Myths in the Sky: the Goat and the Water-Carrier

The Goat (lat. Capricornus)

This is an ancient zodiac constellation. The merry goat-legged God of the forests and groves Pan was dancing on the river bank, playing his flute. Suddenly he was attacked by a Typhon — a fire-spitting monster. Pan plunged into the water and a miracle happened to him: his body turned into the tail of a fish, while his fore—part changed into a goat. Zeus immortalized this transformation by placing the Goat in heaven.

^{Johannes Hevelius, atlas Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Map 35}

The Water-Carrier (lat. Aquarius)

The origin of the name of this zodiac constellation has been lost through the ages. In ancient Babylon during periods when the Sun was in the area occupied by this constellation, there were pouring tropical rains.

The Greeks called the constellation Deucalion. When Zeus decided to ruin mankind, he sent the Deluge to the Earth. Deucalion built a ship on which only his wife Pyrrha and he survived. In response to Deucalion's question about how mankind could be returned to life, the Themis oracle said it was necessary to throw his mother's bones over his shoulders. Deucalion understood that what was meant by his mother's bones were actually stones. The stones flung by Deucalion turned into men, and those hurled by Pyrrha became women. For his services in restoring humanity to life Deucalion was placed in heaven in the appearance of the Water-Carrier.

^{Johannes Hevelius, atlas Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Map 36}