Myths in the Sky: The Eagle and Antinous, Dolphin and Foal

The Eagle (lat. Aquila)

This was the bird of Zeus — the God of Gods. It carried his lightning during the fight against the Titans. The Eagle kidnapped Ganymede, the handsome son of the Dardanian King Troy, and took him to heaven where he became Zeus' favourite and wine-scooper.

^{Johannes Hevelius, atlas Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Map 17}

Antinous — is one the characters in Homer's poem Odyssey. He was the leader of the betrothed, who, in Odyssey's absence, ravaged his home and forced his wife Penelope to marry. He was killed by Odyssey.

Antinous is an obsolete constellation no longer in use by astronomers, having been merged into the Eagle, which it bordered to the north.

The Dolphin (lat. Delphinus)

Arion was a famous poet and musician of ancient Greece (VII—VI centuries В. C.). During a voyage the sailors plotted to murder the poet and seize his property. Arion asked permission to sing his last song, after which he plunged into the sea. Attracted by his singing, amicable dolphins conveyed him to the Corinthian shore. Another version says that Apollo sent a dolphin to rescue Arion.

^{Johannes Hevelius, atlas Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Map 18}

The Foal (lat. Equuleus)

Whenever he visited the nymph Phylira Zeus' father Cronos turned himself into a foal in order to evade his wife Rhea's jealousy.