Argo

Authors: Youla Azkarrula, Susanne M Hoffmann, Doris Vickers

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animated GIF of the transformation of the constellation Argo over the course of the centuries from ancient Greek to modern depictions (map: Stellarium)

Argo Navis (short: Argo) is one of the constellations of the Almagest star catalogue (137 CE) that became standardized by common usage of several cultures in the subsequent centuries. In the Early Modern Era, the constellation was changed and finally included in the set of constellations, globally defined by the IAU over the course of the 1920s.

Concordance, Etymology, History

There is no Babylonian predecessor at the place of this Greek constellation. In the place of the Greek Argo, the Babylonian uranology recognizes the constellations of the Harrow (^gišGAN₂.UR₃, Maškakātu) and the Asterism of Eridu (Eridu^ki).

Yet, the Babylonian uranology does contain a constellation of a ship (MA₂.GUR₈) or rather a boat but this is at the opposite site of the sky, frequently identified with the stars in the modern constellations Sagittarius (Sgr), Corona Australis (CrA) and Capricornus (Cap, or only CrA). Some scholars think that The Ship (now called Argo) in the Greek culture is halved and sails backwards through the sky because of hypothetical roots in the Epic of Gilgamesh. However, this scholarly suggestions lacks evidence.

Origin of the Constellation

Eratosthenes reports that this heavenly ship was the first ship ever built. The reconstruction of his text does not allow for any definite conclusion as to whether the ship was constructed by the goddess Athena herself or by humans. In any case, it is said to have been the first to plough through the inaccessible sea and thus served as a model for all subsequent ships. The constellation is thus a symbol of the invention of the ship. Athena is said not to have placed it in its entirety in the sky because, on the one hand, this image was intended to be a memorial to the gods for the glory of this technical innovation. On the other hand, the existing parts – the mast, the rudder and the oars up to the mast – were intended to encourage sailors in their work. In Roman times (probably the 2nd century CE), Hyginus misunderstood this original Greek statement to mean that half the ship in the sky was intended to encourage sailors in the event of a shipwreck. The true reason for the disappearance of half a ship probably remains hidden in the pre-literate past.

With the star catalogue of the Almagest, the ship can be clearly reconstructed in the sky, and the image thus drawn corresponds to the image on the Farnese Globe. Even in Roman times, the Greek image was drawn unchanged.

With their explorations and voyages of discovery in the south, Europeans expanded the originally normal-sized Greek constellation to cover a very large area: in ancient times, the masthead was seen in the stars now called Pyxis, and the ship's hull ended at the stars κ and δ Velae, the upper right flank of the ‘false cross’. In early modern times, the stars up to β Carinae were added to the ship Argo. In ancient times, these had remained below the horizon in the Mediterranean region and were not assigned to any constellation. This measure made the ship longer, and where there had previously been only a mast, it now had a sail. However, it continued to be depicted as halved. The French astronomer Nicolas-Louis Lacaille considered this modern constellation Argo to be too large. Not only is it large, but its location in the Milky Way also means that it contains a great many stars. When compiling a star catalogue, however, it is practical to insert subheadings (constellation names) from time to time, especially with 160 stars in Argo listed in Lacaille's catalogue of 1755. A subdivision was therefore appropriate.

Thus, the ship was divided into its individual parts, the keel and the sails. The stern had already been depicted by Aratus as adorned with numerous stars. It therefore made sense to separate the stern or aft ship from the long list of stars in the hull. De Lacaille used the stars that had once formed the mast and now appeared to stand incoherently above the Milky Way to mark a grandiose invention of his time: the needle of the marine magnetic compass. Thus, the original constellation of the ship was transformed into a new group of four constellations with a marine context: stern (Puppis), hull (now Carina), sails (Vela) and a ship's compass (Pyxis), which, confusingly, is not located in the ship (hull) but next to the mast.

Babylonian

This constellation had only indirect Babylonian precursors. The Babylonians mainly engaged in river navigation with raft-like boats, and in Assyria, seaworthy ships for the Mediterranean are only documented in the 1st millennium, i.e. approximately half a millennium to a whole millennium after the canonisation of the constellations in MUL.APIN. The Babylonian constellation ‘Ship’ is not only in a completely different place in the sky (CrA or south of Sagittarius), but also looks completely different from the Greek Argo. However, the myths behind the Argo and the Babylonian ship have a common root: both myths and the story of Noah's Ark are likely to go back to a Sumerian original, which is told in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh also mentions a ship with a smashed bow, which may explain the representation in the sky. However, these roots may have already been forgotten in the Greek archaic period.

