[Eratosthenes] · Catasterismi (Constellation Myths) Καταστερισμοί

[Eratosthenes], Catasterismi (Constellation Myths) 9–12: The Virgin, the Twins, the Crab and the Lion

Justice leaves the earth when human beings turn unjust and becomes the Virgin, though others identify her with Demeter, Isis, Atargatis or Fortune. The Dioscuri are set in the sky for their brotherly love. The Crab that bit Heracles carries the Asses and the Manger from the war against the Giants, and the Lion is the beast he strangled at Nemea.

Sections 9–12 · 808 words · click a number to copy its link

IX. Παρθένου

Ταύτην Ἡσίοδος ἐν Θεογονίᾳ εἴρηκε θυγατέρα Διὸς καὶ Θέμιδος, καλεῖσθαι δὲ αὐτὴν Δίκην· λέγει δὲ καὶ Ἄρατος παρὰ τούτου λαβὼν τὴν ἱστορίαν ὡς οὖσα πρότερον ἀθάνατος καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς σὺν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἦν καὶ ὅτι Δίκην αὐτὴν ἐκάλουν· μεταστάντων δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ μηκέτι τὸ δίκαιον συντηρούντων, οὐκέτι σὺν αὐτοῖς ἦν, ἀλλ’ εἰς τὰ ὄρη ὑπεχώρει· εἶτα στάσεων καὶ πολέμων αὐτοῖς ὄντων [διὰ] τὴν παντελῆ αὐτῶν ἀδικίαν ἀπομισήσασαν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνελθεῖν. λέγονται δὲ καὶ ἕτεροι λόγοι περὶ αὐτῆς πλεῖστοι· οἱ μὲν γὰρ αὐτὴν φασιν εἶναι Δήμητραν διὰ τὸ ἔχειν στάχυν, οἱ δὲ Ἶσιν, οἱ δὲ Ἀταργάτιν, οἱ δὲ Τύχην, διὸ καὶ ἀκέφαλον αὐτὴν σχηματίζουσιν.

Ἔχει δὲ ἀστέρας ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αʹ ἀμαυρόν, ⟨ἐφ’⟩ ἑκατέρῳ ὤμῳ αʹ, ⟨ἐν⟩ πτέρυγι ἑκατέρᾳ βʹ, ὁ δ’ ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ πτέρυγι ⟨μεταξὺ⟩ τοῦ τε ὤμου καὶ τοῦ ἄκρου τῆς πτέρυγος Προτρυγητὴρ καλεῖται, ⟨ἐπ’⟩ ἀγκῶνος ἑκατέρου αʹ, ⟨ἐπὶ⟩ χειρὸς ἄκρας ἑκατέρας αʹ, ὁ δ’ ἐπὶ τῆς εὐωνύμου λαμπρὸς καλεῖται Στάχυς, ἐπὶ τῆς πέζης τοῦ χιτῶνος ⟨ἀμαυροὺς ϛʹ⟩, * * * ἀμαυρὸν αʹ, ἐφ’ ἑκατέρου ποδὸς αʹ· οἱ πάντες κʹ.

9. Of the Virgin

Hesiod, in the Theogony, says that she is the daughter of Zeus and Themis, and that she is called Justice (Dike). Aratus, taking his account from him, says that she was formerly immortal and was on earth together with human beings, and that they called her Dike; but when they changed and no longer kept justice, she was no longer with them but withdrew to the mountains; then, when there were civil strife and wars among them, hating their complete injustice, she went up to the sky. Very many other accounts are given about her: some say that she is Demeter, because she has an ear of corn; others Isis, others Atargatis, others Fortune, which is why they represent her headless.

It has stars: on the head 1 faint one, ⟨on⟩ each shoulder 1, ⟨on⟩ each wing 2, and the one in the right wing ⟨between⟩ the shoulder and the tip of the wing is called Protrygetes ('Vintage-herald'); ⟨on⟩ each elbow 1, ⟨on⟩ the tip of each hand 1, and the bright one on the left hand is called Stachys (the Ear of Corn); on the hem of the tunic ⟨6 faint ones⟩, * * * 1 faint one, on each foot 1; 20 in all.

X. Διδύμων

Οὗτοι λέγονται Διόσκουροι εἶναι· ἐν δὲ τῇ Λακωνικῇ τραφέντες ἐπιφάνειαν ἔσχον, φιλαδελφίᾳ δὲ ὑπερήνεγκαν πάντας· οὔτε γὰρ περὶ ἀρχῆς οὔτε περὶ ἄλλου τινὸς ἤρισαν· μνήμην δὲ αὐτῶν Ζεὺς θέσθαι βουλόμενος τῆς κοινότητος, Διδύμους ὀνομάσας εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ ἀμφοτέρους ἔστησεν ἐν τοῖς ἄστροις.

