The Heavenly Waters
Fun Fact: These constellations are also part of our current constellations, but they have different roots!
Origins:
These constellations are still in our night sky, but they do not originate from Greek/Roman myth. For three of them, they have a Greek/Roman version, but the rest have stayed the same.
These constellations originated from ancient Mesopotamia. Because of their location and their two rivers, they believed that water is sacred. They praised the god of water, Ea, and associated a section of the sky with him and the Waters of the Abyss.
All of these constellations are associated with water in some way.
Delphinus
The little dolphin
Columba
The little dove
Equuleus
The little horse
Carina
Eridanus
The river that connects us all. Also referred to in Greek myth as the river that runs through Athens
Puppis
Puppis: the poop deck! or the stern of the ship
Piscis Austrinus
The southern fish
Carina: the keel of the ship
Vela
Vela: the sails of the ship
These three constellations combine to make a ship that travels the rivers in ancient Mesopotamia. The Greek/Roman version of this ship is the Argo, which was the ship of Jason.
Pyxis
Mariner’s compass