Graeco-Roman

Aratus

Close to the great Dog’s tail is Argo towed stern first. Its course is not that of a ship proceeding on its normal business, but its movement is backward-turned, like that of real [345] ships when the sailors have already turned the stern about on entering harbour: all the crew quickly back water, and the ship surging astern makes fast to the land. So this Argo of Jason is towed stern first. Dark and starless from the prow as far as the actual mast she goes, but the rest is all bright. [351] The steering-oar is detached and set fast under the Dog’s hind legs as it runs ahead. (Kidd 1997)

Other names

Ratis (Manilius I, 623 and 694; Germanicus 622 and 683), Cymba (Avienus 757), Carina (Germanicus 374; Avienus 808), Puppis (Cic. Arat. 34; 389)

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

Some have said this ship was called Argo in Greek on account of her speed, others because Argus was her inventor. Many have said she was the first ship on the sea, and for this reason especially was pictured in the stars. Pindar says she was built in the town of Magnesia called Demetrias — Callimachus in that district near the temple of Actian Apollo which the Argonauts are thought to have founded on their departure. The place is called Pagasae, in Greek pagasai, because the Argo was first fitted together there. Homer says that this same place was in the district of Thessaly. Aeschylus and some others say that in the same place a speaking beam was added by Minerva. The entire form of the ship does not appear in the stars; it is divided from stern to mast, signifying that men should not be in despair when their ships are wrecked. (Mary Ward 1960)

Ptolemy's Almagest

Map of Argo in Stellarium with the Little Shield marked and the star "Azmidi" highlighted.

Argo, The Ship is one of the southern constellations.

