Oph 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

The Crown is close to his back, but beside the top of his head observe the head of Ophiuchus, and from that you can identify the whole of Ophiuchus as clearly visible, [77] so bright are the brilliant shoulders that appear lying below his head: even in the light of the full moon these can be visible. But his hands are not equally bright; [80] for faint is the light that runs along this side and that; nevertheless even these are visible, for they are not dim. Both hands struggle to hold the Serpent that writhes round Ophiuchus’ waist. He constantly, with a good firm stance, tramples with both his feet the great monster [85] Scorpion, standing upright on its eye and its breast. But the Serpent writhes in his two hands, a short section in his right, while large and high it rises in the left.

(Kidd 1997)

Eratosthenes

Var. 1: This is the figure standing on Scorpius, with the snake in his hands. It is said that this is Asclepius, and that Zeus raised him among the constellations to please Apollo. Asclepius practised the medical art so well that he even brought the dead back to life, and the last person he resuscitated was Hippolytus [the son of Theseus]. As the gods were worried that the prodigies performed by Asclepius might lead to an end to the honours paid to them by men, it is said that Zeus, in a fit of anger, brought Asclepius back to life. Zeus, in anger, is said to have hurled his thunderbolt against the home of Asclepius; later, out of respect for Apollo, he raised Asclepius among the constellations. He is easily identified by his position, above the largest of the constellations, Scorpius, and his image is easily recognisable. The Snake Bearerhas a shining star on its head, one on each shoulder, three on the left arm, four on the right arm, one on each hip, one on each knee, one on the right calf and one on each foot, the brightest being the one on the right foot. Seventeen in all. The Snake has two stars on the tip of its head...

Var. 2: This is the figure standing on the Scorpion with a snake in his hands. Some astronomers claim that this is Asclepius and that Zeus, because he had struck him with lightning, decided to grant him this honour to please Apollo (because in the midst of men he used his medical knowledge to bring the dead back to life). Zeus, therefore, was angry and hurled his thunderbolt against his home; but, out of respect for Apollo, he raised Asclepius among the constellations. The Serpentarian has a shining star on his head, a shining one on each shoulder, three on the left arm, four on the right arm four on the right arm, one on each hip, one on each knee, one on the right calf, one on each foot. In all seventeen. (Pamias and Zucker 2013)

Hipparchus

Hyginus, Astronomica

Ophiuchus, who, by our writers, is called the Serpent-holder, is stationed above Scorpio, and holds in his hands a serpent which coils about his body.

Many have called him Carnabon, king of the Getae, who lived in Thrace. He came into power at the time when it is thought grain was first given to mortals. For when Ceres was distributing her bounties to men, she bade Triptolemus, whose nurse she had been, go around to all the nations and distribute grain, so that tCarnahey and their descendants might more easily rise above primitive ways of living. He went in a dragon car, and is said to have been the first to use one wheel, so as not to be delayed in his journey. When he came to the king of the Getae, whom we mentioned above, he was at first hospitably received. Later, not as a beneficent and innocent visitor, but as a most cruel foe, he was seized by treachery, and he who was ready to prolong the lives of others, almost lost his own life. For at the order of Carnabon one dragon was killed, so that Triptolemus might not hope his dragon car could save him when he realized an ambush was being prepared. But Ceres is said to have come there, and restored the stolen chariot to the youth, substituting another dragon, and punishing the king with no slight punishment for his malevolent attempt. For Hegesianax says that Ceres, for men's remembrance, pictures Carnabon among the stars, holding a dragon in his hands as if to kill it. He lived so painfully that he brought on himself a most welcome death.

Others point out that he is Hercules, killing in Lydia near the river Sagaris a snake which kept destroying many men and stripping the river banks of grain. In return for this deed, Omphale, the queen of that region, sent him back to Argos loaded with gifts, and because of his bravery he was placed by Jove among the constellations.

Some, too, have said that he is Triopas, king of the Thessalians, who, in trying to roof his own house, tore down the temple of Ceres, built by the men of old. When hunger was brought on him by Ceres for this deed, he could never afterward be satisfied by any amount of food. Last of all, toward the end of his life, when a snake was sent to plague him, he suffered many ills, and at last winning death, was put among the stars by the will of Ceres. And so the snake, coiling round him, still seems to inflict deserved and everlasting punishment.

Polyzelus the Rhodian, however, points out that this is Phorbas, who was of great assistance to the Rhodians. The citizens called their island, overrun by a great number of snakes, Ophiussa. In this multitude of beasts was a snake of immense size, which had killed many of them; and when the deserted land began finally to lack men, Phorbas, son of Triopas by Hiscilla, Myrmidon's daughter, when carried there by a storm, killed all the beasts, as well as that huge snake. Since he was especially favored by Apollo, he was put among the constellations, shown killing the snake for the sake of praise and commemoration. And so the Rhodians, as often as they go with their fleet rather far from their shores, make offerings first for the coming of Phorbas, that such a happening of unexpected valor should befall the citizens as the opportunity for glory which brought Phorbas, unconscious of future praise, to the stars.

Many astronomers have imagined that he is Aesculapius, whom Jupiter, for the sake of Apollo, put among the stars. For when Aesculapius was among men, he so fare excelled the rest in the art of medicine that it wasn't enough for him to have healed men's diseases unless he could also bring back the dead to life. He is said most recently, according to Eratosthenes to have restored to life Hippolytus who had been killed by the injustice of his stepmother and the ignorance of his father. Some have said that by his skill Glaucus, son of Minos, lived again. Because of this, as for a sin, Jove struck and burned his house with a thunderbolt, but because of his skill, and since Apollo was his father, put him among the constellations holding a snake.

Certain people have said that he holds the snake for the following reason. When he was commanded to restore Glaucus, and was confined in a secret prison, while meditating what he should do, staff in hand, a snake is said to have crept on to his staff. Distracted in mind, Aesculapius killed it, striking it again and again with his staff as it tried to flee. Later, it is said, another snake came there, bringing an herb in its mouth, and placed it on its head. When it had done this, both fled from the place. Where upon Aesculapius, using the same herb, brought Glaucus, too, back to life.

And so the snake is put in the guardianship of Aesculapius and among the stars as well. Following his example, his descendants passed the knowledge on to others, so that doctors make use of snakes. (Mary Ward 1960)

Geminos

Almagest Ὀφιοῦχος.

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

Mythology

Weblinks

References

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