"The Herdsman"
Mythology: Bootes is one
of the oldest known constellations. In fact, it is mentioned in Homer's
work, The Odyssey. Bootes, which is known as the Herdsman
or Beardriver, is also sometimes called the Ploughman because it is so
close to the Big Dipper, which some cultures call the Plough. Legend
would have us believe that Bootes invented the Plough. At a request
of the Goddess of Agriculture, Demeter, Zeus put the figure in the stars
to honor him and his invention.
Another version of the story of
Bootes begins with Zeus' infatuation with a beautiful young woman named
Callisto (after which a moon of Jupiter is named), the daughter of King
Lycaon of Arcadia. Zeus and Callisto became the parents of Arcas.
Because of this, Hera (Zeus' wife) became jealous and turned Callisto into
a bear. Later, King Lycaon invited Zeus to dinner. To test
Zeus, Lycaon had Arcas cut up and served as a meal to the Olympian God.
When he realized what had happened, Zeus killed the sons of Lycaon with
his thunderbolts and then turned Lycaon into a wolf. Zeus gathered
the pieces of Arcas and reassembled them. Arcas was given to the
Pleaide Maia to be raised. Later, when Arcas had grown, he was out
hunting and stumbled across the bear that was his mother, Callisto.
The bear ran to the temple of Zeus, with Arcas following her in an attempt
to slay the bear. Upon reaching the temple, Zeus brought both of
them to the sky -- Callisto became Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and Arcas
became the Bear Herder, Bootes.
There is another story regarding
the origin of Bootes. Icarius was wrongly accused by peasants of
having tried to poison them with wine, whose recipe he had received from
the Wine God Dionysius. After the peasants killed him, his dog Maera
ran to get Icarius' daughter Erigone. She was so struck with grief
that she committed suicide. The Gods were so touched by the story
that they were cast into the stars for all to see. Icarius became
Bootes; Erigone became Virgo; and Maera became Canis Minor, the small hunting
dog often associated with Orion.
Other Interesting Sights: The star Arcturus is the fourth brightest star in the sky and can be found by "arcing to Arcturus" off the handle of the Big Dipper. In other words, if you start with the cup end of the handle of the Big Dipper, follow the arc of the handle, and extend it into space, it will lead you to Arcturus. The popular expression "arcing to Arcturus" is often followed by: "and then speed to Spica," the bright star in the constellation of Virgo.