Caption text

No.	Greek (Heiberg 1898)	English translation (Toomer 1984)	ident.
	Ἀργοῦς ἀστερισμός.
1	τῶν ἐν τῷ ἀκροστολίῳ β ὁ προηγούμενος.	The more advanced of the 2 stars in the stern-ornament	11 (e) Pup
2	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν.	The rearmost of them	rho Pup
3	τῶν ὑπὲρ τὴν ἐν τῇ πρύμυῃ ἀσπιδίσκην β συνεχῶν ὁ βορειότερος	The northernmost of the 2 stars close together over the little shield in the poop	xi Pup
4	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶ	The southernmost of them	o Pup
5	ὁ τούτου προηγούμενος.	The star in advance of these	m Pup HR 2944
6	ὁ ἐν μέσῃ τῇ ἀσπιδίσκῃ λαμπφός	The bright star in the middle of the little shield	HR 2948 +29
7	τῶν ὑπὸ τὴν ἀσπιδίσκηη γ’ ὁ προηγούμενος	The most advanced of the 3 stars under the little shield	p Pup HR 2922
8	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	3 Pup
9	ὁ μέσος τῶν τριῶν.	The middle one of the three	1 Pup
10	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ χηρίσκου.	The star on the goose[-neck]	HR 3113
11	τῶν ἐν τῇ τρόπει τῆς πρύμνης β ὁ βορειότερος	The northernmost of the 2 stars in the stern-keel	?
12	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶ	The southernmost of them	pi Pup
13	τῶν ἐν τῷ καταστρώματι τῆς πρόμνης ὁ βορειότερος.	Stars in the poop-deck: 1. the northernmost	f Pup HR 2937
14	τῶν ἐφεξῆς ἡ ὁ προηγούμενος!	2. the most advanced of the next 3	HR 2961 + 64
15	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶ	3. the middle one	c Pup HR 3017
16	ὁ ἐπόμευος τῶν τριῶν	4. the rearmost of the three	b Pup HR 3084
17	ὁ τούτοις ἐπόμευος ἐπὶ τοῦ καταστρώματος λαμπρός	5. the bright star on the deck to the rear of these	zet Pup
18	τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν λαμπρὸν ἀμαυρῶν β ὁ προηγούμενος	6. the more advanced of the 2 faint stars under the bright one	a Pup HR 3080
19	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶ	7. the rearmost of them	HR 3162
20	τῶν ὑπὲρ τὸν εἰρημένου λαμπρὸν β ὁ ἠγούμενοςἡ	8. the more advanced of the 2 stars over the above-mentioned bright one	h1 Pup HR 3225
21	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	9. the rearmost of them	h2 Pup HR 3243
22	τῶν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἀσπιδύσκαις ὡς ἐπὶ τῆς ἱστοδόκης ν’ ὁ βόρειος.	The northernmost of the 3 stars on the little shields, about on the mast holder	HR 3439
23	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν	The middle one	d Vel HR 3477
24	ὁ γότιος τῶν τριῶν.	The southernmost of the three	e Vel HR 3426
25	τῶν ὑπὸ τούτους β συνεχῶν ὁ βορειότερος.	The northernmost of the 2 stars close together under these	*a Vel HR 3487
26	ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν.	The southernmost of them	*b Vel HR 3445
27	τῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῷ ἱστῷ β ὁ νότιος	The southernmost of the 2 stars in the middle of the mast	bet Pyx
28	ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν.	The northernmost of them	alf Pyx
29	τῶν πρὸς τῷ ἄκρῳ τοῦ ἱστοῦ β ὁ προηγούμενος.	The more advanced of the 2 stars by the tip of the mast	gam Pyx
30	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	del Pyx
31	ὁ ὑποκάτω τῆς ν’ καὶ ἐπομένης ἀσπιδίσκης	The star below the 3rd and rearmost little shield	lam Vel
32	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀποτομῆς τοῦ καταστρώματος.	The star on the cut-off of the deck	psi Vel
33	ὁ μεταξὺ τῶν πηδαλίωυ ἐν τῇ τρόπει	The star between the steering-oars, in the keel	sig Pup
34	ὁ τούτῳ ἐπόμενος ἀμαυρός.	The faint star to the rear of this	HR 3055
35	ὁ τούτῳ ἐπόμενος ὑπὸ τὸ κατάστρωμα λαμπρός	The bright star to the rear of this, under the deck	gam Vel
36	ὁ τούτου πρὸς νότου ἐπὶ τῆς κάτω τρόπεως λαμπρός	The bright star to the south of this, on the lower [part of the] keel	chi Car
37	τῶν ἐπομένων τούτῳ ἢ ὁ προηγούμενος	The most advanced of the 3 stars to the rear of this	omi Vel
38	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν.	The middle one	del Vel
39	ὁ ἐπόμενος τῶν τριῶν.	The rearmost of the three	HR 3498
40	τῶν τούτοις ἐπομένων β ὁ πρὸς τῇ ἀποτομῇ ὁ προηγούμενος.	The more advanced of the 2 stars to the rear of these, near the cut-off	kap Vel
41	ὁ ἐπόμευος αὐτῶν .	The rearmost of them	N Vel HR 3803
42	τῶν ἐν τῷ βορείῳ καὶ ἠγουμένῳ πηδαλίῳ β ὁ ἠγούμενος	The more advanced of the 2 stars in the northern, advance steering-oar	eta Col
43	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν.	The rearmost of them	nu Pup
44	ὁ τῶν ἐν τῷ λοιπῷ πηδαλίῳ β ὁ προηγούμενος καλούμενος. Κάνωβος	The more advanced of the 2 stars in the other steering-oar, called Canopus	alf Car
45	ὁ λοιπὸς καὶ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν.	The other, rearmost star	tau Pup
all	ἀστέρες με, ὥν α’ μεγέθους ἂ, β’ ξ, ἡ ἱα, δ’ ιθ, εξ, ς’ α

