Aquarius

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Youla Azkarrula, Doris Vickers, David Hilder

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star chart

Aqr star chart as defined since the 1920s (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)

One of the 88 IAU constellations.

Etymology and History

The Greek constellation ...

Origin of Constellation

Greco-Roman

Aratos

[282] The two Fishes range about the Horse as it prances among them. Beside the Horse’s head the right hand of the Water-pourer stretches out: he rises after Capricorn.

Other stars lying scattered below the Water-pourer [390] hang in the sky between the celestial Monster and the Fish, but they are faint and nameless. Close to them, like a light spray of water being sprinkled this way and that from the right hand of the illustrious Water-pourer, some pale and feeble stars go round. [395] Among them go two rather brighter stars, not so very far apart nor yet very close, one beautiful and bright star beneath the two feet of the Waterpourer, the other below the dark Monster’s tail. Men call them collectively the Water. But a few others [400] below the Archer, under his orefeet, are curved in a ring as they go circling round.

(Kidd 1997)

Eratosthenes

Pamias and Zucker (2013, 80):

Apparently, this character owes his name, Aquarius, to his activity. He stands upright, holding a wine jug in his hand and pouring a copious stream of liquid. Some argue that this is Ganymede, considering as decisive evidence the fact that the image represents a cupbearer serving wine. And they invoke the testimony of the Poet, arguing from the fact that he states that Ganymede was brought to Zeus, because of his supreme beauty, to take on the role of cupbearer, which the gods had deemed him worthy of performing, and that he obtained an immortality that remains unknown to men; the liquid it pours resembles nectar, which is precisely the drink of the gods, and those who see Ganymede in it consider this to be further evidence that it is indeed the drink of the gods that has just been mentioned.

Pamias and Zucker (2013, 81):

Aquarius has two dim stars on his head, one star on each shoulder, both large, one on each elbow, one bright star on his right hand, one on each nipple, one under each nipple, on both sides, one on his left hip, one on each knee, one on the right calf, and one on each foot. In total, there are seventeen. The Water Stream is composed of thirty-one stars, two of which are bright.

Hyginus, Astronomica

Aquarius or Water Bearer. Many have said he is Ganymede, whom Jupiter is said to have made cupbearer of the gods, snatching him up from his parents because of his beauty. So he is shown as if pouring water from an urn. Hegesianax, however, says he is Deucalion, because during his reign such quantities of water poured from the sky that the great Flood resulted. Eubulus, again, points out that he is Cecrops, commemorating the antiquity of the race, and showing that men used water in the sacrificed of the gods before wine was given to them, and that Cecrops ruled before wine was discovered. (Mary Ward 1960)

