The Constellation
Corvus |
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Mythology and History |
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The Raven. |
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On day the Sun-god, Apollo, sent his pet raven down to Earth
to bring the thirsty god a cup of fresh water. Apollo's sacred raven
was not a very dependable bird. On arriving at the spring the raven
saw that a fig tree was just beginning to bear fruit. |
"What matter if I wait only a few
days until the fruit ripens?" the raven asked itself. And it waited.
When the fruit ripened the raven then stayed several more days eating the
fruit until it was all gone. He then filled the cup with fresh spring
water but realized that his master would be angry for the long delay.
Then he noticed a water-serpent nearby and grasped it in his claws.
So with cup in mouth and serpent dangling from his claws, the raven flew
up to Heaven. He explained to Apollo that the serpent had attacked
him and that is what caused the delay.
Apollo was not taken in by the lie.
And he was so angry with the bird that he flung him, cup and serpent out
of Heaven. Today we see them together in the sky as Crater, the Cup,
and Corvus, the Raven, perched on the serpent's back. This myth gave
rise to two alternate manes for Corvus as a constellation: Avis
Ficarius, or "the Fig Bird," and Emansor, or "One Who Lingers
Too Long." For the Greeks, this story explains why, of all
birds, the raven does not carry water to its young.
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