Cygnus
One of the 88 IAU constellations.
Etymology and History
The Greek constellation was originally named "The Bird" (ornithos).
Origin of Constellation
Babylonian
Greco-Roman
Aratus
[275] Yes, there is even a dappled Bird accompanying Zeus, hazy in some parts, while other parts on it bristle with stars, not very bright, though still not dim. Just like a bird in fair-weather flight, it glides on the breeze towards the horizon, stretching its right wing-tip in the direction of Cepheus’ right hand, [281] while close to its left wing lies the prancing Horse. (Kidd 1997)
Eratosthenes
Hipparchus
Hyginus, Astronomica
The sign the Greeks call the Swan, but others, out of ignorance of the story, have called it ornis, the general term for bird. This reason for the name has been handed down: When Jupiter, moved by desire, had begun to love Nemesis, and couldn't persuade her to lie with him, he relieved his passion by the following plan. He bade Venus, in the form of an eagle, pursue him; he, changed to a swan, as if in flight from the eagle, took refuge with Nemesis and lighted in her lap. Nemesis did not thrust him away, but holding him in her arms, fell into a deep sleep. While she slept, Jupiter embraced her, and then flew away. Because he was seen by men flying high in the sky, they said he was put in the stars. To make this really true, Jupiter put the swan flying and the eagle pursuing in the sky. But Nemesis, as if wedded to the tribe of birds, when her months were ended, bore an egg. Mercury took it away and carried it to Sparta and threw it in Leda's lap. From it sprang Helen, who excelled all other girls in beauty. Leda called her her own daughter. Others say that Jove, in the form of a swan, lay with Leda. We shall leave the matter undecided. (Mary Ward 1960)
Geminos
Almagest Ὅρνες (Bird).
| id | Greek (Heiberg 1898) | English (Toomer 1984) | ident. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ὅρυιθος ἀστερισμός. | Constellation of Cygnus | ||
| 1 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ στόματος. | The star on the beak | bet Cyg |
| 2 | ὁ τούτῳ ἐπόμενος καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς. | The one to the rear of this, on the head | phi Cyg |
| 3 | ὁ ἐν μέσῳ τῷ τραχήλῳ | The star in the middle of the neck | eta Cyg |
| 4 | ὁ ἐν τῷ στήθει | The star in the breast | gam Cyg |
| 5 | ὁ ἐν τῇ οὐρᾷ λαμπρός | The bright star in the tail | alf Cyg |
| 6 | ὁ ἐυ τῷ ἀγκῶνι τῆς δεξιᾶς πτέρυγος | The star in the bend of the right wing | del Cyg |
| 7 | τῶν ἐκ τῷ δεξιῷ ταρσῷ ἡ’ ὁ νότιος | The southernmost of the 3 in the right wing-feathers | tet Cyg |
| 8 | ὁ μέσος τῶν τριῶν | The middle one of the three | iot Cyg |
| 9 | ὁ βόρειος αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπ’ ἄκρου τοῦ ταρσοῦ | The northernmost of them, on the tip of the wing-feathers | kap Cyg |
| 10 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀγκῶνος τῆς ἀριστερᾶς πτέρυγος | The star on the bend of the left wing | eps Cyg |
| 11 | ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν μέσῃ τῇ αὐτῇ πτέρυγι | The star north of this, in the middle of the same wing | lam Cyg |
| 12 | ὁ ἐν ἄκρῳ τῷ ταρσῷ τῆς ἀριστερᾶς πτέρυγος | The star in the tip of the feathers of the left wing | zet Cyg |
| 13 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ποδός | The star on the left leg | nu Cyg |
| 14 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ γόρατος. | The star on the left knee | xi Cyg |
| 15 | τῶν ἐν τῷ δεξιῷ ποῦὶ β ὁ προηγούμευος | The more advanced of the 2 stars in the right leg | omi1 Cyg |
| 16 | ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν | The one to the rear | omi2 Cyg |
| 17 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ γόνατος νεφελοειδής. | The nebulous star on the right knee | ome Cyg |
| ὁ ἀστέρες ἰς, ὥν β’ μεγέθους α, γ’ ἔ, δ’ 3, ε’ β. | 17 stars, 1 of the second magnitude, 5 of the third, 9 of the fourth, 2 of the fifth | ||
| Οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν ἀμόρφωτοι. | Stars around [Cygnus] outside the constellation | ||
| 18 | τῶν ὑπὸ τὴν ἀριστερὰν πτέρυγα ᾑ ὁ νοτιώτερος. | The southernmost of the 2 stars under the left wing | tau Cyg |
| 19 | ὁ βορειότερος αὐτῶν | The northernmost of them | sig Cyg |
| ἀστέρες β μεγέθους ὀ΄. | 2 stars of the fourth magnitude |
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
Cygnus in Fortin's Atlas Céleste, 3rd edition (1795).
Mythology
Weblinks
References
