Pleiades - Revision history

Sushoff: /* Eratosthenes */

2026-06-12T07:06:48Z

Eratosthenes

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	<blockquote>Near his left knee all in a cluster [255] the Pleiades move. The space that holds them all is not great, and they are individually faint to observe. Seven in number they are in the lore of men, although there are only six apparent to the eye. No star at all has been lost from our ken in Zeus [260] since our oral tradition began, but this is just what is said. Those seven are called by name Alcyone, Merope, Celaeno and Electra, Sterope, Taygete and honoured Maia. All alike they are small and faint, but they are famous [265] in their movements at morning and evening, and Zeus is the cause, in that he authorised them to mark the beginnings of summer and winter and the onset of ploughing time. (Kidd 1997)</blockquote>		<blockquote>Near his left knee all in a cluster [255] the Pleiades move. The space that holds them all is not great, and they are individually faint to observe. Seven in number they are in the lore of men, although there are only six apparent to the eye. No star at all has been lost from our ken in Zeus [260] since our oral tradition began, but this is just what is said. Those seven are called by name Alcyone, Merope, Celaeno and Electra, Sterope, Taygete and honoured Maia. All alike they are small and faint, but they are famous [265] in their movements at morning and evening, and Zeus is the cause, in that he authorised them to mark the beginnings of summer and winter and the onset of ploughing time. (Kidd 1997)</blockquote>
	===== Eratosthenes =====		===== Eratosthenes =====
	according to the reconstruction of the Greek text by Pamias and Zucker (2013).		according to the reconstruction of the Greek text by Pamias and Zucker (2013)

	Var 1 (after Perseus)<blockquote>It is located on what is known as the break in the bull's spine. It consists of a cluster of seven stars, which are said to be the daughters of Atlas, which is why it is also called ‘Heptaster’ (The Seven Stars). However, we cannot see seven, but only six, and this is roughly how it is explained: it is said that six of them united with gods, and one with a mortal. Three united with Zeus:		Var 1 (after Perseus: Pamias and Zucker (2013,<ref name=":1">Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud (2013). Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, Belles Lettres, Paris</ref> 72)<blockquote>It is located on what is known as the break in the bull's spine. It consists of a cluster of seven stars, which are said to be the daughters of Atlas, which is why it is also called ‘Heptaster’ (The Seven Stars). However, we cannot see seven, but only six, and this is roughly how it is explained: it is said that six of them united with gods, and one with a mortal. Three united with Zeus:

	Electra, who gave birth to Dardanos, Maia, who gave birth to Hermes, and Taygetes, who gave birth to Lacedaemon; two were united with Poseidon: Alcyone, who gave birth to Hyrie, and Kelaeno, who gave birth to Lycos; as for Sterope, it is said that she was united with Ares, and from her was born Oinomaos. But Merope united herself with a mortal, Sisyphus, and for this reason she is completely invisible. They enjoy great popularity among men because they give indications of the change of season. [According to Hipparchus, they are admirably arranged and form a triangular figure] </blockquote>Var 2 (in Taurus)<blockquote>At the break in the image of Taurus, at the height of the back, is the Pleiades, which has seven stars, which is why it is also called the ‘Heptaster’ (seven stars). In reality, only six are visible, as the seventh is completely dim.</blockquote>		Electra, who gave birth to Dardanos, Maia, who gave birth to Hermes, and Taygetes, who gave birth to Lacedaemon; two were united with Poseidon: Alcyone, who gave birth to Hyrie, and Kelaeno, who gave birth to Lycos; as for Sterope, it is said that she was united with Ares, and from her was born Oinomaos. But Merope united herself with a mortal, Sisyphus, and for this reason she is completely invisible. They enjoy great popularity among men because they give indications of the change of season. [According to Hipparchus, they are admirably arranged and form a triangular figure] </blockquote>Var 2 (in [[Taurus]]: Pamias and Zucker (2013,<ref name=":1" /> 45-47)<blockquote>At the break in the image of Taurus, at the height of the back, is the Pleiades, which has seven stars, which is why it is also called the ‘Heptaster’ (seven stars). In reality, only six are visible, as the seventh is completely dim.</blockquote>

	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====

YoulaAzkarrula at 12:16, 26 May 2026

2026-05-26T12:16:02Z

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	[[Category:Eurasia]][[Category:European]] [[Category:Asterism]] [[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Modern]]		[[Category:Eurasia]][[Category:European]] [[Category:Asterism]] [[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Asian]][[Category:Modern]]
	[[Category:Star Cluster]]		[[Category:Star Cluster]]
	[[Category:Tau]]		[[Category:Tau]]
	[[Category:Pleiades]]		[[Category:Pleiades]]

IanRidpath: /* Weblinks */ Added Warburg link

2026-05-20T09:25:43Z

Weblinks: Added Warburg link

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:25, 20 May 2026
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	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==
			[https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017568 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Pleiades]


	== Reference ==		== Reference ==

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-05-18T06:04:00Z

Hipparchus

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 ===== Hipparchus =====
-..
+{| class="wikitable"
 ===== Geminos =====

Sushoff: /* Etymology and History */

2026-05-18T05:54:20Z

Etymology and History

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:54, 18 May 2026
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	For the Phoenicians and Greeks, shipping between the numerous islands was of enormous importance. The Greeks therefore understood the name of the star ‘Pleias’ from πλέω (pleiu), meaning ‘to sail’, and Hesiod and Eratosthenes mention its significance as an indicator of the shipping season in the farming calendar.		For the Phoenicians and Greeks, shipping between the numerous islands was of enormous importance. The Greeks therefore understood the name of the star ‘Pleias’ from πλέω (pleiu), meaning ‘to sail’, and Hesiod and Eratosthenes mention its significance as an indicator of the shipping season in the farming calendar.

