn	Ğanūbī ’l-Ḍibā’ [p/ al-Ẓibā’]	l’Australe des Gazelles	the southern one of the Gazelles	Miṣrī
31 Lyn	Mutaq. al-Ḍibā’ [p/ al-Ẓibā’]	l’Antérieure des Gazelles	the front one of the Gazelles	Miṣrī
38 Lyn	Šamālī ’l-Ḍibā’   [en fait : al-Ẓibā’]	la Boréale des Hyènes   [en fait : les Gazelles]	the northern one of of the Hyena	Miṣrī
46, 21+β LMi
	Awlād al-Ẓibā’	les Petits des Gazelles	the small one of the Gazelles	Qutayba
	Awlād al-Ġizlān	idem		Ṣūfī
τhυφθef UMa
	al-Ḥawḍ	l’Abreuvoir	the Water Trough	Qutayba
	al-ᶜUnq	l’Assemblée	the Meeting	Qutayba
ικλμνξ UMa
	Qafazāt al-Ẓibā’	les Sauts	the Jumps	Qutayba
	al-Qafazāt	les Sauts [des Gazelles]	the Jumps (of the Gazelles)	Qutayba
	Qafazāt al-Ġizlān	les Sauts des Gazelles	The Jumps of the Gazelles	Ṣūfī
	al-Qawāfiz	les Bondissantes	the Bouncings	Marzūqī
	Baqarāt al-Ẓibā’	les Gazelles femelles	the female Gazelles	Fāris
νξ UMa	al-Qafazat al-Ūlā	le 1er Saut	First Jump	Ṣūfī
λμ UMa	al-Qafazat al-Ṯāniyya	le 2nd Saut	Second Jump	Ṣūfī
ικ UMa	al-Qafazat al-Ṯāliṯa	le 3ème Saut	Third Jump	Ṣūfī
ι UMa	Šamālī ’l-Qafazat al-Ūlā   [en fait : al-Ṯāliṯa]	la Boréale du 1er Saut   [en fait : le 3ème]	the northern one of the first jump	Miṣrī
κ UMa	Ğanūbī ’l-Qafazat al-Ūlā   [en fait : al-Ṯāliṯa]	l’Australe du Premier Saut   [en fait : le 3ème]	the southern one of the first jump	Miṣrī
λ UMa	[Šamālī] ’l-Q. al-Ṯāniyya	[la Boréale] du 2nd Saut	(the northern one) of the second jump	Miṣrī
μ UMa	Ğanūbī ’l-Q al-Ṯāniyya	l’Australe du 2nd Saut	the southern one of the second jump	Miṣrī
ξ UMa	Ğanūbī ’l-Q. al-Ṯāliṯa   [en fait : al- Ūlā]	l’Australe du 3ème Saut   [en fait le 1er]	the southern one of the third jump	Miṣrī

Weblinks

• Ridpath, Ian, “Star Tales: online edition”.

References

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