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

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Canopus	HIP 30438	Constellation lines (Vertex)	-0.74
2	γ 2 Velorum	HIP 39953	Constellation lines	1.83
3	Alsephina	HIP 42913	Constellation lines (Vertex)	1.93
4	Suhail	HIP 44816	Constellation lines	2.21
5	Naos	HIP 39429	Constellation lines	2.25
6	Markeb	HIP 45941	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.473
7	π Puppis	HIP 35264	Constellation lines	2.7
8	Tureis	HIP 39757	Constellation lines	2.81
9	τ Puppis	HIP 32768	Inside the hull	2.93
10	σ Puppis	HIP 36377	Constellation lines	3.25
11	Azmidi	HIP 38170	Constellation lines	3.3
12	χ Carinae	HIP 38827	Constellation lines	3.431
13	ψ Velorum	HIP 46651	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.6
14	c Pup	HIP 37819	Inside the hull	3.61
15	ο Velorum	HIP 42536	Inside the hull	3.63
16	α Pyxidis	HIP 42828	Constellation lines	3.68
17	-	HIP 38414	Inside the hull	3.696
18	-	HIP 44511	Inside the hull	3.75
19	-	HIP 42570	Inside the hull	3.81
20	-	HIP 43023	Inside the hull	3.91
21	3 Pup	HIP 37677	Constellation lines	3.93
22	β Pyxidis	HIP 42515	Constellation lines	3.954
23	γ Pyxidis	HIP 43409	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.01
24	-	HIP 42884	Inside the hull	4.046
25	-	HIP 38164	Inside the hull	4.11
26	-	HIP 42312	Constellation lines	4.14
27	* gam01 Vel	HR 3206	Inside the hull	4.173
28	11 Pup	HIP 38835	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.184
29	-	HIP 38518	Inside the hull	4.24
30	-	HIP 40706	Inside the hull	4.4
31	V Pup	HIP 38957	Inside the hull	4.41
32	NS Pup	HIP 40091	Inside the hull	4.42
33	* k02 Pup	HIP 37229	Inside the hull	4.429
34	-	HIP 40326	Inside the hull	4.44
35	-	HIP 44191	Inside the hull	4.446
36	QZ Pup	HIP 38455	Inside the hull	4.474
37	ο Puppis	HIP 38070	Constellation lines	4.49
38	QW Pup	HIP 34834	Inside the hull	4.49
39	* f Pup	HIP 37096	Inside the hull	4.53
40	1 Pup	HIP 37648	Constellation lines	4.59
41	IC 2395	IC 2395	Inside the hull	4.6
42	-	HIP 45448	Inside the hull	4.62
43	-	HIP 36917	Constellation lines	4.63
44	-	HIP 38500	Inside the hull	4.63
45	-	HIP 36514	Inside the hull	4.65
46	PU Pup	HIP 37173	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.67
47	NV Pup	HIP 35363	Inside the hull	4.67
48	Q Pup	HIP 38089	Inside the hull	4.71
49	H Vel	HIP 43878	Inside the hull	4.723
50	-	HIP 40096	Inside the hull	4.75
51	-	HIP 35020	Inside the hull	4.76
52	MX Pup	HIP 40274	Inside the hull	4.77
53	-	HIP 42624	Inside the hull	4.77
54	χ Pup	HIP 38901	Inside the hull	4.79
55	-	HIP 40945	Inside the hull	4.8
56	HY Vel	HIP 42726	Inside the hull	4.815
57	* B Vel	HIP 41039	Inside the hull	4.82
58	A Pup	HIP 34495	Inside the hull	4.83
59	-	HIP 37297	Inside the hull	4.84
60	ζ Pyxidis	HIP 42483	Inside the hull	4.872
61	OU Pup	HIP 34899	Inside the hull	4.874
62	-	HIP 36942	Inside the hull	4.92
63	H Pup	HIP 34059	Inside the hull	4.925
64	-	HIP 43347	Inside the hull	4.935
65	-	HIP 45439	Inside the hull	4.94
66	-	HIP 33357	Inside the hull	4.95
67	GX Vel	HIP 45085	Inside the hull	5
68	-	HIP 35226	Inside the hull	5.009
69	-	HIP 42088	Inside the hull	5.01
70	-	HIP 39690	Inside the hull	5.021
71	-	HIP 31765	Inside the hull	5.03
72	-	HIP 37606	Inside the hull	5.04
73	N Pup	HIP 38872	Inside the hull	5.064
74	OS Pup	HIP 40321	Inside the hull	5.064
75	-	HIP 38010	Inside the hull	5.068
76	GU Vel	HIP 41483	Inside the hull	5.073
77	-	HIP 36114	Inside the hull	5.081
78	-	HIP 34670	Inside the hull	5.09
79	-	HIP 45505	Inside the hull	5.094
80	L2 Puppis	HIP 34922	Inside the hull	5.1
