From the USM Southworth Planetarium
“A holiday from the hum-drum”
THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
November 2, 2009
An Orion Sample
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THE LAST WORD ON
HALLOWE’EN:
Thank you to everybody who
helped to make this year’s Hallowe’en
Party the most exciting and successful
yet.
We want to convey our appreciation to
those who both worked in our
“haunted, fog-free gallery” and those
who helped with the crowded Moon Witch shows
and the sold out Ghost Hour.
Thanks to: Cheryl, Eric, Marc, Joan, Maureen,
Michele, Patricia, Roberta, and Scott.
The planetarium’s success is a result of
the work of many people whose contributions
are valued and worthy of both praise
and public acknowledgment.
Thank you all
Thanks also to all those who attended!!
We hope to see you again soon.
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It is easy to entertain the notion that mythology is little more than love, romance, desire and all the consequences that inevitably ensue from the aforementioned. Certainly, if one wanted to find such sordid tales, it would be easy enough. However, there is more to night sky mythology that just bedrooms, bliss and boondoogles.
Regard, for instance, Orion. His adult life was indeed rife with lusty pursuits, and romantic entanglements that met a tragic end. Yet, his birth was another matter altogether.
One story about Orion’s arrival starts with Hyrieus, the mythical founder of Hyria (Boeotia). Hyrieus was a kindly fellow who harbored a secret sorrow: that he had remained childless even into advanced middle age. He often implored the gods to give him a child, but as his many entreaties were never answered, Hyrieus eventually decided that he would simply accept his fate and no longer prayed to the gods to remedy his problem.
One day, three strangers appeared at his door requesting rest and refreshment. Being a naturally good and generous person, Hyrieus opened his home to the men and gave them dinner. During the meal, the strangers asked Hyrieus if he had any sons to help him with his labors. He explained that, despite his many pleas to the heavens, he had no children. After the dinner was done, the oldest stranger instructed Hyrieus to fetch him a bull hide. Though perplexed by this instruction, Hyrieus nevertheless went out to the land behind his home and found the bull hide. The three strangers were standing by the table when Hyrieus entered the home and presented the oldest man with requested item.
The three strangers nodded politely to their host and then promptly left. Hyrieus watched them all
leave and was curious to see one of the strangers place the bull hide on the ground. He was then shocked
to witness one of the strangers urinating on it! Hyrieus knew that out in the wide world one could find many cultures and exotic people who had peculiar ways of expressing their gratitude, but the sight of a stranger making water on a bull hide was beyond his reckoning!
Imagine Hyrieus’ reaction when he then saw the oldest stranger lift up the now moistened bull hide before walking back to the house! The poor man was flummoxed! He had no idea what to say to them when they arrived. “Thanks for weeing on my bull hide” seemed a bit gauche. Fortunately, he didn’t need to say anything. After allowing the three men entrance into his house, Hyrieus was told by the oldest man to immediately bury the bull hide and then wait nine months.
The three strangers then left again, this time forever. Though baffled by the day’s events, Hyrieus felt a curiously strong compulsion to abide by the old man’s command. Hyrieus buried the bull hide close to the house. Nine months later, Hyrieus heard the sounds of crying outside. He went to investigate and discovered a baby in the spot where he had buried the hide on the night the strangers visited. He took the baby in and raised it as his own. He soon realized that his “son” was no ordinary child: he was taller and stronger than any mortal boy and matured much more quickly than any other chilld he had ever known.
Hyrieus soon understood that the baby did not have a usual lineage. He was told in a dream that the three strangers had been gods in disguise. The oldest was Zeus; the youngest Hermes; and the man who had urinated on the bull hide was Posideon. Zeus had often rewarded mortals for hospitality and this son was given to Hyrieus as a gift in honour of his kindness and generosity. The son created by this unusual method was destined to become the greatest hunter the world had ever known. In this same dream, Hyrieus was told to change the boy’s name to Orion, meaning “of the urine.”
So, you see, that the name “Orion” sounds like “urine” is no accident. They both had similar etymologies. This also explains why both Hyrieus and Neptune are both cited as Orion’s father. (His mother’s name is generally given as “?”)
This story does have a few drawbacks apart from the undeniable “ew” factor. One wonders why , a. the gods didn’t merely arrange for Hyrieus to be married, thereby enabling him to create a son the more conventional way or b. if Posideon had had enough wine during dinner to have been able to write his name.
So, next time you venture outside to admire Orion, be sure to take a moment to remember his birth and think to yourself: “Yuck!”
