the famous three Stymphalian Birds of mythology were represented by the constellations Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra, grouped near Hercules, whose fifth labour it was to slay them.
On the coins of many ancient countries the eagle appears. On the coinage of Sinope it is shown perched on the dolphin. In connection with the story of Ganymede, it appears on the coinage of Chalcis and Dardanos. One coin bearing the prominent stars, says Allen, was struck in Rome in 94 b.c., by Manius Nepos, and a coin of Agrigentum bears Aquila, with Cancer on the reverse,—the one setting as the other rises.
The Chinese have here the Draught Oxen mentioned in the book of Odes, compiled about 500 b.c., and strangely enough Alpha Aquilæ, or Altair, is known among the Japanese as the boy with the ox.[1]
This constellation and Lyra are associated with the curious Chinese legend of the Spinning Damsel and the Magpie Bridge, a legend current in Korea also. It is as follows: A cowherd fell in love with the spinning damsel. Her father in anger banished them both to the sky, where the cowherd became α, β and γ Aquilæ, and the spinning damsel the constellation Lyra. The father decreed that they should meet once a year, if they could contrive to cross the river (the Milky Way). This they were enabled to do by their friends the magpies, who still once a year, the seventh night of the seventh moon, congregate at the crossing point, and form a bridge for them to pass over. In Korea if a magpie is seen about its usual haunts at this time the children stone it for shirking its duty. According to Lafcadio Hearn, this legend is the basis of the Japanese festival called "Tanabata." The sky lovers here are known as "the Herdsman and the Weaver," and when the meeting occurs it is said that the lover stars burn with five different colours. If rain falls at the time set
- ↑ The early Christians likened this figure to St. Katharine and the Standard of Rome.