81	NW Pup	HIP 35406	Inside the hull	5.11
82	12 Pup	HIP 39023	Inside the hull	5.11
83	KX Vel	HIP 43413	Inside the hull	5.11
84	* 212 Pup A	HIP 38423	Inside the hull	5.12
85	MZ Pup	HIP 39487	Inside the hull	5.12
86	O Pup	HIP 38917	Inside the hull	5.123
87	NO Vel	HIP 40285	Inside the hull	5.127
88	-	HIP 32765	Inside the hull	5.14
89	FZ Vel	HIP 44093	Inside the hull	5.146
90	-	HIP 41639	Inside the hull	5.15
91	-	HIP 33779	Inside the hull	5.151
92	-	HIP 42834	Inside the hull	5.16
93	-	HIP 37664	Inside the hull	5.17
94	-	HIP 41296	Inside the hull	5.17
95	-	HIP 40943	Inside the hull	5.176
96	-	HIP 39961	Inside the hull	5.183
97	C Pup	HIP 34081	Inside the hull	5.19
98	-	HR 3359	Inside the hull	5.19
99	NZ Vel	HIP 42504	Inside the hull	5.19
100	-	HIP 43352	Inside the hull	5.194
101	-	HIP 38020	Inside the hull	5.208
102	IS Vel	HIP 39970	Inside the hull	5.217
103	NY Vel	HIP 42540	Inside the hull	5.22
104	-	HIP 39061	Inside the hull	5.224
105	LN Vel	HIP 42679	Inside the hull	5.227
106	F Pup	HIP 35393	Inside the hull	5.243
107	-	HIP 45344	Inside the hull	5.25
108	-	HIP 45631	Inside the hull	5.254
109	-	HIP 34065	Inside the hull	5.28
110	-	HIP 35957	Inside the hull	5.28
111	-	HIP 43671	Inside the hull	5.302
112	-	HIP 45544	Inside the hull	5.304
113	E Pup	HIP 34802	Inside the hull	5.31
114	-	HIP 38146	Inside the hull	5.313
115	-	HIP 38846	Inside the hull	5.346
116	171 G. Pup	HIP 37853	Inside the hull	5.362
117	-	HIP 35589	Inside the hull	5.367
118	-	HIP 32494	Inside the hull	5.379
119	-	HIP 35855	Inside the hull	5.39
120	-	HIP 37450	Inside the hull	5.393
121	-	HIP 36363	Inside the hull	5.395
122	-	HIP 38497	Inside the hull	5.418
123	-	HIP 41323	Inside the hull	5.42
124	NO CMa	HIP 35795	Inside the hull	5.43
125	-	HIP 42459	Inside the hull	5.439
126	OW Pup	HIP 36778	Inside the hull	5.44
127	OP Vel	HIP 43082	Inside the hull	5.459
128	-	HIP 38593	Inside the hull	5.463
129	-	HIP 43325	Inside the hull	5.465
130	HX Vel	HIP 42712	Inside the hull	5.468
131	KT Vel	HIP 42715	Inside the hull	5.474
132	V336 Pup	HIP 39360	Inside the hull	5.497
133	-	HIP 39566	Inside the hull	5.509
134	-	HIP 40282	Inside the hull	5.514
135	* 33 Vel A	HIP 41616	Inside the hull	5.535
136	-	HIP 44299	Inside the hull	5.541
137	-	HIP 36258	Inside the hull	5.542
138	-	HR 3605	Inside the hull	5.57
139	-	HIP 45924	Inside the hull	5.572
140	-	HIP 31079	Inside the hull	5.573
141	-	HIP 40678	Inside the hull	5.578
142	-	HIP 37623	Inside the hull	5.585
143	-	HIP 38200	Inside the hull	5.585
144	-	HIP 41723	Inside the hull	5.588
145	V390 Pup	HIP 37751	Inside the hull	5.6
146	-	HIP 42535	Inside the hull	5.61
147	-	HIP 35181	Inside the hull	5.622
148	-	HIP 37590	Constellation lines	5.628
149	-	HIP 42564	Inside the hull	5.648
150	NN Vel	HIP 39919	Inside the hull	5.654
151	MY Pup	HIP 37174	Inside the hull	5.658
152	-	HIP 37043	Inside the hull	5.68
153	V372 Car	HIP 38438	Inside the hull	5.68
154	PR Pup	HIP 35029	Inside the hull	5.715
155	-	HIP 42923	Inside the hull	5.722
156	-	HIP 45962	Inside the hull	5.729
157	XY Pyx	HIP 41515	Inside the hull	5.73
158	-	HIP 37329	Inside the hull	5.747
159	-	HIP 43148	Inside the hull	5.748
160	AH Vel	HIP 40155	Inside the hull	5.76
161	-	HIP 32402	Inside the hull	5.761
162	-	HIP 40344	Inside the hull	5.765
163	-	HIP 36362	Inside the hull	5.768
164	-	HIP 45122	Inside the hull	5.769
165	-	HIP 36848	Constellation lines	5.77
166	-	HIP 37322	Inside the hull	5.77
167	-	HIP 42177	Inside the hull	5.782
168	D Pup	HIP 34339	Inside the hull	5.783
169	-	HIP 37710	Inside the hull	5.784
170	-	HIP 35202	Inside the hull	5.797
