The Constellation Leo In Greek Mythology
Mythology of the Constellation Leo:
Leo is one of the twelve constellations associated with a zodiac sign, it can be found in the northern sky and is really easy to identify. It is one of the biggest and oldest constellations of the sky. It was classified in the 2nd century by Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, just like all of the other zodiac constellations.
The Persians called the constellation as Ser or Shir, the Turks called it Artan, the Jewish called it Arye, the Indians called it Simha, and the Syrians called it Aryo. All of these names mean lion. The constellation represents a lion and is usually linked with the Nemean lion from Greek mythology. The lion/beast in Greek mythology was killed by Heracles. The lion was placed on the sky because
it was the king of beasts. It was killing people that lived near it, but it couldn’t be killed back by anyone, because the skin of the lion could not be pierced by any weapons. Heracles couldn’t kill the beast with any weapons, so he took the lion into a cave, and eventually choked it to death with his hands. He then took the claws of the lion to cut off the pelt, which is the skin and fur of the lion, along with the head, and he wore it. It protected him and made him look more frightening and powerful.
The brightest star on the constellation, Regulus, represents the heart of the lion. The six bright stars that make the shape of a hook or sickle, representing the head of the lion, another bright star apart of the constellation named Denebola, is the tip of the lion’s tail, Algieba is on the lion’s neck, although the name means forehead. And finally, Zosma is on the lion’s hind.
Leo is one of the twelve constellations associated with a zodiac sign, it can be found in the northern sky and is really easy to identify. It is one of the biggest and oldest constellations of the sky. It was classified in the 2nd century by Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, just like all of the other zodiac constellations.
The Persians called the constellation as Ser or Shir, the Turks called it Artan, the Jewish called it Arye, the Indians called it Simha, and the Syrians called it Aryo. All of these names mean lion. The constellation represents a lion and is usually linked with the Nemean lion from Greek mythology. The lion/beast in Greek mythology was killed by Heracles. The lion was placed on the sky because
it was the king of beasts. It was killing people that lived near it, but it couldn’t be killed back by anyone, because the skin of the lion could not be pierced by any weapons. Heracles couldn’t kill the beast with any weapons, so he took the lion into a cave, and eventually choked it to death with his hands. He then took the claws of the lion to cut off the pelt, which is the skin and fur of the lion, along with the head, and he wore it. It protected him and made him look more frightening and powerful.
The brightest star on the constellation, Regulus, represents the heart of the lion. The six bright stars that make the shape of a hook or sickle, representing the head of the lion, another bright star apart of the constellation named Denebola, is the tip of the lion’s tail, Algieba is on the lion’s neck, although the name means forehead. And finally, Zosma is on the lion’s hind.