"The Southern Crown"
Mythology:
Similar in shape to the Corona Borealis, visible in the Northern Hemisphere,
this constellation is said to be associated with Dionysius, the God of
Wine. Son of Zeus and Semele, a mortal woman with whom Zeus had an
affair (again!), Dionysius was a victim of the jealousy of Hera, Zeus'
wife.
Hera approached Semele while she was pregnant with Dionysius disguised
as the old woman who raised Semele. Hera (in disguise) told Semele
that she was doubtful that her unborn child was really the offspring of
the mighty Zeus. If it was really Zeus', then the next time they
were together Semele should ask Zeus to embrace her as he does his wife.
Thus was Hera's revenge.
When they met again, Semele asked Zeus to embrace her in his divine form,
just as he would embrace Hera. Although he knew the consequences
of this act, Zeus did it anyway, and as a result Semele was burned by the
"Glory of Zeus."
The story continues that the unborn Dionysius was removed from Semele's
womb and sewn into the thigh of Zeus, where he continued to grow.
Dionysius was born from Zeus' thigh, and is nick-named "The Twice Born"
since he was delivered both from the womb of Semele and the thigh of Zeus.
Dionysius was given to Ino, Semele's sister.
When he was older, Dionysius traveled to the underworld to rescue his mother,
leaving behind a gift of myrtle. To then honor his natural mother,
he paced the Southern Crown in the sky for all to see.