Lupus

IAU Lupus chart (CC BY, IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine: Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)

One of the 88 modern IAU constellations. Lupus forms part of the super-constellation Centaurus-Lupus-Ara which mythologically belong together.

Etymology and History

The Greek constellation Θηρίον (Therion, i.e. 'the Beast') is in the same position as the Mesopotamian constellation UR.IDIM, the Mad Dog. The Mesopotamian constellation might depict a rabid dog or wolf: the wording is can refer to both. However, Greek mythology took over the Mesopotamian meaning of the constellation, an animal sacrificed to the gods. Together with Centaurus and Ara, Lupus forms a super-constellation.

Mythology

In Babylonian mythology, the centaur-like lion-man called Urmahlullu was considered a monster, a door keeper (Wiggerman 1992, 52), which makes this creature a protective spirit, a benevolent creature (cf. Krebernik in UR.IDIM).

The mythographers of antiquity do not agree on what is depicted here: Hyginus referred to the animal as simply ‘a victim’, while Germanicus Caesar said that the centaur was either carrying game from the woods, or was bringing gifts to the altar. On the marble globe of the Atlas Farnese, the centaur holds a sacrificial animal in his right hand, which he brings to the censer (Ara). Originally, the sacrificed creature was not specified, but it was called ‘the beast’. Only later was it renamed Lupus (Latin: The Wolf).

The association of the dead beast with a wine-skin, also recorded by Eratosthenes, appears as a logical consequence of the sacrificed animal, as the skin of slaughtered animals can be used as a drinking vessel. Some Saharan nomads still use this today. It is therefore clear that in Greek uranography the beast belongs to the centaur called ‘Cheiron’ who is regarded as the only wise centaur. He was the teacher of numerous Greek heroes, and his image in the sky also symbolizes cultivated behavior and religion as he sacrifices the beast on the altar.

Transformation of Images

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  Centaurus et Lupus on the ancient Roman Mainz Globe, drawing by SMH 2021.

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  Centaurus et Lupus on the ancient Greek Kugel Globe, drawing by SMH 2021.

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  Centaurus et Lupus on the ancient Greco-Roman Farnese Globe, drawing by SMH 2017.

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  Centaurus and Lupus constellations from the Mercator celestial globe 1551 (CC0).

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  Centaurus as drawn by Joh. Bayer (1603) and Lupus drawn by the user of this exemplar of the atlas (extra map for Bayer).

IAU Star Names

There are no classical star names in Lupus. In 2023, it was suggested to use the original Babylonian name of the UR.IDIM as name for the brightest star of the (later Greek, Greco-Roman and modern) constellation.