The Golden Fleece saved Phrixus and Helle, the children of Athamas, from being sacrifice. Phrixus gave the Golden Fleece to Aeetes, king of the Colchians. The ram was later the object of the quest with Jason and the Argonauts. See the Argonauts and Athamas in the Aeolids. In the Egyptian myth, the constellation was associated with god Amon.

Aries is located on the celestial circle between the constellations of Pisces and Taurus. The brightest star in the constellation of Aries is Hamal.

In astrology, Aries is the 1st sign of the zodiac, and the period of the Aries is within March 21 and April 19. Fire is the element of Aries, and the planet Mars governed the sign.

The form that Zeus took when he carried off the Phoenician maiden Europa, the sister of Cadmus.

The constellation of Taurus is located between Aries and Gemini on the celestial circle. The brightest star in the constellation was Aldebaran. Other notable features of this constellation are the Crab Nebula (M1) and the loose cluster of stars known as the Pleiades (M45), of which Alycone is the brightest star of the Pleiades. In the myths, the Pleiades are associated with the giant hunter Orion, whose constellation is nearby.

In astrology, Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus, falls in between the period of April 20 and May 20. Earth is the element of Taurus, while the planet Venus influences this sign.

The Spartan heroes known as the Dioscuri were the twin sons of Zeus and Leda, and brothers of Helen of Troy. The brothers were named Castor and Polydeuces (Pollux). See the Dioscuri. However the constellation had also being associated with other twins in Rome, Romulus and Remus, the sons of the war-god Mars.

On the celestial circle, the constellation of Gemini is situated between Taurus and Cancer. The two brightest stars were called Castor (Alpha Geminorum) and Pollux (Polydeuces, also called Beta Geminorum). Castor is actually a binary star.

In astrology, Gemini is the 3rd zodiacal sign, and it falls within the period of May 21 and June 21. The element of Gemini is air, and the planet Mercury governed the Twins.

The giant crab that Hera sent against Heracles (Hercules), during in his 2nd labour when the hero had to kill the Hydra. Hera immortalised the crab as a constellation Cancer, after Heracles had killed the crab.

The constellation of Cancer is situated between Gemini and Leo in the celestial circle.

In astrology, Cancer is the 4th zodiacal sign and the period starts on June 22 and ends at July 22. The element of Cancer is water, and the Moon ruled the Crab.

This constellation was said to be the Nemean Lion, another beast that Heracles (Hercules) had killed, in his 1st labour.

The constellation of Leo lies between Cancer and Virgo constellations. Regulus was the brightest star in the Leo constellation (1st magnitude).

In astrology, Leo is the 5th sign of the zodiac, and the period begins on July 23 and ends on August 22. Fire is the element of Leo, while the Sun ruled this sign.

Normally, this constellation was probably Erigone, the daughter of Icarius (Boötes), and the owner of the dog Maera (the constellation of Canis Minor or the star Sirius). It was the god Dionysus who immortalised her, her father and the hound. (See Maera for the story in Mythical Creatures.)

Though other say the Virgin was Parthenos, the daughter of Apollo and Chrysothemis, who had died young, though not everyone agree with this. Other likely candidates were probably another Erigone, the daughter of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, or Dike (Justice), or Tyche (Fortune).

The constellation of Virgo is located between Leo and Libra. The brightest star in the Virgo constellation was Spica (1st magnitude).

In astrology, Virgo is the 6th zodiacal sign, and the period is within August 23 and September 22. The element of Virgo is earth, and the planet Mercury governed this sign.

Libra was the constellation of a balance or scale. Libra supposed to represent Astraea, the Roman goddess of divine justice. Or this scale could be Scale of Fates, where Jupiter measured the lives between two people, to see who was doomed to die, such as between Achilles and Hector; it was Hector who was killed that day.

Libra is located between the Virgo and Scorpio in the celestial circle. Zubenegenubi is a double star, was the brightest in this constellation.

In astrology, Libra is the 7th sign of the zodiac that begins on September 23 and ends on October 23. Air is the element of Libra, while the planet Venus ruled this sign.

