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Constellation Myths
Unfortunately, the evidence about myth and ritual at Mycenaean and Minoan sites is entirely monumental, as the Linear B script (an ancient form of Greek found in both Crete and Greece) was mainly used to record inventories, though the names of gods and heroes have been doubtfully revealed. Cicero is also generally disdainful of myth, but, like Varro, he is emphatic in his support for the state religion and its institutions.
Aires
Aires is the first sign of the zodiac. In Greek mythology, the story of the Ram begins in Thessaly. The King of Thessaly had two children named Phrixus and Helle who were beaten by their stepmother. The god Hermes became angered by this and sent a ram to carry the two children to safety. Tragically, Helle lost her grip and tumbled from the ram into the narrow strip of water between Europe and Asia, which was named Hellespont in her honor. It is now the Dardanelles. Phrixus, on the other hand, arrived safely to the shores of the Black Sea where he sacrificed the ram and gave its fleece to a sleepless dragon for safe-keeping. Later, Jason and his intrepid Argonauts recovered the prized fleece and returned it to Thessaly .
Amphilochus
Amphilochus, the son of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle was asked by his father to avenge his father's forthcoming death along side his brother Alcmaeon. His ridiculous mother had been talked into making her husband, Amphiaraus take part in the Seven Against Thebes raid by Polynices, who offered the silly woman the necklace of Harmonia.
During the fated battle, Amphiaraus sought to flee from Poriclymenus, the son of Poseidon, who wanted to kill him, but Zeus threw his thunder and the earth opened, enveloping Amphiaraus together with his chariot.
The sons parted ways, Alcmaeon killed his mother and went into exile. Amphilochus evolved into a talented seer, finding many oracles, in particular the oracle of Apollo at Colophon.
Ares
Ares, the Greek god of war, was never trusted by Greeks because of his outright bloodlust and violent ways. He was typically vicious and merciless.
His half sister Athena was also a war goddess, but she based her attack on strategy, not pure violence.
Ares was born among the warring Thacians and returned there after his affair with Aphrodite was exposed. It is said he fathered Eros (Cupid) in this relationship.
Eros
Eros was often the focus of artists and poets in ancient times...but he had a lot of influence on god and goddesses as well. Stories abound about his interference in their lives. He's supposedly the son of Aphrodite and Ares..his more common name is Cupid. More than bein a heart throb himself, because he was a constant companion to his mother,
Aphrodite, he became pictured as a the cute, cuddly cherub - Cupid.
He linked up with Psyche..whose name means 'soul' and this became the beginning of how love and soul became permanently united.
Gemini
In classical Greek mythology, the stars in the constellation of Gemini were named Castor and Pollux, known collectively as the "Dioscuri" or "Sons of Zeus."
Although Leda was mother to both, the twins had different fathers. Pollux was the son of the chief Olympian God, Zeus, who had changed himself into a swan in order pursue the lovely Leda. Thus, Pollux was immortal. Castor was the son of Leda's husband, Tyndareus, King of Sparta, and thus destined to die.
According to legend, they were hatched from an egg and were were brothers to the beautiful Helen of Troy (over whom the Trojan War was fought) and also brothers to Clytemnestra, Queen of Mycenae.
Castor and Pollux were known to be well-educated, strong and daring, while remaining gentle individuals. They were celebrated as healers, physicians and protectors of humankind.
Castor and Pollux were also Argonauts, being among the crew who sailed with Jason in the Quest for the Golden Fleece. During that voyage, a fierce storm threatened the mission but abated as a pair of stars appeared over the heads of the twins. Since that time, seamen have called upon the brothers for protection from peril and the eerie
lightning phenomenon sometimes called Saint Elmo's Fire has long been regarded as the spirits of the twins playing in the sails. It is considered by sailors to be a most favorable omen.
Castor and Pollux were also counted among the number who fought at the Siege of Troy.
Castor (a horseman) and Pollux (a boxer) fell in love with beautiful sisters, daughters of Leudippus, who were already betrothed to suitors. According to the myth, these suitors, named Idas and Lynceus, were reputed cousins of Castor and Pollux by virtue of Poseidon, God of the Sea, who was rumored to be their father. The twins challenged Idas and
Lynceus in battle and slew their rivals, but Castor was mortally wounded by Idas in the process. Overcome with grief, Pollux wanted to commit suicide.
Leo
In Greek mythology,Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules during one of his twelve labours, and subsequently put into the sky. Leo contains many bright stars, such as Regulus, the lion's heart; Denebola and Leonis.
Libra
Greek Mythology Libra: A strange story, but here we go. It is the background of the blind prophet - Tiresias. He was a favorite of Hera and at a time when he still has his sight, he watched the coupling of a pair of snakes. He asked Hera, which had more pleasure - the male or the female. Hera couldn't answer so enabled Tiresias to spend some time as a female as well as male so he could compare.
