Ursa Minor - Revision history

Sushoff: /* Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation */

2026-06-20T10:25:32Z

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:25, 20 June 2026
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			==== Medieval, Renaissance and Early Modern Sources ====
			[[File:UrsaMinor Cynosura RudolphinTab1627.png\|thumb\|UMi in Rudolphine Tables (Kepler 1627).]]
			The Rudolphine Tables (Kepler 1627) bring back Aratus's name variant for the Lesser Bear with the long tail, Cynosura, the Dog-Tailed.

	===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===		===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	File:H.A. Rey's stick figure stellarium-081.png\|H.A. Rey's stick figure of Ursa Minor (1952)		File:H.A. Rey's stick figure stellarium-081.png\|H.A. Rey's stick figure of Ursa Minor (1952)
	File:O. Hlad's stick figure stellarium-082.png\|O. Hlad's stick figure of Ursa Minor (1988)		File:O. Hlad's stick figure stellarium-082.png\|O. Hlad's stick figure of Ursa Minor (1988)
			File:UrsaMinor Cynosura RudolphinTab1627.png\|UMi in Rudolphin Tables (Kepler 1627).
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Sushoff: /* Eratosthenes */

2026-06-12T05:34:32Z

Eratosthenes

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:34, 12 June 2026
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	===== Eratosthenes =====		===== Eratosthenes =====
	<blockquote>'''Var. 1''' This is the one known as ‘the Little Bear’, and commonly known as ‘Phoinikè’ (the Phoenician). Artemis had esteemed her, but as she did not know that it was Zeus who had raped her, she made her wild. It is said that later Artemis, once the young girl was out of danger, increased her glory by placing a second figure among the constellations so that she was doubly honoured. Aglaosthenes , in his Naxica, says that this was Kynosoura, who nursed Zeus and was one of the nymphs of Ida. Her name is also found in the city called Histoi, founded by Nicostratus and his companions: the name Kynosoura refers to the port of this city and to a locality overlooking the town.		Pamias and Zucker (2013,<ref>Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud (2013). Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, Belles Lettres, Paris</ref> 6-9)<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>'''Var. 1''' This is the one known as ‘the Little Bear’, and commonly known as ‘Phoinikè’ (the Phoenician). Artemis had esteemed her, but as she did not know that it was Zeus who had raped her, she made her wild. It is said that later Artemis, once the young girl was out of danger, increased her glory by placing a second figure among the constellations so that she was doubly honoured. Aglaosthenes , in his Naxica, says that this was Kynosoura, who nursed Zeus and was one of the nymphs of Ida. Her name is also found in the city called Histoi, founded by Nicostratus and his companions: the name Kynosoura refers to the port of this city and to a locality overlooking the town.

	Aratos, for his part, calls it ‘Hélikè’ (Spiral), and says that she was from Crete; she nursed Zeus, and for this she obtained the privilege of being honoured in heaven. The Little Dipper has a shining star on each corner of the quadrilateral and three bright ones on the tail. In all, there are seven. Below the second of those which lead the movement the movement towards the west, there is another star placed called the Pole, and we get the impression that the whole universe revolves around it. </blockquote><blockquote>'''Var. 2:''' The Little Dipper is commonly known as ‘Phoinikè’ (the Phoenician). Artemis held her in high esteem, due to the adventures we recounted earlier but as she didn't know that it was Zeus who had raped her, she turned her into a wild beast. It is said later Artemis, having understood what had happened, placed a second figure among the constellations to highlight her constellations, so that she would be doubly honoured. Aglaosthenes, in his Naxica, says that the figure in question was Kynosoura, who nursed Zeus and was one of the nymphs of Ida. And we find her name in the city called Histoi, founded by Nicostratus and his companions: the name of Kynosoura is that of the port of this city and of a place overlooking the city. The nymph came with the Telchines, who were the servants of Rhea, like the Couretes and the Dactyls of Ida. Aratos, for his part, calls her ‘Hélikè’ (Spiral), and says that she was from Crete; she nursed Zeus, and to which she owes its honour in the heavens. The Little Dipper has a shining star on each corner of the quadrilateral and three bright stars on its tail.</blockquote>The equation of the Bear with a Wagon is a reminiscence of the unification of various astronomy cultures: the wagons are Mesopotamian names while the bears have a Mediterranean origin.		Aratos, for his part, calls it ‘Hélikè’ (Spiral), and says that she was from Crete; she nursed Zeus, and for this she obtained the privilege of being honoured in heaven. The Little Dipper has a shining star on each corner of the quadrilateral and three bright ones on the tail. In all, there are seven. Below the second of those which lead the movement the movement towards the west, there is another star placed called the Pole, and we get the impression that the whole universe revolves around it. </blockquote><blockquote>'''Var. 2:''' The Little Dipper is commonly known as ‘Phoinikè’ (the Phoenician). Artemis held her in high esteem, due to the adventures we recounted earlier but as she didn't know that it was Zeus who had raped her, she turned her into a wild beast. It is said later Artemis, having understood what had happened, placed a second figure among the constellations to highlight her constellations, so that she would be doubly honoured. Aglaosthenes, in his Naxica, says that the figure in question was Kynosoura, who nursed Zeus and was one of the nymphs of Ida. And we find her name in the city called Histoi, founded by Nicostratus and his companions: the name of Kynosoura is that of the port of this city and of a place overlooking the city. The nymph came with the Telchines, who were the servants of Rhea, like the Couretes and the Dactyls of Ida. Aratos, for his part, calls her ‘Hélikè’ (Spiral), and says that she was from Crete; she nursed Zeus, and to which she owes its honour in the heavens. The Little Dipper has a shining star on each corner of the quadrilateral and three bright stars on its tail.</blockquote>The equation of the Bear with a Wagon is a reminiscence of the unification of various astronomy cultures: the wagons are Mesopotamian names while the bears have a Mediterranean origin.