171	-	HIP 37223	Inside the hull	5.8
172	NGC 2477	NGC 2477	Inside the hull	5.8
173	QS Pup	HIP 38159	Inside the hull	5.805
174	-	HIP 40077	Inside the hull	5.806
175	-	HIP 43603	Inside the hull	5.806
176	-	HIP 39380	Inside the hull	5.808
177	-	HIP 40357	Inside the hull	5.836
178	M Pup	HIP 35347	Inside the hull	5.839
179	-	HIP 41621	Inside the hull	5.84
180	-	HIP 39184	Inside the hull	5.846
181	-	HIP 45314	Inside the hull	5.85
182	-	HIP 45386	Inside the hull	5.85
183	-	HIP 36444	Inside the hull	5.863
184	-	HIP 43370	Inside the hull	5.867
185	V392 Pup	HIP 37915	Inside the hull	5.869
186	-	HIP 37752	Inside the hull	5.87
187	-	HIP 44024	Inside the hull	5.876
188	-	HIP 42614	Inside the hull	5.879
189	-	HIP 41074	Inside the hull	5.883
190	-	HIP 36143	Inside the hull	5.884
191	-	HIP 41081	Inside the hull	5.887
192	-	HIP 43589	Inside the hull	5.889
193	-	HIP 39251	Inside the hull	5.893
194	Cl Pismis 4	Cl Pismis 4	Inside the hull	5.9
195	-	HIP 38267	Inside the hull	5.907
196	-	HIP 42001	Inside the hull	5.908
197	-	HIP 45270	Inside the hull	5.92
198	LR Vel	HIP 45675	Inside the hull	5.93
199	V397 Pup	HIP 38167	Inside the hull	5.936
200	-	HIP 35054	Inside the hull	5.942
201	-	HIP 39527	Inside the hull	5.943
202	-	HIP 42147	Inside the hull	5.944
203	-	HIP 35084	Inside the hull	5.947
204	-	HIP 34349	Inside the hull	5.952
205	-	HIP 35564	Inside the hull	5.953
206	-	HIP 39014	Inside the hull	5.963
207	-	HIP 41674	Inside the hull	5.969
208	NAME HD 79416AB	HIP 45189	Inside the hull	5.98
209	V468 Pup	HIP 37345	Inside the hull	5.996
210	-	HIP 39122	Inside the hull	5.996
211	-	HIP 43392	Inside the hull	6
212	-	HIP 45127	Inside the hull	6.002
213	-	HIP 37823	Inside the hull	6.012
214	-	HIP 40324	Inside the hull	6.014
215	V438 Pup	HIP 41250	Inside the hull	6.02
216	-	HIP 41861	Inside the hull	6.021
217	-	HIP 45814	Inside the hull	6.027
218	-	HR 3386	Inside the hull	6.03
219	QU Pup	HIP 38370	Inside the hull	6.032
220	-	HIP 45481	Inside the hull	6.04
221	-	HIP 41373	Inside the hull	6.041
222	V390 Car	HIP 37248	Inside the hull	6.044
223	-	HIP 46114	Inside the hull	6.049
224	-	HR 2726	Inside the hull	6.055
225	-	HIP 40341	Inside the hull	6.06
226	-	HIP 38845	Inside the hull	6.075
227	IU Vel	HIP 44213	Inside the hull	6.08
228	-	HIP 34253	Inside the hull	6.083
229	-	HIP 46093	Inside the hull	6.086
230	-	HIP 36807	Inside the hull	6.095
231	NGC 2669	NGC 2669	Inside the hull	6.1
232	PY Pup	HIP 39153	Inside the hull	6.107
233	V461 Car	HIP 39225	Inside the hull	6.111
234	-	HIP 42455	Inside the hull	6.114
235	-	HIP 38635	Inside the hull	6.12
236	-	HIP 40485	Inside the hull	6.132
237	T Pup	HIP 38074	Inside the hull	6.14
238	-	HIP 39617	Inside the hull	6.141
239	-	HIP 40947	Inside the hull	6.143
240	MX Vel	HIP 39584	Inside the hull	6.159
241	-	HIP 43394	Inside the hull	6.168
242	-	HIP 31265	Inside the hull	6.172
243	-	HIP 46067	Inside the hull	6.188
244	-	HIP 46297	Inside the hull	6.19
245	-	HIP 37202	Inside the hull	6.191
246	-	HIP 43073	Inside the hull	6.194
247	-	HIP 39920	Inside the hull	6.209
248	-	HIP 38879	Inside the hull	6.215
249	-	HIP 33590	Inside the hull	6.22
250	-	HIP 45002	Inside the hull	6.22
251	-	HIP 41986	Inside the hull	6.221
252	-	HIP 44367	Inside the hull	6.238
253	-	HR 3234	Inside the hull	6.24
254	V376 Pup	HIP 36728	Inside the hull	6.247
255	-	HIP 39035	Inside the hull	6.25
256	-	HIP 33139	Inside the hull	6.26
257	-	HIP 39038	Inside the hull	6.26
258	-	HIP 43807	Inside the hull	6.26
259	-	HIP 46045	Inside the hull	6.264
260	-	HIP 43195	Inside the hull	6.266
261	-	HIP 45242	Inside the hull	6.267