On his return, Zeus was present when Tiresias made his report. He wanted to be diplomatic but when pressured by Zeus, he had to admit the female was the luckier one. Zeus was furious and blinded the prophet for his insult to masculinity.
Pisces
Pisces-Greek mythology tells of a powerful and menacing god, Typhon, who aimed to overthrow Zeus as king of the gods. Typhon managed to banish all of Zeus' community of gods to Egypt, where they lived in exile.
One day, Aphrodite and her son Eros were strolling along the riverbank when they sensed Typhon pursuing them. They quickly jumped into the Nile and transformed into fishes to escape, binding themselves together by a cord to ensure that they did not become lost. Zeus eventually overcame Typhon's threat, but Aphrodite and Eros continue to flee as
fish in the night sky.
The Greeks and their Roman predecessors also associated Pisces with Poseidon/Neptune, Tyche/Fortuna, Morpheus and Thor, and the constellation is said to have historical links to Helen of Troy and the Trojan War.
Thus every year the world retreats briefly into a cold and forbidding place, until the 21st of March, when Persephone is allowed to emerge from the Underworld, bringing Spring with her.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius The Archer Myth: Sagittarius is the Centaur Archer-Chiron. He was famous for his wisdom and healing abilities. Kings would send their young to him for education as he had great knowledge, being a cross between animal and man.
He was kind and caring and an excellent archer, musician, and physician, and tutored the likes of Achilles, Jason, and Hercules. Chiron was once accidentally shot with an arrow by Hercules. The arrow had been dipped in the poison of the Lernaean Hydra, and inflicted great suffering on Chiron--so great, in fact, that even the talented physician could not cure himself. But because of his wisdom, he had been granted the gift of immortality from the gods..and couldn't die either.
In order to find relief, he offered himself up as a substitute for Prometheus whom Zeus had punished for giving man fire. He was chained to a rock and each day an eagle would eat his liver out. It would regnerate every night and the whole horrible sequence would start over the next day.
Jupiter had agreed, at the request of Hercules to release Prometheus if a suitable substitute could be found. So Chiron replaced Prometheus and for his goodness, Jupiter placed him in the sky...the summer sky.
Taurus
Greek Mythology for Taurus - In another Greek myth, Taurus was one of a mighty pair of brazen-hooved bulls which could breathe fire and appeared to be untamable. These bulls were forged by Hephaistos, the lame Greek God of MetalWorkers, whose smithy lay beneath the crater of Mount Aetna in Sicily. In order to win the Golden Fleece, Jason of the Argonauts had to yoke the two bulls without aid from any other party.
Perhaps the most well-known Greek myth, however, is the one which tells of a white bull who was none other than the great God Zeus himself in disguise. This particular legend relates how Zeus became enamored with Europa, daughter of King Agenor of Tyre (a city in Phoenica) and his queen, Telephassa. Knowing that his appearance would both dazzle and terrify the lovely young maiden, Zeus cloaked himself as a white bull with horns of mother-of-pearl and a silver moon emblazoned upon his forelock. While Europa was playing one day by the waters edge, she saw a majestic bull grazing amid her father's herd. Upon approaching the animal, it knelt down before her and allowed the girl to climb upon its back. Once she had mounted, it sprang to its feet and rode the waves across the sea to Crete. There, Zeus made the beautiful Europa his mistress, informing her that all the land she could see from the island now belonged to her. This land became known as the Continent of Europe.
Europa eventually bore Zeus three sons...Minos (the future King of Crete), Rhadamanthys (who later became one of the Three Judges of the Dead) and Sarpendon (who founded the Greek city of Miletus in Asia Minor). The image of the bull was later placed into the heavens by Zeus, where the animal now roams the lush, heavenly pastures of late Spring and is extremely protective of the cows and calves in his herd.
Underworld
Underworld Greek Mythology - The mortals who passed, both good and bad, went onto the Underworld. Once there, the spirits awaited judgment. Their fate depended on their bravery and justice in life. Those who had offended the gods might anticipate suffering, but a person's goodness was rewarded with an afterlife of happiness.Unlike a Judeo-Christian concept of the afterlife, time passed in the Underworld, and the dead and living could communicate. Rules there were made, it seemed, to be broken. Many myths were set in the Underworld: the living tried to rescue the dead from their fate, or the gods sent the living there to retrieve an object. From these myths we can learn the layout of the Underworld as well as its rulers and guardians.
Virgo
Myth of Virgo The Virgin: Astrea was daughter Zeus and Temis, being because one titánide and personifying next to its mother to justice. According to other sources, she was daughter of Astreo and Eos.
She was also the last immortal that lived between the humans during the golden Era of Cronos, leaving the Earth last in the Era of the bronze. Zeus raised her to the sky, locating it by near constellation Libra.
Constellation Myths
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