Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/125

Rh are found in the works of the ancients. Manilius thus refers to this peculiarity of the Herdsman:

And Aratos describes him as:

Boötes is an early riser so to speak, making up for his late hours, as he rises horizontally, "all at once," as Aratos wrote.

According to Allen the early Catholics knew Boötes as St. Sylvester. Caesius said it might represent the prophet Amos, the Herdsman or Shepherd, and Dr. Seiss thought it represented the Great Shepherd and Harvester of Souls.

The shepherd idea as connected with Boötes is borne out by its proximity to the Pole, which the Arabs regarded as a sheepfold, and Boötes has accordingly been called "Pastor" by some, meaning Shepherd. This title conforms to the title "Sibzianna" for the constellation, which appears on the ancient Euphratean star list, and which means "Shepherd of the Life of Heaven."

Burritt informs us that the ancient Greeks called this constellation "Lycaon," a name derived from which signifies "a wolf." The Hebrews called Boötes "Caleb Anubach," meaning "the Barking Dog," while the Latins among other names called it "Canis."

This allusion to a barking dog and a wolf in connection with Boötes seems to refer again to the Arabs' polar sheep-fold. Their imaginary picture contained a flock of sheep, a shepherd and his dog, and a wolf or hyena lurking near by in search of prey.

"Seginus," "Nekkar," and "Alkalurops" are names that have also been applied to this constellation, but now they appear as individual star names.