Sarvvis

From All Skies Encyclopaedia
Elk-telemark (CC BY Badzil)

Sarvvis, the reindeer or moose, is a Sami constellation, used by the Sami people of northern Scandinavia.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Spelling Variants

  • Sarvva (North Sámi: elk)
  • Sarva (South Sámi: reindeer bull)
  • Sarvii
  • Sarvi (Finish: horn/antler)
  • Hirvi (Finnish: elk/moose)

There are ten different Sámi languages, with North Sámi accounting for about 90% of speakers. In North Sámi, Sarvvis means “reindeer bull,” while Sarvva refers to an elk (Alces alces). In South Sámi, however, Sarva means “reindeer bull.”

Origin of the Constellation

The mythology is also ambiguous regarding whether the creature is a reindeer or an elk. Since only female reindeer keep their antlers during winter—as described in the mythological context—it is uncertain whether it should be a bull. It might instead represent a reindeer cow, called áldu.

Sources, Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

Here we give a list of all sources where the name is attested.

Source Identification
The
Sarva the Elk in Stellarium (CC BY Jonas Persson)
Convex Hull for the stars inside Sarvvis (CC BY Youla Azkarrula).

Stars within the Constellation Area

id Label IAU design. description Vmag
1 Capella HIP 24608 Constellation lines (Vertex) 0.08
2 Elnath HIP 25428 Constellation lines (Vertex) 1.65
3 Mirfak HIP 15863 Constellation lines 1.79
4 Algol HIP 14576 Constellation lines 2.12
5 Schedar HIP 3179 Constellation lines 2.23
6 Caph HIP 746 Constellation lines (Vertex) 2.27
7 Tiansi HIP 4427 Constellation lines 2.39
8 Ruchbah HIP 6686 Constellation lines 2.68
9 Hassaleh HIP 23015 Constellation lines 2.69
10 ζ Persei HIP 18246 Constellation lines (Vertex) 2.85
11 ϵ Persei HIP 18532 Constellation lines 2.89
12 γ Persei HIP 14328 Constellation lines 2.93
13 Almaaz HIP 23416 Inside the hull 2.99
14 δ Persei HIP 17358 Constellation lines 3.01
15 Haedus HIP 23767 Constellation lines 3.18
16 Segin HIP 8886 Constellation lines (Vertex) 3.37
17 ρ Persei HIP 14354 Inside the hull 3.39
18 Achird HIP 3821 Inside the hull 3.44
19 Nembus HIP 7607 Inside the hull 3.57
20 Saclateni HIP 23453 Inside the hull 3.75
21 Miram HIP 13268 Inside the hull 3.79
22 ν Persei HIP 17529 Inside the hull 3.8
23 Misam HIP 14668 Inside the hull 3.81
24 τ Persei HIP 13531 Inside the hull 3.96
25 48 Per HIP 19343 Inside the hull 4.03
26 ι Persei HIP 14632 Inside the hull 4.04
27 Dajiangjunbei HIP 8068 Inside the hull 4.06
28 Menkib HIP 18614 Inside the hull 4.06
29 θ Persei HIP 12777 Inside the hull 4.11
30 μ Persei HIP 19812 Inside the hull 4.16
31 ψ Persei HIP 16826 Inside the hull 4.23
32 58 Per HIP 21476 Inside the hull 4.26
33 λ Persei HIP 19167 Inside the hull 4.29
34 θ Cassiopeiae HIP 5542 Inside the hull 4.33
35 σ Persei HIP 16335 Inside the hull 4.36
36 - HIP 20070 Inside the hull 4.594
37 ω Persei HIP 14817 Inside the hull 4.607
38 Castula HIP 4422 Inside the hull 4.622
39 χ Cassiopeiae HIP 7294 Inside the hull 4.681
40 52 Per HIP 19811 Inside the hull 4.691
41 π Persei HIP 13879 Inside the hull 4.7
42 65 And HIP 11313 Inside the hull 4.71
43 λ Aurigae HIP 24813 Inside the hull 4.71
44 34 Per HIP 16244 Inside the hull 4.735
45 - HIP 14382 Inside the hull 4.766
46 2 Aur HIP 22678 Inside the hull 4.779
47 53 Per HIP 20354 Inside the hull 4.812
48 υ 1 Cassiopeiae HIP 4292 Inside the hull 4.82
49 μ Aurigae HIP 24340 Inside the hull 4.821
50 60 And HIP 10340 Inside the hull 4.826
51 1 Aur HIP 22453 Inside the hull 4.867
