Hyginus · De astronomia De astronomia (Astronomica)

Hyginus, De astronomia 4.11.1–4.12.12: Book 4: Why stars set later, and what rises with each sign

The first part explains why stars near the northern pole set later than those near the southern. The second goes through the twelve signs one by one, saying which other constellations rise and which are hidden as each sign rises.

Sections 4.11.1–4.12.12 · 1580 words · click a number to copy its link

XI.

Igitur uertente se mundo per utrosque polos et axem, quem supra dimensionem sphaerae diximus esse, et ita sphaera collocata, ut unus polus semper sit super terram, alter numquam exoriatur, necesse est Arctos quoque et reliqua corpora, quae sunt in arctico circulo, numquam occidere; reliqua autem omnia exoriri et occidere, quod inferiora sunt ab eo circulo, quem numquam occidere diximus. id enim posse fieri haec edocet causa. uidemus caput extremum Draconis, quod maxime Arcticon extra circulum prominet, quodam tempore ita occidere, ut exortus cum occasu permisceantur, ut et ante diximus. si autem pars aliqua occidere de summo circulo uidetur, necesse est omnia, quae sunt inferiora, exoriri et occidere. igitur conuenit nobis sidera uertente mundo occidere et exoriri.

XI. Inclination of the sphere: why some stars set later

Since the world turns through both poles and the axis, which we said above is the dimension of the sphere, and the sphere is so placed that one pole is always above the earth, the other never rises, the Bears too and the other bodies that are in the arctic circle must never set; but all the rest must rise and set, because they are lower than that circle which we said never sets. That this can happen this reason teaches. We see the extreme head of the Dragon, which projects most beyond the arctic circle, at a certain time set in such a way that rising and setting are mingled, as we said before. If, however, some part is seen to set from the top of the circle, all that are lower must rise and set. So it is fitting for us that the stars, the world turning, set and rise.

Praeterea hac inclinatione caeli, cum unus circulus ita sit erectus, ut numquam occidat, alter ita sit terrae subiectus, ut numquam exoriatur: quicumque circuli fuerint in sphaera, hoc est ab aequinoctiali ad polum, qui boreus appellatur, nullus erit eorum, qui non maiorem partem circumductionis habeat supra terram. qui autem ab aequinoctiali fuerint circulo ad eum polum, qui notius appellatur, omnes inferiorem partem maiorem habebunt quam superiorem. et quanto magis ad polum notium accesserint, hoc maiorem partem sub terra habere perspicientur; et quanto magis ad boreum finem uenerint, hoc maiorem partem circuli supra terram tenere uidebuntur. quo enim erectior ipse polus fuerit, hoc magis et circuli eius erectiores uidebuntur. quod cum ita sit, si duo sidera simul fuerint orta, unum ab arctico, alterum ab antarctico circulo, serius occidet id sidus, quod ab arctico circulo fuerit exortum; ideo quod maiorem habet circumductionem sphaerae, quam quod a notio polo est ortum. si autem simul occiderint, serius exorietur id signum, quod ab antarctico fuerit exortum; ideo quod tota illa collocatio mundi maiorem partem habet sub terra, quam illa pars, quae in boreo polo est finita. et non modo signa quae sunt ad arcticon finem collocata, praestant iis corporibus, aut serius occidunt et ante exoriuntur, quam ea quae notio polo depinximus; sed ipsa quoque corpora inter se dissentiunt, ut si quod inferius sit signum, et id cum superiore exoriatur, tamen serius occidat. e contrario itaque si qua sunt signa ab aequinoctiali circulo ad notium polum figurata, horum si qua signa pariter exorta fuerint, citius occident quam ea, quae proxime polum accedunt. euenit etiam, ut non modo quae simul sint exorta sidera, ex his serius occidant, quae proxime arcticum circulum sunt collocata, sed etiam si qua eorum ante exorta fuerint, quae sunt ad notium polum finita, tamen ante occidant quam ea corpora, quae in boreo polo figurata esse supra demonstrauimus, ideo quod maiore circumductione sphaerae utuntur ea corpora, quae ab aequinoctiali circulo ad arcticum finem sunt constituta.

