Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/492

366 placed holes in it, each of which contained a star before 1850. Since that date only one star is visible.

Twenty stars in this constellation have received individual names,—evidence enough, says Allen, of its antiquity and popularity. The following is a partial list of the titles conferred on this celebrated star group by the various peoples of the earth from remote antiquity.

Ursa Major was known:

In the Euphratean Star List—as the Lord of Heaven.

On the Assyrian Tablets—as the Long Chariot.

In Egypt—it was the Thigh, Bull's Thigh, Fore Shank, Dog of Set, the Hippopotamus, and in later days the Car of Osiris.

The old Hindus called it the Seven Rishis or Wise Men.

In India—it was the Seven Bears, Seven Antelopes, Seven Bulls, Great Spotted Bull, and the abode of Seven Poets or Sages who entered the ark with Minos.

In China—it was the Ladle, the Bushel, the Government, the Divinity of the North, the Corn Measurer.

In Greece and Babylonia—the Chariot, the Plough, Helice, and Callisto.

The Christian Arabs knew the four stars in the bowl of the Dipper as the Bier or Great Coffin,—the three stars in the handle were the daughters of the Bier, Mary, Martha, and their maid.

In Rome—it was the Triones, Septentriones.

To the Hebrews—it was a Bier.

To the Syrians—it was a Wild Boar.

To the Druids—it was Arthur's Chariot.

The Seven Stars have also been known as the Seven Wise Men of Greece, the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, and the Seven Champions of Christendom; the Butcher's Cleaver, the Big Dipper, the Brood Hen, and the Screw.

In the Middle Ages, Ursa Major was regarded by some as one of the bears sent by Elisha the prophet to devour the mocking boys, others thought it represented the Chariot of Elias.