Sarvvis
Sarvvis, the reindeer or moose, is a Sami constellation, used by the Sami people of northern Scandinavia.
Concordance, Etymology, History
Origin of Constellation
where was it mentioned, what is the earliest source ...
Spelling Variants
- Sarva
- Sarvii
- Sarvi (horn/antler) - Finnish
- Hirvi (elk/moose) - Finnish
Identifications
Sources, Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
Here we give a list of all sources where the name is attested.
| Source | Identification |
|---|---|
| The |
Mythology
According to legend, Fávdná is one of the hunters who hunt for Sarvvis. Fávdná uses a bow and an arrow and the bow is called Fávdnadávi. It forms the handle in the Big Dipper and is always pointed towards Sarvvis.
Other hunters are the three Gállábártnit brothers. You find them in the belt of Orion. Their father is Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Do you know which star that might be? The hunting scene starts early in the evening when the hunters appear in the sky one by one. Fávdná is ready with his bow and arrow and aims towards Sarvvis.
The other hunters try to help. Fávdná doesn’t dare to shoot because between him and Sarvvis stands Boahji, the nail of the sky. If someone hits it, the sky will fall down and all life on Earth will come to an end. After a night of intense hunting, the hunters have to realise that Sarvvis is a difficult prey. One by one the hunters have to give up, Sirius first and Fávdná last. Sarvvis can continue its grazing till the next night when the hunt starts over again.
IAU Working Group on Star Names
Gamma Per or Delta Per might be appropriate choices given the centrality of Perseus to the asterism.
Weblinks
- https://www.ntnu.no/blogger/fysikkforfakirer/2025/02/20/the-celestial-hunt-finding-the-sami-sky-culture/#:~:text=The%20sky%20myth%20described%20by,or%20additional%20skiers)%2C%20Cuoigah%C3%A6gjek.
- https://www.beneathnorthernlights.com/the-starry-sky-in-sapmi/#:~:text=The%20constellation%20D%C3%A1vgg%C3%A1t%20(Karlsvogna%2C%20Big,the%20northwest%20in%20the%20morning.
References
- References (general)
