The constellation Eridanus, in Greek mythology, is the representation of a great river, a river normally said to be the Eridanus, but also named by others as the River Nile. The smaller bear is represented by Ursa Minor.Ursa Major is the largest northern constellation and third largest constellation in the sky. One legend which has a particular association with Eridanus is that of Phaeton, son of Helios, the Sun God. As it was scaring the people below, Zeus threw fire bolts at the chariot to stop him. One of the largest constellations, Eridanus representing the shape of a river that stretches at the start of the constellation Orion deep into the southern sky. Located in the southern skies is the Eridanus constellation, one of the original 48 catalogued by Ptolemy and one of the 88 modern IAU constellations. Most of all we associate it with the story of Phaethon, and his disastrous attempt to guide his father's sun chariot across the sky. This act ended up burning both heaven and earth. Constellations: Eridanus -- The River claimed by Everyone : Myth This is a river claimed by virtually everyone, from the Po, to the Rhine, Rhône, Ebro, Radaune, Nile and Euphrates. To avoid the consequences, Zeus killed him with a thunderbolt. The long, winding, sprawling constellation Eridanus has been identified variously as the rivers Tigris, Euphrates, Po, Nile, Ebro, Rhine and Rhone, and Homer referred to it as an "Ocean Stream" which circled the earth. Key Data. Reluctantly Helios agreed to the request, but warned Phaethon of the dangers he was facing. Ursa Major constellation lies in the northern sky. These pages are the work of Cathy Bell cmbell (at) comfychair (dot) org originally for the Princeton University course CLA 212. Phaethon was the son of the Sun god Helios and the Oceanid Clymene. Constellation Eridanus Astrology Constellation Eridanus the River, is a southern constellation under constellation Taurus constellation, between Cetus and Orion. Eridanus, like the river it depicts, is a long winding constellation that starts in the northern sky near Rigel in Orion, before eventually winding its way far south close to Hydrus. Eridanus represents the celestial river. The path on which Phaeton drove is represented as the constellation Eridanus. As a constellation, Eridanus is the longest in the sky, meandering from Orion to Cetus. Back to the main myth page. Canis Major is commonly taken to represent the “greater dog” following the hunter Orion in Greek myth. It is associated with the story of Phaethon in Greek mythology. Its brightest stars form the Big Dipper asterism, one of the most recognizable shapes in the sky, also known as the Plough.
Phaethon was foolhardy enough to think he could drive the blazing chariot of his father, Helios the Sun god, across the sky. The myth of Phaeton, the son of the god Helios, is associated with the constellation Eridanus. The constellation is depicted as a dog standing on its hind legs, pursuing a hare, represented by the constellation Lepus. Its name means “the great bear,” or “the larger bear,” in Latin. Eridanus Mythology Eridanus, the riverwas where Phaethon fell into when he was knocked out of his chariot basket. One day, Phaeton took the reins of his father’s chariot but could not control it. Eridanus is one of the 48 constellations first identified by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. In Sanskrit, it is called srotaswini, which means “stream,” “current,” or “torrent.” The constellation is associated with the Greek myth of Phaëton and usually depicted as a river flowing from the waters poured by Aquarius. Constellation Eridanus Stars 15 ♓ 18 23 ♈ 16 02 ♉ 38 08 ♉ […] Sky Chart #: 6. Eridanus spans 90 degrees of the Zodiac in the Signs of Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Gemini, and contains 15 named fixed stars. The ancient Greeks identified Eridanus with rivers from both geography (e.g., the Nile and the Po) and mythology (the stream that flowed around the world).
The Myth Behind the Constellation Eridanus Eridanus is the river that the body of Phaethon fell into when he was struck down by a thunderbolt from Zeus. Phaethon had taken his father Helios' chariot and rode it across the skies both too high and too lower. Bordering Constellations: Eridanus is bordered by constellations Taurus, Cetus, Orion, Fornax, Lepus, Phoenix, Caelum, Hydrus, Tucana & Horologium.