Ursa Minor

UMi star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).

One of the 88 IAU constellations.

Etymology and History

The Greek constellation ...

Origin of Constellation

Greco-Roman

Eratosthenes

Var. 1 This is the one known as ‘the Little Bear’, and commonly known as ‘Phoinikè’ (the Phoenician). Artemis had esteemed her, but as she did not know that it was Zeus who had raped her, she made her wild. It is said that later Artemis, once the young girl was out of danger, increased her glory by placing a second figure among the constellations so that she was doubly honoured. Aglaosthenes , in his Naxica, says that this was Kynosoura, who nursed Zeus and was one of the nymphs of Ida. Her name is also found in the city called Histoi, founded by Nicostratus and his companions: the name Kynosoura refers to the port of this city and to a locality overlooking the town. Aratos, for his part, calls it ‘Hélikè’ (Spiral), and says that she was from Crete; she nursed Zeus, and for this she obtained the privilege of being honoured in heaven. The Little Dipper has a shining star on each corner of the quadrilateral and three bright ones on the tail. In all, there are seven. Below the second of those which lead the movement the movement towards the west, there is another star placed called the Pole, and we get the impression that the whole universe revolves around it.

Var. 2: The Little Dipper is commonly known as ‘Phoinikè’ (the Phoenician). Artemis held her in high esteem, due to the adventures we recounted earlier but as she didn't know that it was Zeus who had raped her, she turned her into a wild beast. It is said later Artemis, having understood what had happened, placed a second figure among the constellations to highlight her constellations, so that she would be doubly honoured. Aglaosthenes, in his Naxica, says that the figure in question was Kynosoura, who nursed Zeus and was one of the nymphs of Ida. And we find her name in the city called Histoi, founded by Nicostratus and his companions: the name of Kynosoura is that of the port of this city and of a place overlooking the city. The nymph came with the Telchines, who were the servants of Rhea, like the Couretes and the Dactyls of Ida. Aratos, for his part, calls her ‘Hélikè’ (Spiral), and says that she was from Crete; she nursed Zeus, and to which she owes its honour in the heavens. The Little Dipper has a shining star on each corner of the quadrilateral and three bright stars on its tail.

The equation of the Bear with a Wagon is a reminiscence of the unification of various astronomy cultures: the wagons are Mesopotamian names while the bears have a Mediterranean origin.

Almagest άρκτος μεκρά

id	Greek (Heiberg 1898)	English (Toomer 1984)	ident.
	Ἄρκτου μικρᾶς ἀστερισμός.
1	ὁ ἐπ’ ἄκρας τῆς οὐρᾶς.	The star on the end of the tail	alf UMi
2	ὁ μετ’ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς οὐρᾶς.	The one next to it on the tail	del UMi
3	ὁ μετ’ αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς ἐκφύσεως τῆς οὐρᾶς.	The one next to that, before the place where the tail joins [the body]	eps UMi
4	τῆς προηγουμένης τοῦ πλιυθύου πλευρᾶς ὁ φότιος	The southernmost of the stars in the advance side of the rectangle	zet UMi
5	τῆς αὐτῆς πλευρᾶς ὁ βόρειος	The northernmost of [those in] the same side	eta UMi
6	τῶν ἐν τῇ ἐπομένῃ πλευρᾷ ὁ νότιος	The southern star in the rear side	beta UMi
	τῆς αὐτῆς πλευρᾶς ὁ βόρειος	The northern one in the same side	gam UMi
	ἀστέρερ ξ, ὥν β’ μεγέθους β, γα, δ’ ὅ.	7 stars, 2 of the second magnitude, 1 of the third, 4 of the fourth
	ὁ περὶ αὐτὴν ἀμόρφωτος	Nearby star outside the constellation:
	ὁ τοῖς ἐν τῇ ἐπομένῃ πλευρᾷ ἐπ’ εὐθεύας καὶ νοτιώτερος	The star lying on a straight line with the stars in the rear side [of the rectangle] and south of them	5 UMi
	ἀστὴρ ἂ μεγέδους δ’	1 star of the fourth magnitude

References

• References (general)
• References (Babylonian)
• References (ancient Greco-Roman)
• References (medieval)