Myths about Constellations

After the tragic death of Phaethon, who fell into the river Eridanos while driving the chariot of the sun, his devoted friend King Cygnus of Liguria was consumed by grief. Cygnus spent his days diving into the river to recover Phaethon’s remains, leading the gods to transform him into a swan so he could continue his search in the water. This myth explains the origin of the swan’s graceful yet...

Orion, a giant hunter of unmatched skill, sought the hand of Merope on the island of Chios but was blinded by her father, King Oenopion, after a drunken transgression. Following the restoration of his sight by the sun god Helios, Orion's growing arrogance led him to boast that he could slay every wild beast on Earth. Offended by this hubris, the goddess Gaia sent a monstrous scorpion to kill...

Callisto, a devoted follower of the goddess Artemis, is seduced by Zeus and subsequently transformed into a bear by the jealous Hera. Years later, her son Arcas nearly kills her during a hunt, leading Zeus to place them both in the heavens as the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

To escape the murderous plot of their stepmother Ino, the royal children Phrixus and Helle were rescued by a divine Golden Ram sent by their mother Nephele. During their flight across the sea, Helle fell into the waters and drowned, giving the Hellespont its name, while Phrixus reached Colchis to secure the Golden Fleece.

Perseus, returning from his victory over the Gorgon Medusa, discovers the princess Andromeda chained to a coastal rock in Joppa as a sacrifice to a ravenous sea monster named Cetus. The monster was sent by Poseidon to punish the vanity of Andromeda's mother, Queen Cassiopeia. Perseus strikes a deal with King Cepheus to save the princess and, after a fierce aerial battle, slays the beast and...

After aiding Theseus in his quest to defeat the Minotaur, the Cretan princess Ariadne was left behind on the shores of Naxos. Despairing and alone, she was discovered by Dionysus, the god of wine and festivities, who fell in love with her. He rescued her from her isolation, making her his immortal bride and placing her jeweled crown among the stars as the constellation Corona Borealis.