262	NP Pup	HIP 33189	Inside the hull	6.27
263	-	HIP 39420	Inside the hull	6.271
264	-	HIP 36856	Inside the hull	6.28
265	-	HIP 41737	Inside the hull	6.29
266	-	HIP 45259	Inside the hull	6.296
267	-	HIP 35893	Inside the hull	6.297
268	-	HIP 36045	Inside the hull	6.297
269	-	HIP 35463	Inside the hull	6.3
270	Cl Bochum 15	Cl Bochum 15	Inside the hull	6.3
271	NGC 2546	NGC 2546	Inside the hull	6.3
272	-	HIP 40183	Inside the hull	6.31
273	-	HIP 38183	Inside the hull	6.313
274	-	HIP 37939	Inside the hull	6.315
275	-	HIP 39691	Inside the hull	6.317
276	-	HIP 45603	Inside the hull	6.319
277	V436 Pup	HIP 41107	Inside the hull	6.32
278	OX Pup	HIP 37982	Inside the hull	6.322
279	AI Pyx	HIP 43114	Inside the hull	6.324
280	-	HIP 38355	Inside the hull	6.33
281	-	HIP 41449	Inside the hull	6.331
282	-	HIP 41813	Inside the hull	6.333
283	-	HIP 39299	Inside the hull	6.335
284	PQ Pup	HIP 39866	Inside the hull	6.339
285	-	HIP 36657	Inside the hull	6.346
286	-	HIP 43520	Inside the hull	6.35
287	-	HIP 41941	Inside the hull	6.354
288	-	HIP 38667	Inside the hull	6.356
289	-	HIP 43177	Inside the hull	6.36
290	-	HIP 37128	Inside the hull	6.362
291	VX Pyx	HIP 41939	Inside the hull	6.366
292	HZ Vel	HIP 43354	Inside the hull	6.368
293	-	HIP 36345	Inside the hull	6.37
294	GK Vel	HIP 46194	Inside the hull	6.371
295	-	HIP 41781	Inside the hull	6.373
296	-	HIP 40291	Inside the hull	6.377
297	-	HIP 44423	Inside the hull	6.377
298	-	HIP 41926	Inside the hull	6.38
299	-	HIP 42070	Inside the hull	6.38
300	-	HIP 40220	Inside the hull	6.39
301	-	HIP 37666	Inside the hull	6.4
302	PX Pup	HIP 38792	Inside the hull	6.4
303	-	HIP 39514	Inside the hull	6.4
304	-	HIP 32918	Inside the hull	6.404
305	-	HIP 37461	Inside the hull	6.406
306	-	HIP 43590	Inside the hull	6.409
307	-	HR 3251	Inside the hull	6.41
308	-	HIP 42071	Inside the hull	6.41
309	-	HIP 42775	Inside the hull	6.411
310	-	HIP 40433	Inside the hull	6.418
311	-	HIP 42075	Inside the hull	6.42
312	-	HIP 43209	Inside the hull	6.42
313	-	HIP 40656	Inside the hull	6.422
314	-	HIP 38686	Inside the hull	6.43
315	-	HIP 33909	Inside the hull	6.431
316	-	HIP 42123	Inside the hull	6.431
317	-	HIP 42400	Inside the hull	6.431
318	-	HIP 38963	Inside the hull	6.432
319	-	HIP 40397	Inside the hull	6.437
320	-	HIP 40787	Inside the hull	6.437
321	-	HIP 44509	Inside the hull	6.438
322	-	HIP 40063	Inside the hull	6.44
323	-	HIP 40749	Inside the hull	6.44
324	V469 Car	HIP 41644	Inside the hull	6.44
325	-	HD 57853	Inside the hull	6.443
326	-	HIP 40016	Inside the hull	6.447
327	-	HIP 43673	Inside the hull	6.447
328	-	HIP 34177	Inside the hull	6.449
329	-	HIP 37996	Inside the hull	6.45
330	-	HIP 38292	Inside the hull	6.457
331	-	HIP 33015	Inside the hull	6.46
332	-	HIP 38925	Inside the hull	6.46
333	-	HIP 41970	Inside the hull	6.461
334	-	HIP 43573	Inside the hull	6.463
335	-	HIP 40160	Inside the hull	6.47
336	-	HIP 40299	Inside the hull	6.476
337	-	HIP 44979	Inside the hull	6.476
338	-	HIP 43528	Inside the hull	6.478
339	-	HIP 38316	Inside the hull	6.48
340	-	HIP 41806	Inside the hull	6.48
341	-	HIP 41905	Inside the hull	6.481
342	-	HIP 37293	Inside the hull	6.485
343	NO Puppis	HIP 41361	Inside the hull	6.49
344	-	HIP 41426	Inside the hull	6.49
345	AK Pyx	HIP 43215	Inside the hull	6.49
346	-	HIP 42302	Inside the hull	6.499
347	NGC 2527	NGC 2527	Inside the hull	6.5
348	-	HIP 36837	Constellation lines (Vertex)	6.65
349	-	HIP 37611	Constellation lines	6.93
350	-	HIP 36987	Constellation lines	7
351	-	HIP 37389	Constellation lines	7.8
352	-	HIP 37270	Constellation lines	8.26

