Kamelos: Difference between revisions
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==Concordance, Etymology, History== |
==Concordance, Etymology, History== |
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[[File:Campelopardalis in Bartsch's Usus astronomicus.png|thumb|Campelopardalis in Bartsch's Usus astronomicus]] |
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"Kamelos" is Greek for camel, a pun with the name of the constellation "Camelopardalis" whose Latin term is a Greek loanword, literally meaning "checkered camel" = giraffe. The constellation "Camelopardalis" was invented in 1612 by Petrus Plancius and represents a giraffe. Its name is Greek ''Καμηλοπάρδαλις,'' which was adopted by ancient authors into Latin ''Camelopardalis'' (e.g. Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia VIII, 69), derived from the words for “camel” (κάμηλος, kamelos) and “leopard”, reflecting an animal suited to hot climates like a camel, yet marked with spots like a leopard. |
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On this base, Jacob Bartsch proposed 1624 "Camelus Rebeccae" as an alternative name for the constellation Camelopardalis, a reference to the story of Abraham's daughter-in-law, Rebecca. |
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==Mythology== |
==Mythology== |
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Revision as of 10:15, 29 December 2025
The name "Kamelos" is borrowed from a name variant of the constellation Camelopardalis.
Concordance, Etymology, History
"Kamelos" is Greek for camel, a pun with the name of the constellation "Camelopardalis" whose Latin term is a Greek loanword, literally meaning "checkered camel" = giraffe. The constellation "Camelopardalis" was invented in 1612 by Petrus Plancius and represents a giraffe. Its name is Greek Καμηλοπάρδαλις, which was adopted by ancient authors into Latin Camelopardalis (e.g. Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia VIII, 69), derived from the words for “camel” (κάμηλος, kamelos) and “leopard”, reflecting an animal suited to hot climates like a camel, yet marked with spots like a leopard.
On this base, Jacob Bartsch proposed 1624 "Camelus Rebeccae" as an alternative name for the constellation Camelopardalis, a reference to the story of Abraham's daughter-in-law, Rebecca.
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was discussed and adopted by the IAU WGSN in 2025.
Weblinks
Reference
- References (general)
- References (early modern)
- Ian Ridpath's website (Star Tales )




