Gemini
One of the 88 IAU constellations.
Etymology and History
The Greek constellation ...
Origin of Constellation
Babylonian
Greco-Roman
Aratos
Eratosthenes
Hipparchus
Hyginus, Astronomica
These stars many astronomers have called Castor and Pollux. They say that of all brothers they were the most affectionate, not striving in rivalry for the leadership, nor acting without previous consultation. As a reward for their services of friendship, Jupiter is thought to have put them in the sky as well-known stars. Neptune, with like intention, has rewarded them for he gave them horses to ride, and power to aid shipwrecked men.
Others have called them Hercules and Apollo; some, even Triptolemus, whom we mentioned before, and Iasion, beloved of Ceres — both carried to the stars.
Those who speak of Castor and Pollux add this information, that Castor was slain in the town of Aphidnae, at the time when the Lacedemonians were fighting the Athenians. Others say that when Lynceus and Idas were attacking Sparta, he perished there. Homer states that Pollux granted to his brother one half of his life, so that they shine on alternate days. (Mary Ward 1960)
Geminos
Almagest Δίδυμοι
| id | Greek (Heiberg 1898) | English (Toomer 1984) | ident. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Διδύμων ἀστερισμός | |||
| 1 | ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ ἠγουμένου Διδύμου | The star an the head of the advance twin | alf Gem |
| 2 | ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου ὑπόκιρρος. | The reddish star on the head of the rear twin | bet Gem |
| 3 | ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀριστερῷ πήχει τοῦ ἠγουμένου Διδύμου. | Thc star in the lcft forearm of the advance twin | tet Gem |
| 4 | ὁ ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ βραχύουι. | Thc star in the same [left] upper arm | tau Gem |
| 5 | ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῷ καὶ κατὰ τοῦ μεταφρένου. | The one to the rear of that, just over the place between the shoulders | iot Gem |
| 6 | ὁ τούτῳ ἑπόμενος ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ὤμου τοῦ αὐτοῦ Διδύμου, | The one to the rear of this, an the right shoulder ofthe same [ advance] twin | ups Gem |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐπομένου ὤμου τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου | The star on the rear shouldcr of the rear twin | kap Gem | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ πλευροῦ τοῦ προηγουμένου Διδύμου. | The star on the right side of the advance twin | 57 Gem | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ πλευροῦ τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου. | The star on the left side of the rear twin | 58 Gem | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ γόνατος τοῦ ἠγουμένου Διδύμου. | The star on the left knee of the advance twin | eps Gem | |
| ὁ ὑπὸ τὸ ἀριστερὸν γόνυ τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου. | The star under the left knee of the rear twin | zet Gem | |
| ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀριστερῷ βουβῶνι τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου. | The star in the left groin of the rear twin | del Gem | |
| ὁ ὑπὲρ τὴν δεξιὰν ἀγκύλην τοῦ αὐτοῦ Διδύμου. | The star over the bend in the right knee of the same [rear] twin | lam Gem | |
| ὁ ὑπὲρ τὴν δεξιὰν ἀγκύλην τοῦ αὐτοῦ Διδύμου. | The star on the forward foot of the advance twin | eta Gem | |
| ὁ τούτῳ ἐπόμενος ἐπὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ ποδός. | The one to the rear of this on the same foot | mu Gem | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ἀκρόποδος τοῦ ἠγουμένου Διδύμου. | The star on the right foot of the advance twin | nu Gem | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ἀκρόποδος τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου. | The star on the left foot of the rear twin | gam Gem | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ἀκρόποδος τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου. | The star an the right foot of the rear twin | xi Gem | |
| ἀστέρες τη, ὥν β’ μεγέθους β, γ’ ἓ, δ’ ὅ, ε’ β. | |||
| Οἱ περὶ τοὺς Διδύμους ἀμόρφωτοι. | Stars araund Gemini outside the constellation: | ||
| ὁ προηγούμενος τοῦ πρόποδος τοῦ ἠγουμένου Διδύμου | The star in advance of the forward foot of the advance twin | 1 Gem | |
| ὁ προηγούμενος τοῦ ἠγουμένου γόνατος λαμπρός | The bright star in advance of the advance knee. | kap Aur | |
| ὁ προηγούμενος τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ γόνατος τοῦ ἐπομένοου Διδύμου. | The star in advance of the left knee of the rear twin | 36 Gem | |
| τῶν ἐπομένων τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρὶ τοῦ ἐπομένου Διδύμου, τριῶν ἐπ’ εὐθείας ὁ βόρειος. | The northernmost of the three stars in a straight line to the rear of the right arm of the rear twin | 85 Gem | |
| ὁ μέσος τῶν τριῶν. | The middle one of the three | 81 Gem | |
| ὁ νότιος αὐτῶν καὶ πρὸς τῷ πήχει τῆς χειρός! | The southernmost of them, near the forearm of the [right] arm | 74 Gem | |
| ὁ ἐπόμενος τοῦς προειρημένοις γ’ λαμπρός! | The bright star to the rear of the above-mentioned 3 | zet Gem | |
| ἀστέρες ξ, ὧν δ’ μεγέθους ἢ, ε' δ. | (7 stars, 3 of the fourth magnitude, 4-of the fifth} |
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
Gemini in Fortin's Atlas Céleste, 3rd edition (1795).
Mythology
Weblinks
References
