Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/562

424 at the fall of Troy, she fled from her sisters that she might not be obliged to gaze on the destruction of the city so precious in her sight. According to another story she veiled her face so that she could not see the city's fall. Because of these stories respecting her, she has often been regarded as the Lost Pleiad. Ovid called her "Atlantis," personifying the family.

Merope made the mistake of marrying beneath her. Her sisters chose gods for husbands, whereas she selected a mortal, Sisyphus, King of Corinth. She subsequently repented her choice, and hid her face in shame. On this account she is thought by some to be the Lost Pleiad. Her name signifies mortal, and Allen tells us that the star is enveloped in a faintly extended triangular nebulous haze, visually discovered by Temple in 1859.

Taygeta was the patron goddess of Sparta, since her son Lacedæmon founded that State.

Calæno is said to have been struck by lightning, and consequently is thought by some to be the Lost Pleiad.

Sterope, it is said, married Œnomaus. Their offspring was Hippodaima, a beautiful maiden. The star is a double one, as is Taygeta, and also lays claim to the distinction of being the Lost Pleiad.

Atlas, the father, has his star. Riccioli called the star "Pater Atlas." It represents the mighty man, who, condemned to bear the dome of heaven on his shoulders, was transformed into a mountain. It is a double star and I believe it does not bear claim to be the Lost Pleiad.

Pleione was the mother of the seven sisters, and her star may be the true Lost Pleiad, as the spectroscope reveals evidence of its variable character. It has been suggested that the Lost Pleiad may have been a nova, that is, a star which flashed out brilliantly for a time, only to fade away as its fires grew cold.

With the unaided eye seven stars can be seen in this group, although persons possessed of very keen eyesight have been able to count as many as fourteen stars. With a