Great Hunter Orion In The Sky

Orion, legend of the hunter in the skies travels way back to Greek mythology when he was famed for his admiration of Artemis, resulting in the gods transforming Orion into a constellation. Orion has been a subject of interest to many ancient writers such Homer and Hesiod and often looked upon as a important tool for navigation by sailors.

Orion is said to be the son of Poseidon and Euryale. He is known as one of the great Greek lovers and it was said that he fathered over 50 sons to nymphs of the sea.

Orion was unsatisfied by his quests of the nymphs and landed in Chios where he chased after Merope, as one of the great Pleaides herself. It is said that Merope's father promised his daughter to Orion if the island was cleared of troublesome animals. In time Orion did so with very little trouble. The father loathsome to loose his daughter so easily asked Dionysus for help. Dionysus a god of wines and drink did so help by making Orion drunk so that he was blinded by satyrs.

Orion was said to have taken his prized Merope anyways, but the father would not allow the two to marry. As fates were kinder to Orion his sight eventually returned by going to visit Helios upon the ocean at the point where the sun first rises each day faraway in the east.

Upon reaching his destination in the east Helios is said to have restored Orion's sight and Helios's sister Eos, who is known as the dawn of the morning in legends fell immediately in love with the handsome hunter. Their passionate love is said to have given us our beautiful mornings and the blush of dawns.

Only time passing by would tell legends that Orion had more pursuits in love, later he proved ambitious enough to attack the goddess Artemis herself.

For his audacity Orion was cast into the stars by the gods. Below are the three stars of Orion's belt on the right with his dog Sirius as the brightest star in the sky.

Written by Homer, the Iliad shows Orion appearing upon the great shield of Achille's and notes Orion as a constellation made by Hephaistos. Appearing again later in Homer's writings, the next time Orion was very far from the stars and the heavens in the depth's of Hades.

Mentioned by Odysseus, Orion was hardly ever satisfied he continued chasing prey all over the earth armed with a weapons of indestructible bronze. Mentioned by Calypso, the COnstellation Orion had been used as a guide for Odysseus on his way home. Hesiod mentioned Orion's position in the night sky in several writings related to agricultural seasons, many additional constellations are useful for navigation as well.



The Pleaides; the seven sisters of the stars are seen in constant pursuit by Orion. All throughout myth's and legends it has been said that the Pleaides rise in the sky just before Orion symbolizing the chase.