Haftōrang (هَفتورنگ)

Pahl. Haftōrang (هَفتورنگ), Seven Signs, is a Persian name for the Big Dipper.

Concordance, Etymology, History

The Av. name of this constellation was Haptōiriṇga-, m. (Pahlavi Haftōring/Haftōrang), and refers to the Big Dipper. Its meaning was “Seven signs” or “seven penises”.

This term, like other Indo-European denominations for the same constellation, focuses on the number seven (e.g., Latin Septentriones, Sanskrit Sapta-ṛṣáyaḥ, etc.).

According to later Zoroastrian doctrines, its seven stars correspond to the seven continents of the earth via cords of wind. In Pahlavi literature, Haftōring is depicted as the General of the North, opposing the planet Ohrmazd (Jupiter), and is believed to protect the regular circular motion of zodiacal signs around the northern hell.

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 202x. As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.

Reference

• References (general)
• References (early modern)