FROM MYTHOLOGY TO ASTRONOMY- THE STORY OF WHALE CONSTELLATION (CETUS AETHIOPIUS)

Abstract

The sky is divided into 88 zones known as constellations. Early astronomers likened the patterns of constellations to mythological heroes, heroines and beasts. The astronomers in Ancient Greece and Rome were also gained inspiration from tales while naming the constellations. One of these constellations is Cetus and it is the fourth largest constellation in the sky. Despite the fact that it is now called the Whale, it was named after Cetus, a huge sea monster in Greek mythology. In the myth, Cassiopeia, the arrogant wife of king Cepheus boasted that she (or her daughter Andromeda) was more beautiful than the Nereids, daughters of Nereus. When Poseidon heard this, he was so angry that he sent a sea monster to destroy the land. Trying to save the kingdom, Cepheus and Cassiopeia consulted the oracle of Ammon. She told them Andromeda had to be sacrificed to the monster to appease Poseidon. Hence the young princess was chained to a rock and left to be killed by the huge monster. The young princess was saved by Perseus who was flying by on the winged horse Pegasus. After he slew the monster, he married Andromeda. The couple had seven sons and one daughter. Besides this, the monster was placed among the constellations just as all the characters in the myth.

Our aim in this article is to study the myth of Cetus known as the Whale constellation as was narrated by Ancient Greek and Roman poets and authors. As a member of the Perseus family of constellations, Cetus is in the area of the sky that contains other water- related group of stars. They are Aquarius, Aries, Eridanus, Fornax, Pisces, Sculptor and Taurus.