52 54 Per HIP 20252 Inside the hull 4.929
53 32 Per HIP 15648 Inside the hull 4.946
54 - HIP 16147 Inside the hull 4.97
55 40 Per HIP 17313 Inside the hull 4.972
56 ϕ Cassiopeiae HIP 6242 Inside the hull 4.98
57 Cl Melotte 20 772 Cl Melotte 20 772 Inside the hull 4.989
58 ω Aurigae HIP 23179 Inside the hull 5
59 KW Aur HIP 24504 Inside the hull 5
60 - HIP 15219 Inside the hull 5.03
61 19 Aur HIP 24879 Inside the hull 5.03
62 31 Per HIP 15444 Inside the hull 5.032
63 4 Per HIP 9505 Inside the hull 5.04
64 42 Per HIP 17886 Inside the hull 5.11
65 29 Per HIP 15404 Inside the hull 5.157
66 μ Cassiopeiae HIP 5336 Inside the hull 5.17
67 9 Per HIP 11060 Inside the hull 5.17
68 64 And HIP 11220 Inside the hull 5.19
69 - HIP 14043 Inside the hull 5.219
70 - HIP 18453 Inside the hull 5.25
71 - HIP 20704 Inside the hull 5.284
72 59 Per HIP 21928 Inside the hull 5.298
73 V575 Per HIP 15770 Inside the hull 5.3
74 62 And HIP 10819 Inside the hull 5.31
75 - HIP 10366 Inside the hull 5.31
76 36 Per HIP 16499 Inside the hull 5.32
77 IQ Aur HIP 24799 Inside the hull 5.371
78 - HIP 18396 Inside the hull 5.379
79 - HIP 20156 Inside the hull 5.4
80 - HIP 3544 Inside the hull 5.41
81 14 Per HIP 12768 Inside the hull 5.435
82 V396 Per HIP 16470 Inside the hull 5.461
83 30 Per HIP 15338 Inside the hull 5.476
84 - HIP 13965 Inside the hull 5.485
85 - HIP 18434 Inside the hull 5.488
86 1 Per HIP 8704 Inside the hull 5.52
87 - HIP 19335 Inside the hull 5.52
88 - HIP 7617 Inside the hull 5.536
89 - HIP 20234 Inside the hull 5.545
90 - HIP 4440 Inside the hull 5.566
91 - HIP 17203 Inside the hull 5.57
92 - HIP 16210 Inside the hull 5.572
93 - HIP 22393 Inside the hull 5.578
94 - HIP 17460 Inside the hull 5.588
95 PZ And HIP 10944 Inside the hull 5.59
96 PU Aur HIP 24738 Inside the hull 5.65
97 - HIP 21823 Inside the hull 5.652
98 - HIP 17584 Inside the hull 5.655
99 - HIP 17932 Inside the hull 5.657
100 - HIP 25001 Inside the hull 5.67
101 - HIP 22699 Inside the hull 5.675
102 V472 Per HIP 9990 Inside the hull 5.68
103 2 Per HIP 8714 Inside the hull 5.689
104 3 Per HIP 9222 Inside the hull 5.702
105 - HIP 7251 Inside the hull 5.709
106 55 Per HIP 20579 Inside the hull 5.718
107 - HIP 19525 Inside the hull 5.74
108 8 Per HIP 10718 Inside the hull 5.748
109 11 Per HIP 12692 Inside the hull 5.753
110 44 Cas HIP 8046 Inside the hull 5.76
111 - HIP 18212 Inside the hull 5.76
112 - HIP 5361 Inside the hull 5.767
113 - HIP 18081 Inside the hull 5.772
114 IW Per HIP 16591 Inside the hull 5.776
115 56 Per HIP 20591 Inside the hull 5.795
116 - HIP 16340 Inside the hull 5.82
117 - HIP 22407 Inside the hull 5.824
118 - HIP 12686 Inside the hull 5.835
119 - HIP 13339 Inside the hull 5.859
120 - HIP 13949 Inside the hull 5.877
121 - HIP 16518 Inside the hull 5.9
122 - HIP 15004 Inside the hull 5.913
123 - HIP 25291 Inside the hull 5.925
124 - HIP 15669 Inside the hull 5.93
125 - HIP 2377 Inside the hull 5.94
126 - HIP 8598 Inside the hull 5.951
127 - HIP 20241 Inside the hull 5.958
128 AE Aur HIP 24575 Inside the hull 5.96
129 - HIP 21847 Inside the hull 5.96
130 - HIP 15334 Inside the hull 5.967
131 - HIP 16599 Inside the hull 5.969
132 V376 Per HIP 17846 Inside the hull 5.97
133 5 Aur HIP 23261 Inside the hull 5.97
134 - HIP 4998 Inside the hull 5.977
135 - HIP 4962 Inside the hull 6
136 - HIP 22220 Inside the hull 6
137 - HIP 9220 Inside the hull 6.004
138 7 Per HIP 10729 Inside the hull 6.023
139 - HIP 13713 Inside the hull 6.03
140 - HIP 17437 Inside the hull 6.042
