Idigna
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann
Idigna is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is the Sumerian name for the river Tigris. It is the name of the star π Psc (HIP 7535) in constellation Pisces.
Concordance, Etymology, History
The Sumerian term mul ídIDIGNA (𒀯𒀀𒇉𒈦𒄘𒃼) refers to the Tigris River and an asterism named after it. Lexical lists[1] in cuneiform equalise the asterism with the Mesopotamian constellation of mulAnunītu and the Akkadian river name Idiqlat.
The asterism IDIGNA refers to 'the eastern fish of Pisces,' which is securely identified from the description in uranology texts.[2] Together with the Euphrates' asterism (BURANUN), mulSIM.MAḪ = Šinūnūtu 'the Swallow,' it formed a super-constellation that corresponds to classical Pisces. These identifications make note of the fact that the shape of the courses of the Tigris and Euphrates north and south of central Babylonia, is similar to the V-shaped outline of Pisces.
The Tigris River maintained its strong cultural significance over centuries and so it was also independently reinvented as a constellation name in early modern times. The Dutch cartographer Petrus Plancius created it on his 1612 celestial map and frequently copied.
As Plancius did not write any documentation on his newly introduced constellations, we can only speculate about some likely biblical reference. Hints are given in his personal life as a clergyman, frequently persecuted because of his belief, and his biblical (geographical) maps (Plancius 1590), where the Jordan River is featured very similarly to the celestial illustration on his globe gores, and Tigris is depicted next to the Tree of Life in Eden.
Mythology
no mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name Tigris was suggested to the IAU WGSN in 2023, but Tigris is already and asteroid name. Furthermore, the ancient Mesopotamian constellation IDIGNA (which is much older than the Early Modern one), is in a different area of the sky.
The name Idigna, borrowed from the Mesopotamian constellation, was adopted by the IAU WGSN in 2026.
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