The Legend of Cygnus Cygnus: this is a bright northern constellation whose stars do not lose their brilliance even though the constellation overlaps the Milky Way. It is also known as the Northern Cross. In an ancient star list from the Euphrates region, the swan was called Bird of the Forest. The Arabs called it the Flying Eagle or the Hen, and it was also known as the Hen in early Egypt. The name of the bright star Deneb means tail in Arabic. It is sometimes considered to represent Orpheus who played his lyre to win the soul of his departed wife.
Greece: Several myths concerning Zeus transforming himself into a swan in order to seduce some passing maiden abound. Two other stories explain the origin of the constellation differently. Cycnus, son of Apollo and Hyria gave three impossible tasks to the hero Phylius to perform. When Phylius was successful, Cycnus threw himself into a lake and drowned himself in shame. His mother, Hyria, threw herself into the lake in despair and they were both transformed into swans.
The poet Ovid describes the story of Cygnus, brother of Phaëthon, who roamed the land in search of his brother's body when he died following his fall to Earth from the chariot of the sun. Phaëthon's tortured body had fallen into the River Eridanus. Cygnus threw himself into the water and repeatedly dove beneath the surface in search of Phaëthon. In mercy, the gods transformed him into a swan. This story explains why swans wander over water seemingly in search of something and deep in thought and occasionally plunge their heads below the surface. And you thought they were just eating! See the Greek legends of Eridanus and Lyra.
Christian legend: the true cross on which Christ had drawn his last breath was supposedly discovered by Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine, three centuries after the crucifixion. It is believed that the constellation represents a holy sign since it appears upright above the Western Hills at nine o'clock on the night before Christmas.Back to the Constellations