Ἔχουσι δὲ ἀστέρας ὁ μὲν ἐποχούμενος τοῦ Καρκίνου ⟨ἐπὶ⟩ τῆς κεφαλῆς ⟨αʹ λαμπρόν, ἐπ’ ὤμου ἑκατέρου αʹ λαμπρόν, ἐπὶ δεξιοῦ ἀγκῶνος αʹ, ἐπὶ δεξιᾶς χειρὸς αʹ, ἐφ’⟩ ἑκατέρῳ γόνατι αʹ, ⟨ἐφ’⟩ ἑκατέρῳ ποδὶ αʹ, τοὺς πάντας θʹ⟩· ὁ δ’ ἐχόμενος ἔχει ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αʹ λαμπρόν, ⟨ἐπ’⟩ ἀριστερῷ ὤμῳ λαμπρὸν αʹ, ἐπὶ μαστῷ ἑκατέρῳ αʹ, ⟨ἐπ’⟩ ἀριστεροῦ ἀγκῶνος αʹ, ⟨ἐπ’⟩ ἄκρας χειρὸς αʹ, ⟨ἐπ’⟩ ἀριστερῷ γόνατι αʹ, ⟨ἐφ’⟩ ἑκατέρῳ ποδὶ αʹ, ὑπὸ τὸν ἀριστερὸν πόδα αʹ, ὃς καλεῖται Πρόπους· ⟨τοὺς πάντας ιʹ⟩.

10. Of the Twins

These are said to be the Dioscuri. Reared in Laconia they became famous, and they surpassed everyone in brotherly love: they quarrelled neither over rule nor over anything else. Zeus, wishing to establish a memorial of their fellowship, called them the Twins and set them both together among the stars.

They have stars: the one riding on the Crab, ⟨on⟩ the head ⟨1 bright one, on each shoulder 1 bright one, on the right elbow 1, on the right hand 1, on⟩ each knee 1, ⟨on⟩ each foot 1, ⟨9 in all⟩; the one next to him has on the head 1 bright one, ⟨on⟩ the left shoulder 1 bright one, on each breast 1, ⟨on⟩ the left elbow 1, ⟨on⟩ the tip of the hand 1, ⟨on⟩ the left knee 1, ⟨on⟩ each foot 1, below the left foot 1, which is called Propus ('Forefoot'); ⟨10 in all⟩.

XI. Καρκίνου

Οὗτος δοκεῖ ἐν τοῖς ἄστροις τεθῆναι δι’ Ἥραν, ὅτι μόνος Ἡρακλεῖ τῶν ἄλλων συμμαχούντων ὅτε τὴν ὕδραν ἀνῄρει, ἐκ τῆς λίμνης ἐκπηδήσας ἔδακεν αὐτοῦ τὸν πόδα, καθάπερ φησὶ Πανύασις ἐν Ἡρακλείᾳ· θυμωθεὶς δ’ ὁ Ἡρακλῆς δοκεῖ τῷ ποδὶ συνθλάσαι αὐτόν, ὅθεν μεγάλης τιμῆς τετύχηκε καταριθμούμενος ἐν τοῖς ιβʹ ζῳδίοις. Καλοῦνται δέ τινες αὐτῶν ἀστέρες Ὄνοι, οὓς Διόνυσος ἀνήγαγεν εἰς τὰ ἄστρα. ἔστι δὲ αὐτοῖς καὶ Φάτνη παράσημον· ἡ δὲ τούτων ἱστορία αὕτη· ὅτε ἐπὶ Γίγαντας ἐστρατεύοντο οἱ θεοί, λέγεται Διόνυσον καὶ Ἥφαιστον καὶ Σατύρους ἐπὶ ὄνων πορεύεσθαι· οὔπω δὲ ἑωραμένων αὐτοῖς τῶν Γιγάντων πλησίον ὄντες ὠγκήθησαν οἱ ὄνοι, οἱ δὲ Γίγαντες ἀκούσαντες τὴν φωνὴν ἔφυγον· διὸ ἐτιμήθησαν ἐν τῷ Καρκίνῳ εἶναι ἐπὶ δυσμάς.

Ἔχει δὲ ὁ Καρκίνος ἐπὶ τοῦ ὀστράκου ἀστέρας λαμπροὺς βʹ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ Ὄνοι· τὸ δὲ νεφελιόν ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῷ δρωμένη Φάτνη, παρ’ ᾗ δοκοῦσιν ἑστάναι· ἐπὶ τοῖς δεξιοῖς ποσὶν ἐφ’ ἑκάστῳ αʹ ἀμαυρόν, ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖς ἀριστεροῖς τοῦ πρώτου βʹ ἀμαυροὺς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ δευτέρου ⟨βʹ⟩, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ τρίτου ⟨αʹ⟩, ὁμοίως ἐπ’ ἄκρας τοῦ τετάρτου ⟨αʹ⟩, ἐπὶ τοῦ στόματος ⟨αʹ⟩ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς χηλῆς τῆς δεξιᾶς γʹ, ⟨ὁμοίους οὐ μεγάλους⟩, ὁμοίως ⟨οὐ⟩ μεγάλους ἐπὶ τῆς ἀριστερᾶς χηλῆς ⟨βʹ⟩· οἱ πάντες ιηʹ.