Moreover, with this inclination of the heaven, since one circle is so upright that it never sets, and another so subject to the earth that it never rises: whatever circles there are in the sphere, that is, from the equinoctial to the pole called boreus, there will be none of them that does not have the greater part of its circuit above the earth. But those which are from the equinoctial circle to the pole called notius will all have the lower part greater than the upper. And the more they approach the south pole, the greater part they will be seen to have under the earth; and the more they come toward the northern end, the greater part of the circle they will be seen to hold above the earth. For the more upright the pole itself is, the more upright its circles also will appear. Since this is so, if two stars have risen at the same time, one from the arctic circle, the other from the antarctic, the star that has risen from the arctic circle will set later; because it has a greater circuit of the sphere than the one that rose from the south pole. If, however, they set at the same time, the sign that has risen from the antarctic will rise later; because that whole arrangement of the world has the greater part under the earth, more than that part which is bounded at the north pole. And not only do the signs placed toward the arctic end excel in this those bodies, or set later and rise earlier, than those which we have depicted at the south pole; but the bodies themselves differ among themselves, so that if some sign is lower and rises with a higher one, it nevertheless sets later. On the contrary, therefore, if there are any signs figured from the equinoctial circle to the south pole, if any of these signs have risen equally, they will set sooner than those which come nearest the pole. It happens also that not only do those of the stars that have risen at the same time set later which are placed nearest the arctic circle, but also, if any of those bounded toward the south pole have risen earlier, they nevertheless set before those bodies which we showed above to be figured at the north pole, because those bodies use a greater circuit of the sphere that are set from the equinoctial circle to the arctic end.

Igitur ostendimus, qua inclinatione mundi sphaera sit constituta. nunc ad XII signa reuertamur, et quorum exortu quae de reliquis corporibus occidant aut oriantur, commemorabimus et nitium ab Ariete faciemus.

So we have shown with what inclination of the world the sphere is set. Now let us return to the twelve signs, and recall at whose rising which of the other bodies set or rise, and make a beginning from the Ram.

XII.

Arietis exortu sinistra pars Andromedae prouenire, Ara autem occidere uidetur. cum eodem sidere exoritur et Persei caput usque ad umbilicum, ut dubium uideatur, zona eius utrum usque extremo Ariete, an Tauro primum exoriente prodeat ad lucem.

XII. The risings of the twelve signs

At the rising of the Ram the left part of Andromeda is seen to come forth, and the Altar to set. With the same sign rises also the head of Perseus as far as the navel, so that it seems doubtful whether his belt comes forth into the light at the end of the Ram or when the Bull first rises.

Tauro autem exorto, quae prius dubia fuerunt, omnia sunt certa. nam et Ara supra memorata omnino occidit, et Perseus totus est exortus, et Aurigae caput cum reliquo corpore dumtaxat ad sinistrum pedem uidetur, et Pistrix a cauda exoriens perspicitur. hoc signo primum occidere Bootes uidetur, etsi cum IIII signis occidit. neque tamen totus ad terram potest peruenire; nam manus eius sinistra, circulo arctico conclusa, neque oritur neque occidit.

When the Bull has risen, what was before doubtful is all certain. For the Altar mentioned above has wholly set, and Perseus has wholly risen, and the head of the Charioteer with the rest of his body, at least as far as the left foot, is seen, and the Whale (Pistrix) is seen rising from the tail. At this sign Bootes is first seen to set, although he sets with four signs; yet he cannot wholly reach the earth; for his left hand, shut in by the arctic circle, neither rises nor sets.

Geminis exorientibus, tota iam Pistrix et fluminis Eridani prior pars apparet, et Orion exoriri uidetur. occidit autem Ophiuchus a pedibus genuum fine.

