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It is
one of the most conspicuous and recognizable constellations in the night sky.
[1]
It was named after
Orion, a hunter in Greek mythology. Its brightest stars are Rigel (Beta Orionis) and Betelgeuse (Alpha
Orionis), a blue-white and a red supergiant respectively. Many of the other brighter stars in the
constellation are hot, blue supergiant stars. The three stars in the middle of the constellation form an
asterism known as Orion's belt. The Orion Nebula is located south of Orion's belt.
Ancient Near East
The Babylonian star catalogues of the Late Bronze Age name Orion
MUL
SIPA.ZI.AN.NA,
[note 1]
"The Heavenly Shepherd" or "True Shepherd of Anu" - Anu being the chief god of the heavenly
realms.
[5]
The Babylonian constellation was sacred to Papshukal and Ninshubur, both minor gods
fulfilling the role of 'messenger to the gods'. Papshukal was closely associated with the figure of
a walking bird on Babylonian boundary stones, and on the star map the figure of the Rooster was
located below and behind the figure of the True Shepherdboth constellations represent the
herald of the gods, in his bird and human forms respectively.
[6]
The stars of Orion were associated with Osiris, the sun-god of rebirth and the afterlife, by the
ancient Egyptians.
[7][8][9]
Orion has also been identified with the Egyptian Pharaoh of the Fifth Dynasty called Unas who,
according to the Pyramid Texts, became great by eating the flesh of his mortal enemies and then
slaying and devouring the gods themselves. This was based on a belief in contagious magic
whereby consuming the flesh of great people would bring inheritance of their power.
[8]
After
devouring the gods and absorbing their spirits and powers, Unas journeys through the day and
night sky to become the star Sahu, or Orion.
[7]
The Pyramid Texts also show that the dead
Pharaoh was identified with the god Osiris, whose form in the stars was often said to be the
constellation Orion.
[7]
The Armenians identified their forefather Hayk with Orion. Hayk is also the name of the Orion
constellation in the Armenian translation of the Bible.
[10]
The Bible mentions Orion three times, naming it "Kesil" (, literally - fool). Though, this
name perhaps is etymologically connected with "Kislev", the name for the ninth month of the
Hebrew calendar (i.e. NovemberDecember), which, in turn, may derive from the Hebrew root
K-S-L as in the words "kesel, kisla" ( , , hope, positiveness), i.e. hope for winter rains.):
Job 9:9 ("He is the maker of the Bear and Orion"), Job 38:31 ("Can you loosen Orion`s belt?"),
and Amos 5:8 ("He who made the Pleiades and Orion"). In ancient Aram, the constellation was
known as N
e
phl, the Nephilim may have been Orion's descendants.
[11]