Introduction
The Cancer constellation, a prominent zodiac sign, shines brightest from March to June in the northern sky. Its captivating history and mythology offer insights into its intriguing name and celestial presence.
History of the Cancer Constellation
The Cancer constellation dates back to ancient times, with records from the Babylonians in the 4th century BCE. They thought the stars formed a crab, which the Greeks and Romans later adopted. The word “cancer” comes from the Latin word for crab.
Mythology Behind the Cancer Constellation
In Greek mythology, the Cancer constellation links to Heracles (Hercules) and his twelve labors meant to atone for killing his wife and children. One labor involved killing the Hydra, a nine-headed serpent. The goddess Hera, who hated Heracles, sent a crab to distract him. Though the crab was killed, Hera placed it in the sky as a constellation to honor its bravery.
Another myth links the Cancer constellation to Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Hades, ruler of the underworld, kidnapped Persephone to make her his queen. Heartbroken, Demeter searched tirelessly for her. A crab pledged to assist her, and as a reward, Demeter honored it by placing the crab in the sky as a constellation.