As the Twins rise, the whole Whale already, and the front part of the river Eridanus, appear, and Orion is seen to rise. Ophiuchus sets from the feet to the end of the knees.

Cancer exoriens obscurat dimidiam partem Coronae Pistricisque caudam, et notium piscem, et caput cum reliquo corpore ad umbilicum eius qui Engonasin uocatur; Ophiuchum a genibus ad humeros, et Anguem totum praeter caput et ceruicem, quae ex aestiuo circulo tendit ad Coronam. Booten prope totum terra tenet tectum. exoritur autem et Orionis corpus ad zonam et Eridanus totus apparet.

The rising Crab obscures half of the Crown and the tail of the Whale, and the Southern Fish, and the head with the rest of the body as far as the navel of the one called Engonasin; Ophiuchus from the knees to the shoulders, and the whole Serpent except the head and neck, which extends from the summer circle to the Crown. The earth holds Bootes almost wholly covered. There rises also the body of Orion as far as the belt, and Eridanus appears whole.

exortu Leonis reliqua pars occidit Coronae, cum capite et ceruicibus Anguis, et Ophiucho. Engonasin autem qui uocatur, eius praeter sinistrum genu et pedem nihil apparet, et Bootes totus obscuratur. exoritur autem caput Hydrae cum Lepore toto, et Procyon cum pedibus prioribus Canis maioris, et Aquila tota.

At the rising of the Lion the remaining part of the Crown sets, with the head and neck of the Serpent, and Ophiuchus. Of the one called Engonasin nothing appears except the left knee and foot, and Bootes is wholly obscured. There rises the head of the Hydra with the whole Hare, and Procyon with the front feet of the Greater Dog, and the whole Eagle.

Uirgo autem exoriens non pauca sidera obscurat. nam statim Lyra occidit cum Sagitta et Delphino, et Oloris a capite corpus ad caudam prope occidit, et Fluminis prior pars et Equi caput cum ceruicibus. exoritur autem Hydra fine Crateris, et Canis totus, et nauis Argo fine totius ueli.

The rising Virgin obscures not a few stars. For at once the Lyre sets, with the Arrow and the Dolphin, and the body of the Swan from the head to the tail almost sets, and the front part of the River and the head of the Horse with its neck. The Hydra rises as far as the end of the Cup, and the whole Dog, and the ship Argo as far as the end of the whole sail.

Chelis exorientibus, uidetur et Bootes exoriens totus, et tota nauis apparet Argo, Hydraque praeter acumen extremum caudae, quod est sub terra. exoritur etiam genu et sura eius dextra qui Engonasin uocatur. hunc eadem nocte occidere et exoriri licet uidere. reliquum autem corpus cum Scorpionis et Sagittarii prouenit parte. praeterea cum Chelis exoritur cauda Centauri; occidit reliquum corpus Pegasi, et Oloris extrema cauda, et Andromedae caput cum umbilico Pegasi, et Pistrix reliquo corpore ad ceruices, ut caput eius solum uideatur; et caput Cephei, pendens ad Pistricis occasum, cum manibus et humeris peruenit ad terram.

When the Claws rise, Bootes is seen rising whole, and the whole ship Argo appears, and the Hydra except the extreme point of the tail, which is under the earth. There rises also the knee and the right calf of the one called Engonasin; this one can be seen to set and to rise on the same night. The rest of his body comes forth with part of the Scorpion and the Archer. Besides, with the Claws rises the tail of the Centaur; the rest of the body of Pegasus sets, and the extreme tail of the Swan, and the head of Andromeda with the navel of Pegasus, and the Whale (Pistrix) with the rest of its body as far as the neck, so that its head only is seen; and the head of Cepheus, hanging at the setting of the Whale, comes to the earth with his hands and shoulders.