YoulaAzkarrula: /* Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation */

2026-06-04T04:55:27Z

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:55, 4 June 2026
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	===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===		===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===
			<gallery>
			File:H.A. Rey's stick figure stellarium-081.png\|H.A. Rey's stick figure of Ursa Minor (1952)
			File:O. Hlad's stick figure stellarium-082.png\|O. Hlad's stick figure of Ursa Minor (1988)
			</gallery>

	==Mythology==		==Mythology==

YoulaAzkarrula at 10:56, 29 May 2026

2026-05-29T10:56:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:56, 29 May 2026
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	[[Category:Eurasia]]		[[Category:Eurasia]]
	[[Category:Constellation]]		[[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Asterism]]
	[[Category:Almagest]]		[[Category:Almagest]]
	[[Category:Mesopotamian]]		[[Category:Mesopotamian]]
	[[Category:West Asian]]		[[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Asian]]
	[[Category:Modern]]		[[Category:Modern]] [[Category:UMi]]
	[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]]		[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]]
	[[Category:European]]		[[Category:European]]

IanRidpath: /* Weblinks */ Added Warburg link

2026-05-20T09:48:18Z

Weblinks: Added Warburg link

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:48, 20 May 2026
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	==Weblinks==		==Weblinks==

	*		* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017039 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Ursa Minor]

	==References==		==References==

Sushoff at 13:06, 19 May 2026

2026-05-19T13:06:12Z

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	[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]]		[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]]
	[[Category:European]]		[[Category:European]]
	~~[[Category:4work]]~~

Sushoff at 12:57, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T12:57:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:57, 27 February 2026
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	===Origin of Constellation===		===Origin of Constellation===
	Homer, who mentions the Great Bear as early as 700 BC, does not mention a Little Bear. Either the constellation did not yet exist at that time or it was insignificant. Nevertheless, the Little Bear – like the Great Bear – is a Greek constellation. The Babylonian sky in the circumpolar region is very difficult to reconstruct because there are no rise and set dates for the constellations from which calculations could be made. German researchers like to assume that the German ‘Little Dipper’ is also the Babylonian ‘Chariot of Heaven’, but since the figure is neither particularly impressive to look at nor had any special function for navigation, this can be doubted. To be honest, we must say that, given the current state of the data, we cannot know exactly where the Babylonian ‘Wagon of Heaven’ was located.		<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref>Homer, who mentions the Great Bear as early as 700 BC, does not mention a Little Bear. Either the constellation did not yet exist at that time or it was insignificant. Nevertheless, the Little Bear – like the Great Bear – is a Greek constellation. The Babylonian sky in the circumpolar region is very difficult to reconstruct because there are no rise and set dates for the constellations from which calculations could be made. German researchers like to assume that the German ‘Little Dipper’ is also the Babylonian ‘Chariot of Heaven’, but since the figure is neither particularly impressive to look at nor had any special function for navigation, this can be doubted. To be honest, we must say that, given the current state of the data, we cannot know exactly where the Babylonian ‘Wagon of Heaven’ was located.