According to Hesiod's Astronomy, Gaea (Earth) sent the giant scorpion to kill Orion, though the more popular myth says that Orion was killed by Artemis, either deliberate or an accident.

Scorpio or Scorpius is located between the constellations of Libra and Sagittarius in the celestial circle. The brightest star in the Scorpio constellation was Antares, which is a red star of the 1st magnitude.

In astrology, Scorpio is the 7th zodiacal sign and the period is between October 24 and November 21. The element of Scorpio is water, while the planet was Mars (but now it is Pluto) that governed the sign of the Scorpion.

This constellation was Crotus, the son of Pan and Eupheme, who was the nurse of the Muses. Zeus immortalised him as the constellation Sagittarius by the request of the Muses.

The Sagittarius is located between the constellations of Scorpio and Capricorn. Rukbat or Alpha Sagittarii (4th magnitude) is the brightest out of the eight stars that are visible. The Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20) can be found in the Sagittarius region.

In astrology, Sagittarius is the 9th sign of the zodiac, and the period begins on November 22 and ends on December 21. Sagittarius belongs to the element of fire, while the planet Jupiter ruled the sign of the Archer.

A goat-like being named Aegipan. I am not sure if this was just another name for Pan, or it was a magical she-goat. Aegipan escaped from the monster Typhon with the other gods, by transforming herself into a goat, with a tail and lower body of a fish. See also Typhon in the Creation page.

Capricorn resides between the constellations of Sagittarius and Aquarius. None of the stars are bright, but the brightest being Alpha Capricorni, which was only a 3rd magnitude.

In astrology, Capricorn is the 10th zodiacal sign and the period is between December 22 and January 19. Earth is the element of Capricorn, and the planet Saturn rules the sign.

The Water-carrier was Ganymede, the son of King Tros of Troy. Zeus had abducted the Trojan youth, because he fell in love with the boy. Ganymede served the gods as a cupbearer in Olympus.

The constellation of Aquarius is situated on the celestial circle between Capricorn and Pisces. The stars in the constellation were no brighter than the 3rd magnitude star, though it does contain a couple of globular clusters and a couple of planetary nebulae.

In astrology, Aquarius is the 11th sign of the zodiac and the period is between January 20 and February 18. Air is the element of Aquarius. The planet Uranus rules the sign, but originally it had been Saturn.

Aphrodite and Eros escaped from the monster Typhon by leaping into the sea and transforming themselves into fishes. The goddess was grateful of her escape, immortalised their forms as fishes, by placing them in the sky. See also Typhon in the Creation page.

Pisces is situated between the constellations of Aquarius and Aries. None of the stars are particularly bright, but the sun does passed through one of its star during the vernal equinox (previously, the sun had passed through Aries, during ancient time).

In astrology, Pisces is the 12th zodiacal sign and the period begins on February 20 and March 20. The Fishes belonged to the water element. Although the planet Neptune now rules Pisces, the original planet was Jupiter. Usually Pisces is depicted two fishes with a string tied to their tails.

Callisto (Καλλιστώ) was the daughter of Lycaon, who was transformed into a bear by either by Zeus (Jupiter), her lover, or by Zeus' jealous wife, Hera (Juno), or by Artemis (Diana), the goddess of the hunt. To prevent her son Arcas from killing the bear, Zeus placed her among the star as the Great Bear, known as Ursa Major. The Greeks called the constellation Arctos, which mean "she-bear". It was called Ursa by the Romans. There are several variations of the myth of the Great Bear, so see Callisto.

Another says that the constellations of the Great Bear and Lesser Bear (Ursa Minor) were Helice and Cynosura, the Cretan nurses of Zeus.

Though, the Roman writer Hyginus had also said that it was not a constellation of a bear at all, but a constellation of a Wagon called Plaustrum. Icarius, the father of Erigone, drove the Wagon (Plaustrum); he was immortalised as the constellation Boötes (Wagon-Driver). See Maera about Icarius and Maera.