Almagest Ὕδρος

id	Greek (Heiberg 1898)	English (Toomer 1984)	ident.
	Ὕδρου ἀστερισμός.	Constellation of Aquarius
1	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ Ὑδροχόου	The star on the head of Aquarius	25 Aqr
2	τῶν ἐν τῷ δεξιῷ ὤμῳ β ὁ λαμπρότερος	The brighter of the 2 stars in the right shoulder	alf Aqr
3	ὁ ὑπ’ αὐτὸν ἀμαυρότερος	The fainter one, under it	omi Aqr
4	ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀριστερῷ ὤμῳ.	The star in the left shouldcr	bet Aqr
5	ὁ ὑπ’ αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ νώτῳ ὡς ὑπὸ τὴν μασχάλην	The one under that, in the back, approximately under the armpit	xi Aqr
6	ὁ τῶν ἐν τῇ ἀριστερᾷ χειρὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἱματίου ἢ’ ὁ ἐπόμενοςἡ	The rearmost of the three stars in the left arm, on the coat	nu Aqr
	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν	The middle one of these	mu Aqr
	ὁ προηγούμευος τῶν τριῶν.	The most advanced of the three	eps Aqr
	ὁ ἐν τῷ δεξιῷ πήχει	The star in the right forearm	gam Aqr
	τῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ἀκροχείρου γ’ ὁ βόρειος.	The northernmost of the 3 stars an the right hand	pi Aqr
	Τὸ τῶν λοιπῶν καὶ βορείωυ β ὁ προηγούμενος	The more advanced of the other 2 to the south	zet Aqr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	eta Aqr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ κοτύλη συνεχῶν β ὁ προηγούμενος.	The more advanced of the 2 stars close tagether in the hollow of the right [hip]	tet Aqr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	rho Aqr
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ γλουτοῦ	The star on the right buttock	sig Aqr
	τῶν ἐν τῷ ἀριστερῷ γλουτῷ Κ’ ὁ νότιος	The southernmost of the 2 stars in the left buttock	iot Aqr
	ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν	The northernmost of them	38 Aqr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ κνήμῃ β’ ὁ νοτιώτερος	The southernmost of the 2 stars in the right lower leg	del Aqr
	ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν ἀγκύλην	The northernmost of the·m, under the knee-bend	tau Aqr
	ὁ ἐο τῷ ἀριστερῷ ὀπισθομήρῳ.	The star in the back of the left thigh	53 Aqr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ ἀριστερᾷ κνήμῃ β ὁ νοτιώτερος.	The southernmost of the 2 stars in the left lower leg	68 Aqr
	ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν ὑπὸ τὸ γόνυ.	The northernmost of these, under the knee	66 Aqr
	τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς ῥύσεως τοῦ ὕδατος ἀπὸ τῆς χειρὸς ὁ προηγούμενος.	The stars on the flow of water: the most advanced [in the section] beginning at the hand	kap Aqr
	ὁ ἐχόμενος ἐκ φότου τοῦ προειρημένου	the one next to the latter towards the south	lam Aqr
	ὁ τούτουυ ἐχόμενος μετὰ τὴν καμπήη	the one next to this, aftcr [the beginning of] the bend	83 Aqr
	ὁ ἔτι τούτῳ ἑπόμενος	the onc to the rear again of this	phi Aqr
	ὁ τούτου ἐν καμπῇ ἀπὸ μεσημβρίας…	the one in the bend to the south of this	chi Aqr
	τῶν ἀπὸ μεσημβρίας αὐτοῦ β’ ὁ βορειότερος.	the northcrnmost of the 2 stars to the south of this	psi1 Aqr
	ὁ νοτιώτερος τῶν δύο.	the southcrnmost of the two	psi3 Aqr
	ὁ διεστὼς αὐτῶν πρὸς μεσημβρύαν μουαχός-	the lone star at some distance from thcsc [two] towards the south	HR 8958
	τῶν μετ’ αὐτὸν β συνεχῶν ὁ προηγούμενος	the morc advanccd of the 2 stars dose tagether after the latter	ome1 Aqr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	the rearmost of them	ome2 Aqr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ ἐχομένῃ συστροφῇ ἢ’ ὁ βόρειος.	the northernmost of the 3 stars in the next group	103 + 104 Aqr
	ὁ μέσος τῶν τριῶν	the middlc one of the three	106 Aqr
	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	the rearmost of them	108 Aqr
	ὁμοίως τῶν ἐφεξῆς γ' ὁ βόρειος.	thc northernmost of thc nexl 3 [arranged] likewise	98 Aqr
	ὁ νότιος τῶν τριῶν	the southernmost of the thrcc	101 Aqr
	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν	thc middle one of thc three	99 Aqr
	τῶν ἐν τῇ λοιπῇ συστροφῇ ’ ὁ ἠγούμενος	the most advanced of thc 3 stars in the rcmaining group	86 Aqr
	τῶν λοιπῶν β’ ὁ νοτιώτερος	the southcrnmost of the other 2	89 Aqr
	ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν	the not·thcrnmost of them	88 Aqr
	ὁ ἔσχατος τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ νοτίου Ἰχθύος	the star at the end of thc water and on the mouth of Piscis Austrinus	alf PsA
all	ἀστέρερ μβ, ὥν αἱ μεγέθους ἂ, γ’ 3, δ’ ἢ, εἴ φ, ς’ ἄ.	42 stars, I of the first magnitude, 9 of the third, 18 of the fourth, 13 of the fifth, I of the sixth
	Οἱ περὶ τὸν Ὕδρου ἀμόρφωτοι	Stars round Aquarius outside the constelfation
	ὁ τῶν ἐπομένων τῇ καμπῇ τοῦ ὕδατος φ’ ὁ ἠγούμενος	The most advanced of the 3 stars to the rear of the bend in the water	2 Cet
	τῶν λοιπῶν β’ ὁ βορειότερος	The northernmost of the other 2	6 Cet
	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν.	The southernmost of them	7 Cet
	ἀστέρες γ μεγέθους δ’ μ.	{3 stars of magnitude greater than the fourth}