Scorpione exoriente, duae partes Fluminis occidunt, et reliquum corpus Andromedae cum capite Ceti. occidit etiam Cepheus capite ad humeros, quae pars est extra arcticum circulum constituta; obscuratur etiam Cassiepia, resupina occidens. exoritur autem Corona, quae ante Centauri pedes iacere existimatur, et reliquum corpus Hydrae, quod caudae reliquum esse supra diximus. prouenit etiam et corpus Centauri, quod equina figura uidetur, et ipsius hominis caput, et hostia, quam tenere supra diximus; denique et id corpus, qua fine pedes eius sunt priores. Ophiuchi autem dumtaxat caput exoritur, et ipsius Anguis caput, quod est contra Coronam.

As the Scorpion rises, two parts of the River set, and the rest of the body of Andromeda with the head of the Whale (Cetus). Cepheus also sets, from the head to the shoulders, which is the part that is placed outside the arctic circle; Cassiepia too is obscured, setting thrown back. There rises the Crown, which is thought to lie before the feet of the Centaur, and the remaining body of the Hydra, which we said above is the rest of the tail. There comes forth also the body of the Centaur, which appears in horse form, and the head of the man himself, and the victim, which we said above he holds; finally also that part of the body where his front feet are. Of Ophiuchus, however, only the head rises, and the head of the Serpent itself, which lies opposite the Crown.

Sagittarium exorientem Ophiuchus totus exoriens insequitur, et Anguis qui ab eo tenetur; caput eius qui Engonasin uocatur, et sinistra manus eiusdem; deinde Lyra tota cum Cephei capite et humeris exit ad lucem. occidit autem Canis maior cum Orione toto, et Lepore, et Aurigae superiore parte corporis, praeterea caput et pedes eius. occidit etiam totus Perseus praeter crus et pedem dextrum. Argo autem puppim solam relinquens, peruenit ad terram.

As the Archer rises, Ophiuchus follows, rising whole, and the Serpent that is held by him; the head of the one who is called Engonasin, and his left hand; then the Lyre, whole, with the head and shoulders of Cepheus, goes out into the light. There sets the Greater Dog with the whole of Orion, and the Hare, and the upper part of the body of the Charioteer, besides his head and feet. There sets also the whole of Perseus except the right leg and foot; Argo, leaving only her stern, reaches the earth.

Capricornus exoriens haec sidera ad terram premere uidetur: reliquam figuram Nauis et signum, quod Procyon uocatur. eodem tempore et reliquum corpus occidit Persei. exoritur autem Olor cum Aquila et Sagitta et Ara, quam proximam esse notio polo diximus.

The rising Capricorn is seen to press these stars to the earth: the remaining figure of the Ship, and the sign which is called Procyon. At the same time the remaining body of Perseus also sets. There rises the Swan with the Eagle and the Arrow and the Altar, which we said is nearest to the south pole.

Aquarius exoriens ad dimidiam partem corporis, Equi pedes secum de terra ducit, et caput cum ceruice Pegasi. at contra Centaurus a cauda ad humeros uirilis corporis occidit cum Hydrae capite et ceruicibus.

The rising Aquarius draws up with him from the earth the feet of the Horse, as far as half his body, and the head with the neck of Pegasus. But on the contrary the Centaur sets, from the tail to the shoulders of his man's body, with the head and neck of the Hydra.

Piscibus exorientibus, occidit reliquum Hydrae corpus, et ipse Centaurus; exoritur autem piscis, qui notius uocatur, et Andromedae dextra pars corporis.

At the rising of the Fishes the remaining body of the Hydra sets, and the Centaur himself; there rises the fish which is called Notius, and the right part of the body of Andromeda.

People and places in this passage

English translation by GreekMythology.com (2026). Original text: Bernhard Bunte (ed.), Hygini Astronomica, ex codicibus a se primum collatis recensuit, prolegomena, commentarius, excerpta ex codicibus, index, epimetron adiecit, Leipzig: T. O. Weigel, 1875.

Text layer: Latin text: public domain (Bunte, 1875; our OCR correction of the Internet Archive scan bub_gb_vjQAAAAAQAAJ). English translation © GreekMythology.com.. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.