Auriga
One of the 88 IAU constellations.
Etymology and History
The Greek constellation ...
Origin of Constellation
Babylonian
Greco-Roman
Aratos
[156] But if it be thy wish to mark Charioteer [Auriga] and his stars, and if the fame has come to thee of the Goat [Capella] herself and the Kids, who often on the darkening deep have seen men storm-tossed, thou wilt find him in all his might, leaning forward at the left hand of the Twins. Over against him wheels the top of Helice’s head, but on his left shoulder is set the holy Goat, that, as legend tells, gave the breast to Zeus. Her the interpreters of Zeus call the Olenian Goat. Large is she and bright, but there at the wrist of the Charioteer faintly gleam the Kids.
[167] At the feet of Charioteer seek for the crouching horned Bull [Taurus]. Very lifelike are his signs; so clear defined his head: not by other sign would one mark the head of an ox, since in such wise those very stars, wheeling on either side, fashion it. Oft-spoken is their name and not all unheard-of are the Hyades. Broadcast are they on the forehead of the Bull. One star occupies the tip of his left horn and the right foot of the Charioteer, who is close by. Together they are carried in their course, but ever earlier is the Bull than the Charioteer to set beneath the West, albeit they fare together at their rising.
[713] Nor lags behind the Charioteer at the rising of the Bull, for close are set their courses. But not with that sign does he rise completely, but the Twins bring him wholly up. The Kids and the sole of the Charioteer’s left foot and the Goat herself journey with the Bull,
(Kidd 1997)
Eratosthenes
Hipparchus
Geminos
Almagest Ἠνίοχος.
| id | Greek
(Heiberg 1898) |
English
(Toomer 1984) |
ident. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ἡνιόχου ἀστερισμός | Constellation of Auriga | ||
| 1 | ὁ τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς δύο ὁ νοτιώτερος. | The southernmost of the two on the head | del Aur |
| 2 | ὁ βορειότερος καὶ ὑπὲρ τὴν κεφαλήν | The northernmost [ of these], over the head | xi Aur |
| 3 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ὤμου καλούμευος Αἵξ. | The star on the left shoulder, called Capella | alf Aur |
| 4 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ὥμου | The star on the right shoulder | bet Aur |
| 5 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ἀγκῶνος. | The star on the right elbow | nu Aur |
| 6 | ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ καρποῦ. | The star on the. right wrist | tet Aur |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ἀγκῶνος. | The star on the left elbow | eps Aur | |
| τῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ καρποῦ β καλουμένων Ἑρίφων ὁ ἐπόμενος | The rearmost of the two stars on the left wrist, which are called 'Haedi' | eta Aur | |
| ὁ προηγούμενος αὐτῶν. | The more ad;,anced of these | zet Aur | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ σφυροῦ. | The star on the left ankle | iot Aur | |
| ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ σφυροῦ κοινὸς κέρατος. | The star on the right ankle, which is [ applied in] common to the horn [ of Taurus] | bet Tau | |
| ὁ τούτου ἀπ’ ἄρκτων ἐν τῷ περιποδύῳ. | The one to the north of the latter, in the lower hem [ of the garment] | chi Aur | |
| ὁ ἔτι τούτου βορειότερος ἐπὶ τοῦ γλουτοῦ. | The one north aga,in of this, on the buttock | phi Aur | |
| ὁ ὑπὲρ τὸν ἀριστερὸν πόδα μικρός | The small star over the left foot | 14 Aur | |
| ἀστέρες ἰδ, ὥν α μεγέθουςα, β’ ἂ, γ’ β, δ’ὁ, ε β, ς ἂ. | 14 stars, I of the first magnitude, l of the second, 2 of the third, 7 of the fourth, 2 of the fifth, I of the sixth} |
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
Auriga as Erichtonius in Fortin's Atlas Céleste, 3rd edition (1795).
