Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/500

374 It was called "the Judge of Heaven," and "the High One of the Enclosure of Light." This title was also applied to Alpha Draconis, which was in very early times the Pole Star.

In China, Polaris was called "the Great Imperial Ruler of Heaven," and "the Emperor of Emperors," and it has been from ancient times an object of worship in that land.

The ancient Mayans of Yucatan knew it as "the North Star," "the Star of the Shield," and "the Guide of the Merchants." In the Alphonsine Tables it bears the name "Alruccabah," of uncertain origin. The Greeks called it "Cynosure," and the Romans "Cynosura." Our word "cynosure" gets its meaning from Polaris, which has always been the most observed of all stars.

The Arabic name for Polaris was "the Kid," and their astronomers called it "the star of the north." It was also known in Arabia as "the hole in which the axle of the earth was borne." There was a belief among the common people of Arabia that a fixed contemplation of this star would cure itching of the eyelids.

Poets of all nations in all periods of the world's history have sung the praises of the North Star.

Marvell writes of it:

Thomas Moore thus refers to it:

Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Rossetti, and Bryant have all alluded to Polaris in their poems.

During the Civil War, escaping slaves and Northern prisoners directed their way to a harbour of refuge and home by the friendly beams of Polaris.

The Turks call the North Star "Yilduz," the star par excellence, and have a story that its light was concealed