Constellation Myths

with Aratus's Phaenomena

Eratosthenes, Hyginus, and Aratus
Robin Hard

Oxford World's Classics

The only comprehensive compendium of the ancient myths of the stars and constellations, including the two main sources, Eratosthenes and Hyginus, together with Aratus' Phaenomena, the earliest surviving account of the Greek constellations.
A fascinating collection of mythological stories covering the constellations of the zodiac, the northern and southern skies, and the Milky Way.
Myths include the stories of Europa, Orion's pursuit of the Pleiades, the kneeling Heracles, Pegasus, Perseus and Andromeda, the golden ram, and many more.
Includes an introduction that explains the nature and origin of the myths, notes, an index, and maps of the northern and southern skies, picturing the constellations at the time when the texts were written.
Appendix includes extracts from Geminos, Introduction to the Phaenomena, a textbook on astronomy from the 1st century AD.

Constellation Myths

with Aratus's Phaenomena

Eratosthenes, Hyginus, and Aratus
Robin Hard

Description

'Athena seized the writhing serpent and hurled it into the sky, and fixed it to the very pole of the heavens.'

The constellations we recognize today were first mapped by the ancient Greeks, who arranged the stars into patterns for that purpose. In the third century BC Eratosthenes compiled a handbook of astral mythology in which the constellations were associated with figures from legend, and myths were provided to explain how each person, creature, or object came to be placed in the sky. Thus we can see Heracles killing the Dragon, and Perseus slaying the sea-monster to save Andromeda; Orion chases the seven maidens transformed by Zeus into the Pleiades, and Aries, the golden ram, is identified flying up to the heavens.

This translation brings together the later summaries from Eratosthenes' lost handbook with a guide to astronomy compiled by Hyginus, librarian to Augustus. Together with Aratus's astronomical poem the Phaenomena, these texts provide a complete collection of Greek astral myths; imaginative and picturesque, they also offer an intriguing insight into ancient science and culture.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Constellation Myths

with Aratus's Phaenomena

Eratosthenes, Hyginus, and Aratus
Robin Hard

Oxford World's Classics

Author Information

Eratosthenes, Hyginus, and Aratus

Robin Hard, Independent scholar

Robin Hard has translated Apollodorus' Library of Greek Mythology, Diogenes' Sayings and Anecdotes, Marcus Aurelius Meditations, and Epictetus Discourses, Fragments, Handbook for Oxford World's Classics. He is the author of the Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology (2004).