	The alternative name ‘Pleiades’ is also documented by Eratosthenes, who states: ‘One does not see seven stars, but only six.’ Greek mythology invents an unconvincing story of seven sisters, one of whom hid or left the group. Although the sisters have proper names in mythology, these names were not applied to the stars of the star cluster in ancient times. The modern naming is also confusing because two of the free-eyed stars were named after their parents, Pleione and Atlas.		The alternative name ‘Pleiades’ is also documented by Eratosthenes, who states: ‘One does not see seven stars, but only six.’ Aratus, likewise, claims, ‘Seven in number they are in the lore of men, although there are only six apparent to the eye. No star at all has been lost from our ken in Zeus since our oral tradition began.’ Hence, Greek mythology invents an unconvincing story of seven sisters, one of whom hid or left the group. Although the sisters have proper names in mythology, these names were not applied to the stars of the star cluster in ancient times. The modern naming is also confusing because two of the free-eyed stars were named after their parents, Pleione and Atlas.

	===Origin of Constellation===		===Origin of Constellation===
	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====

Sushoff at 05:38, 18 May 2026

2026-05-18T05:38:06Z

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	==== Greco-Roman ====		==== Greco-Roman ====
	[[File:Aratea fol. 42v.jpg\|thumb\|Pleiades as Seven Sisters in the Leiden Aratea; note that only one of them (centre) hides under a veil.]]		[[File:Aratea fol. 42v.jpg\|thumb\|Pleiades as Seven Sisters in the Leiden Aratea (~830 CE after Roman models); note that only one of them (centre) hides under a veil.]]

	===== Aratos =====		===== Aratos =====

IanRidpath: /* Reference */

2026-05-15T08:38:59Z

Reference

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:38, 15 May 2026
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	* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (early modern)]]		* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (early modern)]]
	* Ian Ridpath "Who Named the Stars of the Pleiades?" [https://www.obsmag.org/issues/published/2026/02/1310_0003.pdf ''The Observatory'', 2026 February, 3–6].		* Ian Ridpath "Who Named the Stars of the Pleiades?" [https://www.obsmag.org/issues/published/2026/02/1310_0003.pdf ''The Observatory'', 2026 February, 3–6].
	* Ridpath, Ian, [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/taurus2.html~~#names~~ Star Tales Taurus].		* Ridpath, Ian, [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/taurus2.html Star Tales Taurus].

Sushoff at 11:20, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T11:20:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:20, 27 February 2026
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	[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|The Pleiades as drawn on VAT 7851 are the six (plus two smaller) bristles on the hump of Taurus, the Bull.]]		[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|The Pleiades as drawn on VAT 7851 are the six (plus two smaller) bristles on the hump of Taurus, the Bull.]]
	[[File:Plej+hyad smh2025 4gif.gif\|thumb\|Hyades and Pleiades as observed in central Europe (photo and animation SMH)]]		[[File:Plej+hyad smh2025 4gif.gif\|thumb\|Hyades and Pleiades as observed in central Europe (photo and animation SMH)]]
	The term "Pleiades" derives from Greek πλέω (pleiu), meaning ‘to sail’. In the Mediterranean, the sailing season (gentle winds and warm weather) was given from the heliacal rise to the opposition of this star cluster. The association of "seven" with the cluster is of unknown origin, but it is a fact that (a) Greek mythology created a tale of seven daughters of the nymph Pleione (the sailing nymph), that (b) Mesopotamian religions even before this had associated seven (male) gods with the cluster, and that (c) Indian religion considers them the seven nurses of Lord Shiva's baby. However, the number "seven" has never been part of the ''name'' of the cluster (unlike modern English); ancient depictions always show six stars which are connected to seven deities - except the Maori star lore which sees nine (deified?) stars with sacred realms.<ref>Susanne M. Hoffmann,* Khalid AlAjaji, B.S. Shylaja, Yang Boshun, Danielle Adams, Eric Mamajek, Ian Ridpath, Paul Baki, Juan Antonio Belmonte Avilés, Sze-Leung Cheung, Daniel Cunnama, Jörg Matthias Determann, M. Sadegh Faghanpour, Steven Gullberg, Duane Hamacher, Roland Laffitte, Alejandro M. López, Javier Mejuto, Thierry Montmerle, Clive Ruggles, Shi Yunli, Doris Vickers, Sun Xiaochun, and Hitoshi Yamaoka (2025). The IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN): '''Research Finds in 2025'''. ''Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage'', 28(4), 1026–1038 (2025).</ref>		The term "Pleiades" derives from Greek πλέω (pleiu), meaning ‘to sail’. In the Mediterranean, the sailing season (gentle winds and warm weather) was given from the heliacal rise to the opposition of this star cluster. The association of "seven" with the cluster is of unknown origin, but it is a fact that (a) Greek mythology created a tale of seven daughters of the nymph Pleione (the sailing nymph), that (b) Mesopotamian religions even before this had associated seven (male) gods with the cluster, and that (c) Indian religion considers them the seven nurses of Lord Shiva's baby.<ref name=":0" />