	Aratos calls this figure ‘Helike’ (curl), which fits the curved shape formed by the brighter stars. The arc of stars runs close to the north celestial pole.		Aratos calls this figure ‘Helike’ (curl), which fits the curved shape formed by the brighter stars. The arc of stars runs close to the north celestial pole.

Sushoff: /* Hipparchus */

2026-02-26T10:50:42Z

Hipparchus

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:50, 26 February 2026
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	===== Hipparchus =====		===== Hipparchus =====
			not a rising/ setting constellation

	===== Geminos =====		===== Geminos =====

Sushoff: /* Babylonian */

2026-02-26T10:43:17Z

Babylonian

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 26 February 2026
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	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====
			see

			* Babylonian ‘Wagon of Heaven’ [[MAR.GID2.DA AN.NA\|<sup>mul</sup>MAR.GID<sub>2</sub>.DA AN.NA]]

	==== Greco-Roman ====		==== Greco-Roman ====

Sushoff at 10:41, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T10:41:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:41, 26 February 2026
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	----		----
	[[File:Ursa Minor (umi).jpg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|UMi star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]		[[File:Ursa Minor (umi).jpg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|UMi star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]].		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. Ursa Minor, The Little Bear. The tail tip of Ursa Minor is the brightest star in the figure, but six of the seven stars in the Big Dipper are brighter – the star is only famous today because it is now almost exactly at the north celestial pole ([[Polaris]]). This was not the case for Greek and Phoenician navigation, nor for Babylonian astronomers, nor for the time of pyramid construction in Egypt. The greatest astronomer of antiquity, Hipparchus of Nicaea, even writes explicitly in the only surviving text he wrote that there is no North Star ([[Polaris]]). He writes to a student that there are people who speak of a star at the pole. Yet one should not be misled, he says, because the pole is ‘empty’ and only at some distance can one find four moderately bright stars.

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	~~The~~ Greek constellation ...		===Origin of Constellation===
			Homer, who mentions the Great Bear as early as 700 BC, does not mention a Little Bear. Either the constellation did not yet exist at that time or it was insignificant. Nevertheless, the Little Bear – like the Great Bear – is a Greek constellation. The Babylonian sky in the circumpolar region is very difficult to reconstruct because there are no rise and set dates for the constellations from which calculations could be made. German researchers like to assume that the German ‘Little Dipper’ is also the Babylonian ‘Chariot of Heaven’, but since the figure is neither particularly impressive to look at nor had any special function for navigation, this can be doubted. To be honest, we must say that, given the current state of the data, we cannot know exactly where the Babylonian ‘Wagon of Heaven’ was located.

			Aratos calls this figure ‘Helike’ (curl), which fits the curved shape formed by the brighter stars. The arc of stars runs close to the north celestial pole.

	~~===Origin~~ of ~~Constellation===~~		However, the absence of a pole star may not have been of great significance: at that time, most shipping was coastal, sailing at best across the Mediterranean or Black Sea. Navigation consisted largely of sighting land from time to time. This is not comparable to the weeks-long voyages across the Atlantic or the voyages of discovery in the Pacific during the Renaissance and early modern period. In this respect, ancient navigators did not need an exact North Star ([[Polaris]]), but only an approximate direction – and that is what the [[Ursa Major]] constellation provides. If you wanted to know more precisely, e.g. when planning architecture, you measured the position of the sun during the day and not the stars at night. When building houses, it is sufficient if the sun terrace is not facing north, i.e. only very rough directions are needed here. If you wanted to build temples or pyramids more precisely in a north-south direction, the shadow stick or sundial indicated the direction perfectly. All you had to do was record the shadow cast from sunrise to sunset. The midpoint then indicates the south direction – much more accurately than the stars, as long as there is no North Star. Measured over the course of a year, the midpoint between all sunrise points indicates east and the midpoint between all sunset points indicates west. So you can determine the cardinal directions very accurately with a sundial or a simple shadow stick (or an obelisk).

	==== Babylonian ====		==== Babylonian ====