Page:Aratus The Phenomena and Diosemeia.pdf/94

 Saturn, who received the kingdom of the world from his bro- ther Titan on condition of not raising male children. Jupiter, in gratitude to his foster-nurses, gave them a place among the constellations.

'Eixn ye piv äropes 'Axatol Elv ali rexuaipovrai, va xpi vias dyweiv, TË 8 pa Polvikses wiorvos mepówore Bákarray. 37. Pleasing to sight is HELICE's bright team, And Grecian sailors hail her guiding beam.

The Greeks guided their course by the constellation Helice; but the Phœnicians, who were more skilful in astronomy and navigation, derived their observations from Cynosyra, the lesser constellation.

It is in reference to this custom that Homer applies the epithet "'EXIGes," "observing Helice," to the Greek sailors:

Tv μèv yap our vni Bon éxiKwes 'Axatoli 'E. Xpuony TéμTovoív...

"Esse duas Arctos, quarum Cynosura vocatur Sidoniis, Helicen Graia carina notat." (11 1. 389.) (Ovid.)

"Thales, qui diligenter de his rebus exquisivit et hanc pri- mus Arcton appellavit, natione fuit Phœnix, ut Herodotus Milesius dicit. Igitur omnes, qui Peloponnesum incolunt priore atuntur Areto. Phænices autem, quam a suo inventore acce- perunt, observant: et hac studiosius perspiciendo diligentius navigare existimantur et vere cam ab inventoris genere appellant." (Hyginus.)