141 - HIP 14365 Inside the hull 6.05
142 - HIP 22842 Inside the hull 6.058
143 - HIP 15118 Inside the hull 6.06
144 57 Per HIP 21242 Inside the hull 6.078
145 - HIP 22034 Inside the hull 6.08
146 - HIP 19302 Inside the hull 6.08
147 - HIP 22955 Inside the hull 6.089
148 V576 Per HIP 15988 Inside the hull 6.09
149 - HIP 17475 Inside the hull 6.091
150 - HIP 14392 Inside the hull 6.105
151 - HIP 23511 Inside the hull 6.111
152 - HIP 14887 Inside the hull 6.139
153 - HIP 17772 Inside the hull 6.14
154 AR Aur HIP 24740 Inside the hull 6.144
155 - HIP 10924 Inside the hull 6.154
156 66 And HIP 11465 Inside the hull 6.156
157 - HIP 23583 Inside the hull 6.16
158 - HIP 20231 Inside the hull 6.167
159 - HIP 21038 Inside the hull 6.169
160 - HIP 3334 Inside the hull 6.171
161 - HIP 15209 Inside the hull 6.18
162 - HIP 4383 Inside the hull 6.19
163 - HIP 24771 Inside the hull 6.199
164 NGC 1545 NGC 1545 Inside the hull 6.2
165 V545 Per HIP 20063 Inside the hull 6.205
166 - HIP 23799 Inside the hull 6.207
167 - HIP 13462 Inside the hull 6.21
168 - HIP 13732 Inside the hull 6.21
169 - HIP 16252 Inside the hull 6.217
170 OP And HIP 7493 Inside the hull 6.22
171 - HIP 10814 Inside the hull 6.22
172 - HIP 8148 Inside the hull 6.24
173 10 Per HIP 11279 Inside the hull 6.26
174 V480 Per HIP 13178 Inside the hull 6.26
175 - HR 499 Inside the hull 6.28
176 - HIP 12690 Inside the hull 6.28
177 - HIP 16424 Inside the hull 6.28
178 - HIP 5251 Inside the hull 6.29
179 - HIP 25290 Inside the hull 6.29
180 V440 Per HIP 11174 Inside the hull 6.291
181 - HIP 8771 Inside the hull 6.3
182 - HIP 14566 Inside the hull 6.3
183 - HIP 10115 Inside the hull 6.303
184 - HIP 19810 Inside the hull 6.308
185 - HIP 18565 Inside the hull 6.313
186 - HIP 8020 Inside the hull 6.323
187 - HIP 14914 Inside the hull 6.327
188 - HIP 8115 Inside the hull 6.33
189 - HIP 21144 Inside the hull 6.34
190 - HIP 7963 Inside the hull 6.348
191 - HIP 6486 Inside the hull 6.35
192 5 Per HIP 10227 Inside the hull 6.35
193 - HIP 10562 Inside the hull 6.36
194 - HIP 7786 Inside the hull 6.37
195 V521 Per HIP 14544 Inside the hull 6.375
196 - HR 1371 Inside the hull 6.38
197 - HIP 18769 Inside the hull 6.389
198 NGC 457 NGC 457 Inside the hull 6.4
199 NGC 1528 NGC 1528 Inside the hull 6.4
200 - HIP 5240 Inside the hull 6.401
201 - HIP 16938 Inside the hull 6.402
202 - HIP 3649 Inside the hull 6.41
203 - HIP 10830 Inside the hull 6.41
204 KP Per HIP 16516 Inside the hull 6.41
205 - HIP 16447 Inside the hull 6.411
206 - HIP 24193 Inside the hull 6.423
207 - HIP 10379 Inside the hull 6.43
208 - HIP 8847 Inside the hull 6.437
209 - HIP 13347 Inside the hull 6.443
210 - HIP 17558 Inside the hull 6.443
211 - HIP 9163 Inside the hull 6.45
212 - HIP 19746 Inside the hull 6.45
213 - HIP 8475 Inside the hull 6.46
214 - HIP 10361 Inside the hull 6.46
215 - HIP 15282 Inside the hull 6.46
216 22 Aur HIP 25192 Inside the hull 6.46
217 V509 Per HIP 14264 Inside the hull 6.467
218 - HIP 13036 Inside the hull 6.47
219 - HIP 24332 Inside the hull 6.47
220 - HIP 10633 Inside the hull 6.48
221 - HIP 11020 Inside the hull 6.48
222 - HIP 22003 Inside the hull 6.48
223 6 Aur HIP 23268 Inside the hull 6.48
224 18 Aur HIP 24832 Inside the hull 6.489
225 - HIP 16425 Inside the hull 6.49
226 NGC 654 NGC 654 Inside the hull 6.5
227 - HIP 23724 Inside the hull 6.5

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.

Based on the fact that 90% of the speakers are North Sámi, it would be most appropriate to use this dialect.

Weblinks

References