			However, the number "seven" has never been part of the ''name'' of the cluster (unlike modern English); ancient depictions always show six stars which are connected to seven deities - except the Maori star lore which sees nine (deified?) stars with sacred realms.<ref name=":0">Susanne M. Hoffmann,* Khalid AlAjaji, B.S. Shylaja, Yang Boshun, Danielle Adams, Eric Mamajek, Ian Ridpath, Paul Baki, Juan Antonio Belmonte Avilés, Sze-Leung Cheung, Daniel Cunnama, Jörg Matthias Determann, M. Sadegh Faghanpour, Steven Gullberg, Duane Hamacher, Roland Laffitte, Alejandro M. López, Javier Mejuto, Thierry Montmerle, Clive Ruggles, Shi Yunli, Doris Vickers, Sun Xiaochun, and Hitoshi Yamaoka (2025). The IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN): '''Research Finds in 2025'''. ''Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage'', 28(4), 1026–1038 (2025).</ref>

	== Etymology and History ==		== Etymology and History ==

Sushoff at 11:19, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T11:19:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:19, 27 February 2026
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	[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|The Pleiades as drawn on VAT 7851 are the six (plus two smaller) bristles on the hump of Taurus, the Bull.]]		[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|The Pleiades as drawn on VAT 7851 are the six (plus two smaller) bristles on the hump of Taurus, the Bull.]]
	[[File:Plej+hyad smh2025 4gif.gif\|thumb\|Hyades and Pleiades as observed in central Europe (photo and animation SMH)]]		[[File:Plej+hyad smh2025 4gif.gif\|thumb\|Hyades and Pleiades as observed in central Europe (photo and animation SMH)]]
	The term "Pleiades" derives from Greek πλέω (pleiu), meaning ‘to sail’. In the Mediterranean, the sailing season (gentle winds and warm weather) was given from the heliacal rise to the opposition of this star cluster. The association of "seven" with the cluster is of unknown origin, but it is a fact that (a) Greek mythology created a tale of seven daughters of the nymph Pleione (the sailing nymph), ~~and~~ that (b) Mesopotamian religions even before this had associated seven (male) gods with the cluster. However, the number "seven" has never been part of the ''name'' of the cluster (unlike modern English).		The term "Pleiades" derives from Greek πλέω (pleiu), meaning ‘to sail’. In the Mediterranean, the sailing season (gentle winds and warm weather) was given from the heliacal rise to the opposition of this star cluster. The association of "seven" with the cluster is of unknown origin, but it is a fact that (a) Greek mythology created a tale of seven daughters of the nymph Pleione (the sailing nymph), that (b) Mesopotamian religions even before this had associated seven (male) gods with the cluster, and that (c) Indian religion considers them the seven nurses of Lord Shiva's baby. However, the number "seven" has never been part of the ''name'' of the cluster (unlike modern English); ancient depictions always show six stars which are connected to seven deities - except the Maori star lore which sees nine (deified?) stars with sacred realms.<ref>Susanne M. Hoffmann,* Khalid AlAjaji, B.S. Shylaja, Yang Boshun, Danielle Adams, Eric Mamajek, Ian Ridpath, Paul Baki, Juan Antonio Belmonte Avilés, Sze-Leung Cheung, Daniel Cunnama, Jörg Matthias Determann, M. Sadegh Faghanpour, Steven Gullberg, Duane Hamacher, Roland Laffitte, Alejandro M. López, Javier Mejuto, Thierry Montmerle, Clive Ruggles, Shi Yunli, Doris Vickers, Sun Xiaochun, and Hitoshi Yamaoka (2025). The IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN): '''Research Finds in 2025'''. ''Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage'', 28(4), 1026–1038 (2025).</ref>

	== Etymology and History ==		== Etymology and History ==

Sushoff at 11:59, 19 February 2026

2026-02-19T11:59:16Z

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			{{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----

	[[File:Pleiades and Hyades in Stellarium.jpg\|thumb\|Pleiades and Hyades in Stellarium (date -300 but this view is independent of the historical epoch on human scales).]]		[[File:Pleiades and Hyades in Stellarium.jpg\|thumb\|Pleiades and Hyades in Stellarium (date -300 but this view is independent of the historical epoch on human scales).]]
	[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|The Pleiades as drawn on VAT 7851 are the six (plus two smaller) bristles on the hump of Taurus, the Bull.]]		[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|The Pleiades as drawn on VAT 7851 are the six (plus two smaller) bristles on the hump of Taurus, the Bull.]]