The seven brightest stars of the Great Bear formed a different constellation which was also known through different names, such as the Wagon (Plaustrum), the Big Dipper, the Plow and Charles' Wain. The seven brightest stars in Ursa Major were grouped together, to look something like a giant ladle.

Cynosura (Κυπάρσουρα) was one of the nurses of Zeus in Crete, who was transformed into a constellation called Ursa Minor or the Lesser Bear. It was also known as the Little Dipper. See also Ursa Major.

The seven brightest stars formed a constellation, known as the Little Dipper within the Ursa Minor. The star at the end of the Little Bear was called Polaris, which marked the spot of north (celestial) pole. About three-quarter of Ursa Minor is surrounded by the long tail of Draco constellation (Dragon).

According to the myth about Callisto (Καλλιστώ), her son Arcas (Ἀρκάς) was immortalised in the sky, because his father was the god Zeus (Jupiter). Boötes was also known by another name – Arctophylax, which means Bear-warden. See Callisto.

The constellation Boötes was also called the Wagon-driver which represented Icarius, the father of Erigone and the master of the faithful hound, Maera. See Maera for the myth about Icarius and Erigone.

Arcturus was the brightest start in the constellation Boötes. Arcturus is also the third brightest star of the night sky.

Orion (Ὠρίωνα) was a giant, known for his skill as a hunter, who was either killed by a giant scorpion sent by Gaea (Earth), or else he was killed by an arrow of either Artemis or Apollo.

Other constellations associated with Orion constellation: the Canis Major (Great Dog), Canis Minor (Little Dog), Lepus (Hare) and Taurus (Bull). There also the Pleiades, a star cluster in Taurus region. Orion had pursued amorously the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. To save the Pleiades they were placed in the sky as seven stars (the brightest being Alycone, and Atlas and Pleione are also found near the cluster).

The constellation of Orion depicted him holding a club held high in one hand and a sword in the other. The Orion has a number of bright stars: Betelgeuse, Bellatrix and Melssa, for his shoulders and head; Salph and Rigel for his legs. He even looks like he is wearing a belt (Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka). Rigel is the brightest star in Orion, but it is only the 7th brightest star in the night sky; Betelgeuse being the 10th brightest. The Orion Nebula (M42) and the Horsehead Nebula (IC434) also found in the Orion region. Orion is situated below the constellation of Taurus, with the Lepus (Hare) at his feet.

The constellation is important to other civilisations. In Egypt, it was called Sah and the Orion has been identified with Osiris, the Egyptian god of the Netherworld and husband of Isis.

The constellation of the Dog had been attributed to several dogs that had appeared in classical myth.

The most famous of these dogs was Laelaps (Λαίλαπς). Several people had owned Laelaps. It was first given to Europa, which her son Minos would later inherit. Minos had given the hound to his mistress Procris, who then gave it to her husband Cephalus. Amphitryon borrowed the hound to hunt the Teumessian Vixen. To prevent the hound from catching the Vixen, Zeus changed both the hound and the fox into stone. The god then put Laelaps in the sky as Canis Major, and the fox as Vulpecula.

Some other sources say that it was Maera, the hound of Icarius, or that of the faithful hunting dog of Orion, the great giant hunter.

The eye of Canis Major was a bright star known as Sirius (Σἳρις, "Dog Star"), which was said to bring droughts or pestilences when it appeared from the horizon. The Egyptian called the star Sopdet, which the Greeks later called Sothis, because it is said to cause the annual flood in the Nile River. Sopdet or Sothis was a goddess associated with the Nile's annual innundation. Sopdet/Sothis was identified with the goddess Isis, wife of Osiris, who was identified with the constellation Orion. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, as well as being a binary star.

The constellation of the Lesser Dog was probably that belonging to Orion. Or it could be Maera (Μαἳρα), who was the hound of Icarius (Ἰκάριος). Maera howled in grief, over his master's death, before leaping off the cliff. See Maera.

The brightest star in Canis Minor was known as Procyon in Greek (as it is known today), while it was known to the Romans as Canicula. Procyon is the 8th brightest star in the night sky, and it is also a binary star.

