Folklore: Making Sense of Folklore: Making Sense of the Skiesthe Skies

(Stories of the Stars)(Stories of the Stars)

Since the dawn of time…Since the dawn of time…

People have looked to the stars:People have looked to the stars:For navigationFor navigationTo tell timeTo tell timeFor entertainment and religion For entertainment and religion

Astrological MythologyAstrological Mythology

Most every early culture had some mythology Most every early culture had some mythology involving the sun. In the link there are all the involving the sun. In the link there are all the different names of the mythological gods that different names of the mythological gods that some of these cultures worshiped. some of these cultures worshiped.

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The most popular that are studied and known The most popular that are studied and known today are those from the ancient Greek and today are those from the ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures.Egyptian cultures.

Gods of the SkyGods of the Sky

Africa: OlorunAfrica: Olorun Olorun, whose name means "owner" is the sky-Olorun, whose name means "owner" is the sky-

god of the Yoruba people. He is also known as god of the Yoruba people. He is also known as Olodumare (Almighty). According to the Yoruba Olodumare (Almighty). According to the Yoruba people, Olorun created the world and mankind. people, Olorun created the world and mankind. At one time the At one time the EarthEarth was very watery. was very watery.

Olorun had a snail shell, a hen, a pigeon, and Olorun had a snail shell, a hen, a pigeon, and some earth. Olorun threw the earth in one small some earth. Olorun threw the earth in one small point of the Earth and put on it the hen and point of the Earth and put on it the hen and pigeon. The two animals spread the Earth and pigeon. The two animals spread the Earth and created solid ground. created solid ground.

Egypt: HorusEgypt: HorusHorus was a fierce and proud ancient Horus was a fierce and proud ancient

Egyptian god. He was the son of Osiris, Egyptian god. He was the son of Osiris, the god of air and the Earth, and the the god of air and the Earth, and the goddess Isis. goddess Isis.

Greek: ZeusGreek: ZeusRoman: JupiterRoman: Jupiter In Greek mythology, Zeus (Jupiter in In Greek mythology, Zeus (Jupiter in

Roman mythology) was the king of heaven Roman mythology) was the king of heaven and Earth and of all the Olympian gods.and Earth and of all the Olympian gods.

He was also known as the god of justice. He was also known as the god of justice. He was named king of the gods in the He was named king of the gods in the special meeting that followed his overthrow special meeting that followed his overthrow of the god of the god CronusCronus and the Titans. and the Titans.

ConstellationsConstellations

Constellations are formed of bright stars Constellations are formed of bright stars which appear close to each other on the which appear close to each other on the sky, but are really far apart in space. sky, but are really far apart in space.

The shapes you see all depend on your The shapes you see all depend on your point of viewpoint of view. Many societies saw patterns . Many societies saw patterns among the stars with among the stars with gods and goddessesgods and goddesses or stories from their culture. or stories from their culture.

Constellations Continued…Constellations Continued…

Many peoples noticed that the Many peoples noticed that the planets,planets, the the moon,moon, and and cometscomets moved through the sky moved through the sky in a different way than the stars. in a different way than the stars.

Because of the Because of the rotation of the Earthrotation of the Earth and its and its orbitorbit around the Sun, we divide the around the Sun, we divide the constellations into two groups. constellations into two groups.

Two Groups of ConstellationsTwo Groups of Constellations

Some constellations never rise nor set, Some constellations never rise nor set, and they are called and they are called circumpolarcircumpolar. .

All the rest are divided into All the rest are divided into seasonalseasonal constellations. Which constellations will be constellations. Which constellations will be circumpolar and which seasonal depends circumpolar and which seasonal depends on your latitude.on your latitude.

There are Many ConstellationsThere are Many Constellations

Ursa Major (Changing Bear Ursa Major (Changing Bear Maiden) Maiden)

In Navajo myth, In Navajo myth, UrsaUrsa Major Major, the Great Bear, originated , the Great Bear, originated from the story of the Changing Bear Maiden. In the story, from the story of the Changing Bear Maiden. In the story, a girl accepts a bear as her husband. Her younger sister a girl accepts a bear as her husband. Her younger sister tells the father, who in turn kills the bear. The older sister tells the father, who in turn kills the bear. The older sister changes into a bear to get revenge. changes into a bear to get revenge.

The younger sister and seven brothers tried to flea their The younger sister and seven brothers tried to flea their sister. The bear turns back into a girl and chases after sister. The bear turns back into a girl and chases after her siblings. She eventually killed six of the brothers. her siblings. She eventually killed six of the brothers.

The seven brothers flew up into the sky and became The seven brothers flew up into the sky and became Ursa Major. Ursa Major. This constellation is also known as the “Big Dipper.”This constellation is also known as the “Big Dipper.”

Orion and ScorpioOrion and Scorpio The ancient Greeks saw the figure of the Greek myth The ancient Greeks saw the figure of the Greek myth

Orion in the nighttime sky. Orion in the nighttime sky. Orion was a very handsome and strong man. Orion was a very handsome and strong man. He was such a good hunter that he was hired by the king He was such a good hunter that he was hired by the king

Oenopion to kill the ferocious beasts that were terrifying Oenopion to kill the ferocious beasts that were terrifying the habitants of the island Chios. the habitants of the island Chios.

Happy for his success, Orion said he would kill all the Happy for his success, Orion said he would kill all the wild animals on the earth. But. the earth goddess wild animals on the earth. But. the earth goddess GaiaGaia, , who was the mother of all animals, was not pleased with who was the mother of all animals, was not pleased with Orion's intention. Orion's intention.

Then, Gaia set an enormous scorpion on Orion. Orion Then, Gaia set an enormous scorpion on Orion. Orion soon realized that his strength and sword were useless soon realized that his strength and sword were useless against that mighty beast. against that mighty beast.

He tried to escape, but the scorpion stung him to death. He tried to escape, but the scorpion stung him to death. As a reward, Gaia placed the scorpion in the sky as a As a reward, Gaia placed the scorpion in the sky as a constellationconstellation which appears to be constantly chasing which appears to be constantly chasing after Orion whose figure was also placed among the after Orion whose figure was also placed among the stars.stars.

Create Your Own ConstellationCreate Your Own Constellation

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Shoe Box PlanetariumShoe Box Planetarium

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Identify ConstellationsIdentify Constellations

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