Transformation Images

• 
  Argo stickfigure according to the Almagest (published in Stellarium 2021)
• 
  Argo stickfigure according to the Almagest and drawing from the contemporary Farnese marble Globe (both published in Stellarium 2021).
• 
  Argo as drawn on the Farnese Globe (Stellarium 2021).
• 
  Argo in the Leiden Aratea (published in Stellarium 2022)
• 
  Argo early modern stick figure (here first published)
• 
  Argo drawn in Bayer (1603)
• 
  Argo drawn by Doppelmayr (1742)
• 
  Argo drawn by Bode (1782)
• 
  Argo in Fortin's Atlas Céleste, 3rd edition (1795).

Splitting Argo up into three constellations

In 1755, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided Argo into the three modern constellations that occupy much of the same area: Carina (the keel), Puppis (the poop deck or stern), and Vela (the sails).

In his 1768 Coelum Australe Stelliferum, Lacaille divided the more than 160 stars in the constellation into the regions Argûs in carina (Carina, the keel), Argûs in puppi (Puppis, the stern), and Argûs in velis (Vela, the sails).

Mythology

According to legend, the king's son Jason, accompanied by numerous other Greek heroes, set sail for Colchis, a region between the Caucasus and the Black Sea. From Thessaly in northern Greece, he chose his companions and made preparations for the journey, while a shipbuilder named Argos constructed the ship that was named after him. Argos went on board for the maiden voyage, and Jason's Argonauts to Colchis also included the twins Castor and Polydeuces (Latin: Pollux) and the musician Orpheus.

Their task was to capture the Golden Fleece of the flying and talking ram Chrysomeles. To do this, they sailed through the Isthmus, which until then had been reputed to be impassable for ships. The rocks on its shores are said to have moved whenever a ship approached them. The Argonauts outwitted the rocks with a trick by sending a dove ahead. The bird managed to escape the rocks, which then stopped shaking and allowed the Argo to pass.

The Argo is considered the first seaworthy ship. This can be reconciled with the legend by the fact that attempts had previously been made to cross the isthmus with river boats, which apparently failed.

The Argo then sailed across the Black Sea, reached Colchis, where Jason captured not only the Golden Fleece but also the king's daughter, and then continued on to new adventures for the Argonauts. After numerous other heroic deeds, the ship was initially erected as a monument. The elderly Jason then visited the rotting ship and lay down to rest in the wreck. As part of the mast broke off and killed him, he found his final resting place here. The remains of the ship were then placed in the sky by Poseidon.

Since the Greek Argo myth, like the Babylonian constellation Ship and Noah's Ark, also goes back to a Sumerian flood myth, it is worth mentioning what this ark might have looked like. A cuneiform text was discovered in the British Museum in London that describes in great detail the appearance of this monstrous ship that saved the animal world. In the mid-2010s, the media reported on the reconstruction of this huge round river boat. This shape (without sails and mast) impressively proves that the Argo really only has the mythological background in common with the ark and neither its shape nor its place in the sky.

References

• References (general)
• References (early modern)
• Ian Ridpath's website (Argo, Argo_2)