Andromeda (Ἀνδρομέδη) was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia of Ethiopia. The hero Perseus rescued Andromeda from the sea-monster. Andromeda became Perseus' wife. The goddess Athena had placed Andromeda among the stars with Perseus and her parents. See Perseus. The constellation is situated between Perseus and Pegasus, and Pisces being the nearest zodiac constellation to Andromeda.

The most notable feature of this constellation is the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), which is the nearest galaxy to our Milky Way.

The constellation Equuleus was known as the Little Horse. The other horse constellation was Pegasus, which is west of the smaller constellation.

Equuleus was identified with Melanippe (Μελανίππη), the daughter of Cheiron and Chariclo. According to Hyginus, either, she was the lover of Aeolus, or he had raped her. Melanippe tried to hide her pregnancy from her father. When it was time to give birth, she fled from home and hid in the wood. Her father went searching for her. When she heard that he was approaching, she feared that he would kill her. Melanippe prayed to the gods, who transformed her into a mare, and later she was transported to the stars.

Ovid had called Cheiron's daughter as Ocyrrhoe, instead. Ocyrrhoe was transformed into the horse, because she was a prophetess. So gifted that she was in the prophecy that the gods feared she would reveal every secrets to mankind. This was the reason for her transformation.

The ancient name of this constellation was Engonasin, which means "Kneeler". Though we now called the constellation, Hercules (Heracles). Hyginus gave as many as eight representations of the Kneeler. Hercules is the modern name for this constellation.

It supposed to represent Heracles killing Ladon (Draco), the giant serpent of the Garden of Hesperides, in the 11th labour. Hyginus also says that it could be Heracles driving the Ligurian army back, during the 10th labour, where he was kneeling and hurling fistful-size stones at his enemies.

Hyginus also say that the Kneeler could be the hero Theseus. The young Theseus had to retrieve some objects under a large stone, left there by his father Aegeus.

Other possible candidates of the Kneeler, was the gifted bard Thamyris blinded by the Muses for challenging the goddesses in a contest. Thamyris was kneeling as suppliant, with constellation of the Lyre (Lyra) near him. Or it was Orpheus killed by the Thracian women. There are several other possible figures who could be the Kneeler: Ixion, Prometheus, or Ceteus, the son of Lycaon.

None of the stars are particularly bright in Hercules constellation. The brightest being the red supergiant, known as Ras Algethi, which is Arabic for the "Head of the Kneeler". Above Hercules is the constellation Draco, to the left of the constellation, is the Lyre. Below him, was the Ophiuchus (Serpent-holder), which Heracles was said to have used to kill a snake in Lycia, for Queen Omphale.

Some say that the constellation Draco was Ladon, the dragon that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides, in which some sources say that Heracles killed Ladon.

While others say that Draco was the dragon that guarded the sacred spring of Ares (Mars), but Cadmus slay the dragon when he founded his new kingdom – Thebes.

The classical writer had often called this constellation, the Serpent, instead of Draco. Though, this should not be confused with two flanking ends of the serpent (head and tail), known as the Serpens, with the constellation of Ophiuchus (Serpent-holder) in between.

Eltanin and Rastaban are the two brightest stars, at the head of the Draco. The long tail of Draco covered almost three-quarter of the Ursa Minor (Little Bear).

This is actually consisted of two constellations. The Serpen Caput or "Serpent's Head" and Serpens Cauda or "Tail of Serpent", was separated by the constellation of Ophiuchus (Serpent-holder).

The Serpens Cauda has an incredible Eagle Nebula (M16), particularly near the centre, where several clouds of gases looked like gaseous pillars.

The form that Zeus had assumed to abduct the Trojan youth Ganymede, a son of Tros. Zeus immortalised the eagle as the constellation Aquila. See Two Ruling Houses in the House of Troy. This is quite likely since the Aquila is near the zodiacal constellation of Aquarius, which meant to represent Ganymede.

While there is another tale about Hermes wanted to seduce Aphrodite, but was unable to achieve his desire. Taking pity on his son, Zeus sent an eagle to steal Aphrodite's slipper. The eagle dropped the slipper into Hermes' laps. Hermes agreed to return the slipper only if they became lovers. Hermes honoured the eagle by putting the eagle in the sky.