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

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Sadalsuud	HIP 106278	Constellation lines	2.89
2	Sadalmelik	HIP 109074	Constellation lines	2.94
3	Skat	HIP 113136	Constellation lines	3.28
4	Safina	HIP 114341	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.64
5	ζ 1 Aquarii	HIP 110960	Inside the hull	3.65
6	Albali	HIP 102618	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.77
7	Shatabhisha	HIP 112961	Constellation lines	3.79
8	Sadachbia	HIP 110395	Constellation lines	3.834
9	τ 2 Aquarii	HIP 112716	Constellation lines	3.98
10	98 Aqr	HIP 115438	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.98
11	η Aquarii	HIP 111497	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.03
12	Ancha	HIP 110003	Constellation lines	4.16
13	ψ 1 Aquarii	HIP 114855	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.25
14	ι Aquarii	HIP 109139	Constellation lines	4.27
15	* zet01 Aqr	HIP 110960	Inside the hull	4.49
16	ν Aquarii	HIP 104459	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.52
17	π Aquarii	HIP 110672	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.64
18	66 Aqr	HIP 112211	Constellation lines	4.69
19	Bunda	HIP 106786	Inside the hull	4.69
20	ο Aquarii	HIP 108874	Inside the hull	4.69
21	μ Aquarii	HIP 103045	Inside the hull	4.72
22	σ Aquarii	HIP 111123	Constellation lines	4.81
23	Situla	HIP 111710	Inside the hull	5.03
24	46 Cap	HIP 107382	Inside the hull	5.079
25	μ Capricorni	HIP 108036	Inside the hull	5.08
26	25 Aqr	HIP 106944	Constellation lines (Vertex)	5.1
27	32 Aqr	HIP 108991	Inside the hull	5.271
28	42 Aqr	HIP 110000	Inside the hull	5.333
29	ρ Aquarii	HIP 110273	Inside the hull	5.339
30	38 Aqr	HIP 109472	Inside the hull	5.422
31	21 Aqr	HIP 105767	Inside the hull	5.469
32	83 Aqr	HIP 113996	Inside the hull	5.47
33	7 Aqr	HIP 103401	Inside the hull	5.48
34	30 Aqr	HIP 108868	Inside the hull	5.543
35	77 Aqr	HIP 113148	Inside the hull	5.56
36	λ Capricorni	HIP 107517	Inside the hull	5.567
37	28 Aqr	HIP 108691	Inside the hull	5.597
38	26 Aqr	HIP 107144	Inside the hull	5.641
39	τ 1 Aquarii	HIP 112542	Inside the hull	5.681
40	94 G. Aqr	HIP 108102	Inside the hull	5.704
41	19 Aqr	HIP 105761	Inside the hull	5.713
42	44 Aqr	HIP 110023	Inside the hull	5.751
43	50 Aqr	HIP 110602	Inside the hull	5.752
44	-	HIP 113184	Inside the hull	5.757
45	80 G. Aqr	HIP 106592	Inside the hull	5.778
46	51 Aqr	HIP 110578	Inside the hull	5.779
47	74 Aqr	HIP 113031	Inside the hull	5.78
48	-	HIP 110009	Inside the hull	5.791
49	* 12 Aqr A	HIP 103981	Inside the hull	5.8
50	15 Aqr	HIP 105164	Inside the hull	5.812
51	16 Aqr	HIP 105412	Inside the hull	5.848
52	60 Aqr	HIP 111394	Inside the hull	5.875
53	138 G. Aqr	HIP 110532	Inside the hull	5.907
54	-	HR 8716	Inside the hull	5.92
55	225 G. Aqr	HIP 115144	Inside the hull	5.94
56	45 Aqr	HIP 110179	Inside the hull	5.959
57	17 Aqr	HIP 105574	Inside the hull	5.965
58	-	HIP 109466	Inside the hull	5.98
59	47 Cap	HIP 107487	Inside the hull	6
60	39 Aqr	HIP 109624	Inside the hull	6.043
61	-	HIP 106938	Inside the hull	6.07
62	198 G. Aqr	HIP 113531	Inside the hull	6.1
63	-	HIP 114750	Inside the hull	6.12
64	155 G. Aqr	HIP 111171	Inside the hull	6.139
65	128 G. Aqr	HIP 109984	Inside the hull	6.143
66	-	HIP 113998	Inside the hull	6.143
67	-	HIP 111170	Inside the hull	6.16
68	89 G. Aqr	HIP 107596	Inside the hull	6.168
69	70 Aqr	HIP 112615	Inside the hull	6.18
70	78 Aqr	HIP 113127	Inside the hull	6.181
71	82 Aqr	HIP 113781	Inside the hull	6.2
72	-	HIP 106758	Inside the hull	6.214
73	81 Aqr	HIP 113674	Inside the hull	6.215
74	-	HIP 110778	Constellation lines	6.22
75	98 G. Aqr	HIP 108506	Inside the hull	6.22
76	-	HIP 110778A	Inside the hull	6.22
77	-	HIP 108144	Inside the hull	6.23
78	-	HIP 111761	Inside the hull	6.244
79	M 2	M 2	Inside the hull	6.25
80	49 G. Aqr	HIP 104557	Inside the hull	6.267
81	115 G. Aqr	HIP 109442	Inside the hull	6.282
82	-	HIP 107750	Inside the hull	6.298
83	-	HIP 111965	Inside the hull	6.31
84	-	HIP 110778B	Inside the hull	6.32
85	96 G. Aqr	HIP 108453	Inside the hull	6.331
86	56 Aqr	HIP 111086	Inside the hull	6.347
87	61 Aqr	HIP 111539	Inside the hull	6.37
88	20 Aqr	HIP 105729	Inside the hull	6.375
89	-	HIP 110091	Inside the hull	6.379
90	189 G. Aqr	HIP 113080	Inside the hull	6.38
91	58 Aqr	HIP 111200	Inside the hull	6.381
92	121 G. Aqr	HIP 109647	Inside the hull	6.4
93	152 G. Aqr	HIP 111066	Inside the hull	6.4
94	67 Aqr	HIP 112179	Inside the hull	6.405
95	213 G. Aqr	HIP 114371	Inside the hull	6.43
96	-	HIP 112168	Inside the hull	6.45
97	14 Aqr	HIP 105019	Inside the hull	6.46
98	-	HR 8629	Inside the hull	6.46

