The constellation Scorpio seems to be referred to by Dante in his Purgatorio (ix. 4-6) in the lines—
“De gemma la sua fronte era lucenta
Poste in figura del fredda animale
Che con la coda percota la genta,”
perhaps suggested by Ovid’s remark—
“Scorpius exhibit caudaque menabitur unca.”[420]
Next to Scorpio comes Sagittarius, the Archer. It is said to have been placed in the sky as a symbol of Hercules, a hero who was held in the greatest veneration by the ancient Egyptians. The horse, usually associated with this constellation, was a symbol of war. It was also called by the ancients Chiron, Arcitenens, Minotaurus, Croton, etc. The Greek name was παυνί, or παωνί. Chiron was supposed to be the son of Saturn and Phillyra, and first taught men to ride on horses. The name is derived from the Greek χείρ, a hand. Some writers, however, think that Chiron is represented by the constellation of the Centaur, and others say that Sagittarius represents the Minotaur loved by Persephone. According to Dupuis, Sagittarius represents the 5th “labour of Hercules,” which consisted in hunting the birds of the lake Stymphalus, which ravaged the neighbouring countries. These birds are perhaps represented by Cygnus, Altair, and the Vulture (Lyra). The Lyre probably represents the musical instrument which Hercules used to frighten the birds.[421]
According to Al-Sufi, the Arabians called the stars γ, δ, ε, and η Sagittarii which form a quadrilateral figure, “the Ostrich which goes to the watering place,” because they compared the Milky Way to a river. They compared the stars σ, φ, τ, and ζ Sagittarii, which form another quadrilateral, to an ostrich which has drunk and returns from the “watering place.” He says that the star λ Sagittarii forms with these two “ostriches” a tent, and certainly the figure formed by λ, φ, ζ, ε, and δ is not unlike a tent. Al-Sufi says more about these “ostriches”; but the ideas of the old Arabians about the stars seem very fanciful.
A “temporary star” is recorded in the Chinese Annals of Ma-touan-lin as having appeared in May, B.C. 48, about 4° distant from μ Sagittarii. Another in the year 1011 A.D. appeared near the quadrilateral figure formed by the stars σ, τ, ζ, and φ Sagittarii. This may perhaps be identified with the object referred to by Hepidannus in the year 1012, which was of extraordinary brilliancy, and remained visible “in the southern part of the heavens during three months.” Another is mentioned near the same place in A.D. 386 (April to July).[422] The number of “temporary stars” recorded in this part of the heavens is very remarkable.
According to Brown, Sagittarius is depicted on a stone, cir. B.C. 1100, found at Bâbilu, and now in the British Museum.[423]
The next of the “signs of the Zodiac” is Capricornus, the Goat. In the Arabo-Latin edition of Ptolemy’s Almagest it is called Alcaucurus. It is supposed to represent Amalthea, the goat which nursed Jupiter. According to Dupuis it represented the 6th “labour of Hercules,” which was the cleaning out of the Augean stables.[424]