CrB star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)

One of the 88 IAU constellations.

Etymology and History

The Greek constellation ...

Origin of Constellation

Babylonian

Greco-Roman

Aratos

[71] There too the famous Crown, which Dionysus established to be an illustrious memorial to the departed Ariadne, circles close to the back o f the labouring figure. (Kidd 1997)

Eratosthenes

Var. 1: It is said to be Ariadne's crown. Dionysus placed it among the constellations on the occasion of her wedding, which the gods were celebrating on the island called Dia. The bride had previously received it from the hands of the Seasons and Aphrodite, and had crowned herself with it. It was said to be the work of Hephaestus, and was made of flaming gold and precious stones from India. It is also said to have been used by Theseus to escape from the labyrinth, as it emitted light. It is also said that the hair visible under the Lion's tail is Ariadne's. The Crown has nine stars arranged in a circle. Among three of them are bright; these are the ones opposite the head the head of the Serpent that separates the two Bears.

Var. 2: It is said to be Ariadne's crown. Dionysus placed it among the constellations on the occasion of her wedding, which the gods were celebrating on the island called Dia, to show them her glory. The bride had previously received it from the hands of the Seasons and Aphrodite, and had crowned herself with it. The author of the History of Crete states that when Dionysus came to the house of Minos with the intention of seducing Ariadne, he gave her to him as a gift, and so she was enticed. It was said to be the work of Hephaestus, and was made of flaming gold and precious stones from India. It is said to have been used by Theseus to escape from the labyrinth, as it emitted light. It was then placed among the constellations as a sign of their engagement when he and Ariadne arrived in Naxos, with the consent of the gods. It is also said that the hair visible under the tail of the Lion is Ariadne's. The Crown has nine stars arranged in a circle. Among three of them are bright; these are the ones opposite the head the head of the Serpent that separates the two Bears. (Pamias and Zucker 2013)

Hipparchus

Hyginus, Astronomica

This is thought to be Ariadne's crown, placed by Father Liber among the constellations. For they say that when Ariadne wed Liber on the island of Dia, and all the gods gave her wedding gifts, she first received this crown as a gift from Venus and the Horae. But, as the author of the Cretica says, at the time when Liber came to Minos with the hope of lying with Ariadne, he gave her this crown as a present. Delighted with it, she did not refuse the terms. It is said, too, to have been made of gold and Indian gems, and by its aid Theseus is thought to have come from the gloom of the labyrinth to the day, for the gold and gems made a glow of light in the darkness.

But those who wrote the Argolica give the following reason. When Liber received permission from his father to bring back his mother Semele from the Lower World, and in seeking a place of descent had come to the land of the Argives, a certain Hypolipnus met him, a man worthy of that generation, who was to show the entrance to Liber in answer to his request. However, when Hypolipnus saw him, a mere boy in years, excelling all others in remarkable beauty of form, he asked from him the reward that could be given without loss. Liber, however, eager for his mother, swore that if he brought her back, he would do as he wished, on terms, though, that a god could swear to a shameless man. At this, Hypolipnus showed the entrance. So then, when Liber came to that place and was about to descend, he left the crown, which he had received as a gift from Venus, at that place which in consequence is called Stephanos, for he was unwilling to take it with him for fear the immortal gift of the gods would be contaminated by contact with the dead. When he brought his mother back unharmed, he is said to have placed the crown in the stars as an everlasting memorial.

Others say that this is the crown of Theseus, and for the following reason placed near him, for the constellation called the Kneeler is thought to be Theseus. We shall speak later about him. It is said that when Theseus came to Crete to Minos with seven maidens and six youths, Minos, inflamed by the beauty of one of the maidens, Eriboea by name, wished to lie with her. Theseus, as was fitting for a son of Neptune, and one able to strive against a tyrant for a girl's safety, refused to allow this. So when the dispute became one not about the girl but about the parentage of Theseus, whether he was the son of Neptune or not, Minos is said to have drawn a gold ring from his finger and cast it into the sea. He bade Theseus bring it back, if he wanted him to believe he was a son of Neptune; as for himself, he could easily show he was a son of Jove. So, invoking his father, he asked for some sign to prove he was his son, and straightway thunder and lightning gave token of assent. For a similar reason, Theseus, without any invoking of his father or obligation of an oath, cast himself into the sea. And at once a great swarm of dolphins, tumbling forward over the sea, led him through gently swelling waves to the Nereids. From them he brought back the ring of Minos and a crown, bright with many gems, from Thetis, which she had received at her wedding as a gift from Venus. Others say that the crown came from the wife of Neptune, and Theseus is said to have given it to Ariadne as a gift, when on account of his valor and courage she was given to him in marriage. After Ariadne's death, Liber placed it among the constellations. (Mary Ward 1960)

Geminos

Almagest Στέφανος

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

Mythology

Weblinks

References

• References (general)
• References (Babylonian)
• References (ancient Greco-Roman)
• References (medieval)