"The Arrow"
Mythology: Like
many other constellations, Sagitta can be found in several accounts of
classical mythology. Even though this simple constellation is not
a famous person, hero, or animal, the arrow was a common weapon during
the times considered (Ancient Greece and Rome).
Since Apollo was well known as being an archer, it is not surprising to
learn that many accounts claim this Arrow belonged to him. Apollo's
son was Asclepius (depicted by the constellation Ophiuchus -- the Snake
Handler), who became the God of Healing. (Interesting note:
the first line of the Hippocratic Oath, taken by physicians, is:
"I swear by Apollo the physician, and Asclepius . . .") The story
of Asclepius tells us that he became so talented at healing that he could
even bring the dead back to life. This skill upset the God of the
Underworld, who complained to Zeus; he no longer had lost souls.
As a result, Zeus killed Asclepius with a thunderbolt. The thunderbolts
that Zeus is famous for throwing were forged by three Cyclopes (giants
with one eye) and brought to Zeus by Aquila the Eagle. To avenge
his son's death, Apollo used the Arrow Sagitta to slay the Cyclops.
Other accounts attribute Sagitta to Heracles, or as we know him today,
Hercules. The God Prometheus had been punished by Zeus for giving
fire to humans, and thus giving humans a power that had once been unique
to the Olympian Gods. Prometheus was chained to a rock in the Caucasus
mountains, and every day an eagle would torture him by pecking and eating
his liver. Since Prometheus was a God, he healed every night so the
eagle could torture him the next day. Hercules freed Prometheus when
he slew the eagle with the Arrow, which we now see in the sky as the constellation
Sagitta. (To be completely free, Chiron the Centaur had to die for
Prometheus to be completely free.)
Now, for you romantics: Many of us have heard the entertaining stories
of "Cupid's Arrows." Well, they are not far from the truth.
Eros, the God of Love, is said to use the Arrow depicted by Sagitta to
empassion Zeus to Ganymede, a young boy Zeus brought to Mount Olympus to
act as Cup Bearer to the Gods. Ganymede is depicted by the constellation
Aquarius. Further, the constellation Aquila shows the Eagle carrying
the boy to Olympus for Zeus.
Note: Ganymede is the name of the third Galilean Moon around Jupiter.