See Eagle in Mythical Creatures.

However, the Eagle had also been identified with Meropes of the island of Cos. His wife was killed by Artemis, when she had ceased to worship her. Hera took pity on Meropes and had transformed him into an eagle and put him in the sky as a constellation.

The brightest star in Aquila is Altair, and the other bright star is Tarazed, which is of magnitude 2.7.

Corvus was the constellation of the crow. It was probably the bird of Apollo. The crow was originally a white bird. Apollo had seduced a Thessalian princess, Coronis, who was pregnant with Asclepius. When the crow informed Apollo that Coronis had taken a mortal lover, Apollo turned the feathers of the crow to black, because of the crow's tattling. Apollo killed the lovers, but the god saved the unborn child (Asclepius). See Coronis and Asclepius.

There is another myth to Apollo's crow, which involved the constellation of the Crater or "Bowl". Apollo had sent the crow to fetch water with the drinking bowl. The crow, however, became distracted when it discovered ripe figs. Forgetting the god's command, the crow ate the figs from the tree for several days. When it returned to the god with bowl of water, Apollo punished the crow so that whenever figs were ripe, the crow couldn't drink any water. Apollo placed the crow and the bowl (as Crater) into the sky as constellations.

One of the myths on the Crater or the "Bowl" constellation was in connection with Apollo and his bird the Corvus or Crow, which became another constellation. See the above constellation about Corvus and the Crater.

Another tale, involved the nobleman named Mastusius from Thrace. His king, Demophon had learned from oracle that he can stop the plague by annually sacrificing a virgin. Sacrifice was performed each year by drawing lots. Mastusius refused to have his daughter in the draw, unless the king placed his own daughters in the draw. Angry with this declaration, Demophon had Mastusius' daughter sacrificed, without the drawing. Mastusius plotted revenge. One day, when Mastusius had invited the king to dinner, but the king had previous engagement had sent his daughters to his host. Mastusius murdered his king's daughters. Mastusius then later serving the king in a bowl of wine mixed with the blood of the Demophon's daughters. When Demophon discovered of his daughters' murder, he had Mastusius and the drinking bowl thrown off the cliff. The bowl was transported into the sky, as the constellation Crater.

When Poseidon wanted to make the sea goddess Amphitrite, his wife and consort, the goddess fled and hid herself from Poseidon. Delphinus (dolphin) persuaded Amphitrite to accept Poseidon as her husband. Poseidon awarded Delphinus by placing the constellation of the Dolphin in the night sky.

Another tale says that a dolphin was the one that saved the legendary poet Arion.

The constellation of the Centaur was possibly that of Cheiron (Χείρων), who was mortally wounded by the deadly poison of Heracles' arrow. Cheiron had given up his immortality to be relieved of his agony. If you were in Athens, you couldn't see the legs of the Centaurus.

The constellation is located south-east of the zodiacal Libra. Alpha Centauri is the brightest star in the constellation, as well as the fourth brightest in our night sky. However, Alpha Centauri is a triple star; these stars are listed as Alpha Centauri A, B and C. Alpha Centauri A and B act like a binary star, in which they circle around each other. The fainter Alpha Centauri C, which is also known as Proxima, circled around the two brighter stars. Alpha Centauri is also the nearest neighbouring star to our solar system.

Eridanus (Ἠριδανός) is the constellation of a river or of a river god, the son of Oceanus and Tethys. According to the myth, it was the river that Phaëthon that fell in, when he lost control of his father's chariot and Zeus had to use his thunderbolt to kill the youth. Phaëthon's sisters wept beside this river, where they were transformed into poplar trees. See Helius about Phaëthon. There is uncertainty of whether the Eridanus is located or that it exist at all.

Hyginus identified Eridanus with the Egyptian river, the Nile.

The constellation is found in the Southern Hemisphere, and the brightest star of Eridanus is called Achernar (Alpha Eridani), and it is the 9th brightest star in the sky.