Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/196

136 which he is generally associated are known as "the Royal Family." They also comprise the so-called circumpolar constellations, and in these latitudes never set. They are especially noteworthy as illustrating the ancient legend of Perseus and Andromeda, one of the best known of all the classic myths and one that has survived all ages. It shows clearly that there was an effort made on the part of the inventor of these constellations to depict here on the imperishable scroll of heaven a drama that should survive all time. There is another such example, which we will come to later, of a like intent to connect a series of constellations, so that the stories that individually relate to each should in toto portray a complete history. It is as if each constellation was but an instalment of a serial story. This seems fairly good proof that some of the constellations, at least, were carefully thought out by one man, that design and not chance was responsible for their creation, and that the legends they represented antedated the invention of the several star groups.

Cepheus also figures as one of the Argonauts, the valiant band of heroes that sailed in the ship Argo in quest of the golden fleece, and was changed into a constellation at his death, Newton claims that all the ancient constellations relate in some way to this famous expedition. He argues that "as Musæus, one of the Argonauts, was the first Greek who made a celestial sphere, he would naturally delineate on it those figures which had some reference to the expedition. Accordingly, we have on our globes to this day, 'the Golden Ram' (Aries), the ensign of the ship in which Phryxus fled to Colchis, the scene of the Argonautic achievements. We have also the Bull (Taurus) with brazen hoofs tamed by Jason; the Twins (Gemini) Castor and Pollux two sailors with their mother Leda in the form of a Swan (Cygnus) and Argo, the ship itself. The watchful Dragon (Draco) Hydra, with the Cup (Crater) of Medea, and a raven (Corvus) upon its carcass, as an emblem of death; also Chiron (Sagittarius), the master of