11. Of the Crab

This one is thought to have been placed among the stars on account of Hera: when Heracles was killing the Hydra, with the others fighting at his side, it alone sprang out of the marsh and bit his foot, as Panyassis says in the Heracleia. Heracles, in anger, is thought to have crushed it with his foot; hence it received great honour, being counted among the twelve signs of the zodiac. Some of its stars are called the Asses, whom Dionysus took up to the stars. It has also the Manger as a distinguishing mark; and the story of these is as follows. When the gods were campaigning against the Giants, Dionysus and Hephaestus and the Satyrs are said to have gone on asses; and when the Giants had not yet been seen by them, the asses, being near, brayed, and the Giants, hearing the voice, fled; wherefore they were honoured by being in the Crab, toward the setting.

The Crab has on the shell 2 bright stars; these are the Asses. The little cloud in it is shown as the Manger, beside which they are thought to stand. On the right feet, on each 1 faint one; on the left feet, on the first 2 faint ones, and on the second ⟨2⟩, and on the third ⟨1⟩, likewise on the tip of the fourth ⟨1⟩, on the mouth ⟨1⟩, and on the right claw 3, ⟨similar ones, not large⟩, similarly ⟨not⟩ large ones on the left claw ⟨2⟩; 18 in all.

XII. Λέοντος

Οὗτός ἐστι μὲν τῶν ἐπιφανῶν ἄστρων· δοκεῖ δ’ ὑπὸ Διὸς τιμηθῆναι τοῦτο τὸ ζῴδιον διὰ τὸ τῶν τετραπόδων ἡγεῖσθαι. τινὲς δέ φασιν ὅτι Ἡρακλέους πρῶτος ἆθλος ἦν εἰς τὸ μνημονευθῆναι· φιλοδόξων γὰρ μόνον τοῦτον οὐχ ὅπλοις ἀνεῖλεν, ἀλλὰ συμπλακεὶς ἀπέπνιξεν· λέγει δὲ περὶ αὐτοῦ Πείσανδρος ὁ Ῥόδιος· ὅθεν καὶ τὴν δορὰν αὐτοῦ ἔχειν, ὡς ἔνδοξον ἔργον πεποιηκώς. οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἐν τῇ Νεμέᾳ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ φονευθείς.

Ἔχει δὲ ἀστέρας ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς γʹ, ἐπὶ τοῦ στήθους ⟨αʹ, ὑπὸ τὸ στῆθος⟩ βʹ, ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ποδὸς λαμπρὸν αʹ, ἐπὶ μέσης ⟨τῆς κοιλίας⟩ αʹ, ὑπὸ τὴν κοιλίαν αʹ, ἐπὶ τοῦ ἰσχίου αʹ, ἐπὶ τοῦ ὀπισθίου γόνατος αʹ, ἐπὶ ποδὸς ἄκρου λαμπρὸν αʹ, ἐπὶ τοῦ τραχήλου βʹ, ἐπὶ τῆς ῥάχεως γʹ, ἐπὶ μέσης τῆς κέρκου αʹ, ἐπ’ ἄκρας λαμπρὸν αʹ, [ἐπὶ τῆς κοιλίας αʹ]· ⟨τοὺς πάντας ιθʹ⟩. ὁρῶνται δὲ καὶ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ἐν τριγώνῳ κατὰ τὴν κέρκον ἀμαυροὶ ἑπτά, οἳ καλοῦνται Πλόκαμος Βερενίκης Εὐεργέτιδος.

12. Of the Lion

This is among the conspicuous constellations. It is thought to have been honoured by Zeus, this sign of the zodiac, because it leads the four-footed animals. Some say that it was the first labour of Heracles to be remembered: for he killed this one alone of the glory-seeking [creatures] not with weapons but by grappling and strangling it. Peisander of Rhodes speaks of this, and says that this is why Heracles wears its skin, as a glorious deed performed. This is the one killed by him in Nemea.

It has stars: on the head 3, on the breast ⟨1, below the breast⟩ 2, on the right foot 1 bright one, on the middle of ⟨the belly⟩ 1, below the belly 1, on the hip 1, on the hind knee 1, on the tip of the foot 1 bright one, on the neck 2, on the spine 3, on the middle of the tail 1, on the tip 1 bright one, [on the belly 1]; ⟨19 in all⟩. Above it, in a triangle at the tail, seven faint stars are seen, which are called the Lock of Berenice Euergetis.

People and places in this passage

English translation by GreekMythology.com (2026). Original text: Alexander Olivieri (ed.), Pseudo-Eratosthenis Catasterismi, in Mythographi Graeci vol. III fasc. 1, Leipzig: Teubner, 1897.

Text layer: Greek text: public domain (Olivieri, 1897; our OCR correction of the Internet Archive scan mythographigrae00olivgoog). English translation © GreekMythology.com.. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.