Cassiopeia in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Cassiopeia

6 passages from 4 ancient authors that tell of Cassiopeia, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Cassiopeia or Cassiepeia is the name given to several characters in Greek mythology. However, one is prevalent in the myths of ancient Greeks.Cassio... For the story in one place, read our article on Cassiopeia.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.663–801Perseus and AndromedaPerseus sees Andromeda, chained to a rock to be devoured by a sea-monster because her mother Cassiope boasted of her beauty. He strikes the monster from the air with his sword, kills it, and wins Andromeda, and her parents agree to the marriage. He lays the Gorgon's head on a bed of seaweed, which turns to coral, and sets up altars to Athena (Minerva), Hermes (Mercury) and Zeus (Jupiter). At the wedding feast he tells how Medusa won her serpent hair.

[Eratosthenes] (1)

[Eratosthenes], Catasterismi (Constellation Myths) 13–16The Charioteer, the Bull, Cepheus and CassiepeiaThe Charioteer is Erichthonius, born from Hephaestus's failed pursuit of Athena, and with him are the Goat and Kids of Zeus's infancy. The Bull is either Zeus's bull of Europa or an image of Io, and the Pleiad is explained from the Atlantid sisters. Cepheus and Cassiepeia belong to the story of Andromeda and the sea monster.

Aratus (2)

Aratus, Phaenomena 116–265Justice leaves the earth; Auriga, Andromeda and PerseusThe Maiden Justice leaves the earth as the Golden, Silver and Bronze Races succeed one another, and takes her place in the sky. Aratus then places the Twins, the Crab and the Lion, and describes Auriga with the Goat and the Kids, the Bull and the Hyades, and the family of Cepheus: Cepheus, Cassiepeia and Andromeda. He continues with the Horse and the spring Hippocrene, the Ram, the Deltoton and the Fishes, and with Perseus and the Pleiades, whose seven names are given.
Aratus, Phaenomena 571–737Risings and settings of the constellationsAratus tells which constellations set and which rise as each sign of the Zodiac rises, from the Crab to the Twins, among them Ophiuchus, Boötes, Orion, Cetus, Cepheus, Cassiepeia and Perseus. In explaining why Orion flees when the Scorpion rises, he tells how Orion offended Artemis in Chios and was killed by the Scorpion. The section ends by turning to the Moon's phases as a guide to the month.

Hyginus (2)

Hyginus, De astronomia 3.9.1–3.15.1Book 3: Cassiepia to the EagleThe next group describes Cassiepia, Andromeda, Perseus, the Charioteer, Ophiuchus with his Serpent, the Arrow and the Eagle. Hyginus defends Aratus's word for Perseus against those who took it to mean that the hero was dusty.
Hyginus, De astronomia 2.9.1–2.13.7Book 2: Cepheus, Cassiepia, Andromeda, Perseus and the CharioteerThe family of Andromeda and Perseus, rescued from the sea monster, is placed among the stars in four short chapters, with the story of Perseus and the Gorgons. The Charioteer is Erichthonius, born of Hephaestus's desire for Athena, and the chapter ends with the Goat and the Kids, Amalthea and the aegis.