"The Eagle"
Location: R.A. = 19h 30m, Dec. = 3 N
Mythology: Aquila stood
with Zeus during the disputes with the Titans over control of Olympus and
the Universe. Aquila carried Zeus' thunderbolts, which were used
to destroy the Titans, earning the bird the title Thunderbird.
Aquila is also related to the constellation
of Aquarius, or the Water Bearer. Aquarius, also known as Ganymede
(of which the moon of Jupiter is named), was the son of King Tros of Troy.
Ganymede was a very handsome young man, and Zeus was so taken with him
that he sent Aquila to abduct Ganymede to live on Olympus with the Gods.
On Mount Olympus, the boy served as the cup bearer to the Gods.
It was Aquila who was ordered to
carry out the punishment of the God Prometheus. Prometheus had stolen
a ray of sunlight, wrapped it in reed, and gave it to man as fire.
This angered Zeus, since humans now had an ability once unique to the Gods.
Zeus had Prometheus chained to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains.
Each day, Aquila would come and gnaw at Prometheus' liver. Since
Prometheus was a Titan, his liver would grow back each night, allowing
Aquila to return every day to punish Prometheus.
In one version of the story, the
constellation Sagittarius represents the arrow that slew Aquila.
It was Hercules who used the poisoned arrow to kill Aquila and therefore
ease Prometheus of his suffering (the poison was the blood of Hydra, which
Hercules also slain). Zeus rewarded the Eagle by placing it among
the stars.
Other: The star Altair in Aquila, along with Vega in the constellation of Lyra and Deneb in the constellation of Cygnus, comprise the famous asterism The Summer Triangle, which passes overhead during the month of August in the northern latitudes.