Mythology

Greek

Ganymede was the son of King Tros, who gave Troy its name. He was considered the most beautiful youth in the world, which did not go unnoticed by the gods. According to one version of the myth, Zeus either transformed himself into an eagle and carried Ganymede up to heaven or sent an eagle to do the job. According to another version, the goddess of dawn, Eos, desired the beautiful man and therefore abducted him, whereupon Zeus stole him away from her. Regardless of which deity of the Greek pantheon snatched the mortal man first, he was the favourite of all the gods, served as their cupbearer, and they granted him immortality.

This myth was very popular in Greece and Rome, as the young man sooner or later ends up with Zeus, thereby legitimising or at least approving of pederasty. This form of homosexuality refers exclusively to young men: it was considered an honour for a young man to be the passive partner in homosexual intercourse with an older man, especially a teacher or patron. Same-sex love among young men was also tolerated, whereas among older men it was considered rather indecent.

The cupbearer of the gods had been made immortal as a young man, was often seen as frivolous, and was desired by men and women alike.

Roman

Nevertheless, there is an alternative myth: in the 1st century, Germanicus created a Roman adaptation of Aratus, approximately 400 years after the original work and at the time of Augustus' moral laws. He does not identify Aquarius as a sex icon, but with Deucalion, the mythological man who survived the flood and from whom modern humanity is descended.  

Deucalion was commissioned by the gods to build a ship to save the species from the flood. When he and his wife Pyrrha went ashore after the flood, there were no other humans left. As they descended from the mountain, they threw stones behind them, and the stones they threw turned into men and women. Thus, the earth was repopulated.

Babylonian

The Babylonian water deity, the god Ea, was the god who indirectly saved humanity from the Flood: the Flood stories all go back to a Sumerian original and therefore always have the same basic pattern: the gods or a god plan to destroy humanity, whereby a selected human couple can save themselves and many animal couples in a specially built giant ship. In Babylonian mythology, the man who builds the ark is called Utnapishtim. He was secretly warned by Ea. Ea does not want to oppose the alliance of the gods, but he also does not want humanity to be wiped out forever. So he tells Utnapishtim's household about the gods' plans for the flood and prays that an ark will be built. Of course, the god of wisdom knows that Utnapishtim is at home and can hear him, but he did not tell him directly and thus did not break his pact with the gods.

References

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