Star Lore Of All Ages/Delphinus

by William Tyler Olcott

Delphinus

The Dolphin

Delphinus

Delphinus
The Dolphin

The Dolphin small to sight floats o'er the Goat.
Aratos. 

This interesting little constellation lies in that region of the sky already alluded to as "the Sea," and near-by are the other maritime creatures, the Fishes, the Sea Goat, and the Whale.

In Ptolemy's catalogue Delphinus only contained ten stars; Burritt gives it eighteen, Argelander twenty, Heis thirty-one,—none brighter than the third magnitude. Allen thinks that the constellation originally may have included the stars set off by Hipparchus to form the asterism Equuleus.

In all astronomical literature, Delphinus has borne its present title and shape, but just why the Dolphin should be represented by these stars is not clear.

A favourite title for the constellation was "Vector Arionis," from the Greek fable which Burritt thus relates:

"The Dolphin was made a constellation by Neptune, because one of these beautiful fishes had persuaded the goddess Amphitrite, who had made a vow of perpetual celibacy, to become the wife of that deity;—but others maintain that it is the dolphin which preserved the famous lyric poet and musician Arion, who was a native of Lesbos, an island in the Archipelago. Arion went to Italy with Periander, tyrant of Corinth, where he obtained immense riches by his profession. Wishing to revisit his native country, the sailors of the ship in which he embarked resolved to murder him, and get possession of his wealth. Seeing them immovable in their resolution, Arion begged permission to play a tune upon his lute before he should be put to death. The melody of the instrument attracted a number of dolphins around the ship. He immediately precipitated himself into the sea, when one of them, it is asserted, carried him safe on his back to Tænarus, a promontory of Laconia, in Peloponnesus, whence he hastened to the court of Periander, who ordered all the sailors to be crucified at their return."

But (past belief) a dolphin's arched back
Preserved Arion from his destined wrack;
Secure he sits and with harmonious strains
Requites his bearer for his friendly pains.

Spenser pays the following tribute to the friendly dolphins:

"Then was there heard a most celestial sound
Of dainty music which did next ensue,
And, on the floating waters as enthroned,
Arion with his harp unto him drew
The ears and hearts of all that goodly crew;
Even when as yet the dolphin which him bore
Through the Ægean seas from pirates' view,
Stood still, by him astonished at his lore;
And all the raging seas for joy forgot to roar.

The dolphin is also said to have performed a friendly service in the cause of Justice. Hesiod, the famous poet, having been slain and his body cast into the sea, the dolphins recovered the body and conveyed it to the shore. Here it was found by his friends, who hunted down the assassins aided by the poet's dogs, and put them to death by drowning in the sea into which they had thrown Hesiod.

A curious coincidence is revealed by this legend, for here we find the dolphin identified with the preservation of a corpse, and the constellation is popularly known as "Job's Coffin." There can hardly be any connection between these similar allusions, as in all probability the title "Job's Photo by Brogi
Cupid and Dolphin
National Museum, Naples Coffin" was applied long after the constellation was known as "the Dolphin."

Allen says that he has been unable to learn the date and name of the inventor of the title "Job's Coffin," The stars in the constellation form a rectangular figure not unlike the shape of a coffin, which possibly accounts for the title.

We find the dolphin acting as a life-saver again in the rescue of Taras, the founder of Tarentum, in Italy, from a watery grave. The inhabitants of that city struck a coin in memory of this event.

Delphinus marked the 24th Hindu lunar station, known as "Most famous." In Greece Delphinus was the Sacred Fish, the creature being of as much religious significance there as the fish afterwards became among the early Christians. The Dolphin was also regarded as the messenger and favourite of Poseidon, and the sky emblem of philanthropy.

The Arabs called this constellation "the Riding Camel," and the early Christians are said to have believed that this star group represented the Cross of Jesus, transferred to the sky.

The dolphin has also been regarded as the fish which swallowed Jonah, although this title, properly speaking, should apply to Cetus the Whale. Schiller knew some of the stars in Delphinus as "the water pots of Cana." The Chinese called the four principal stars in that constellation, which form a diamond-shaped figure, "a gourd."

Delphinus in astrology was believed to have a special influence over the births and character of human beings.

It has been thought that this constellation was invented by a seafaring people, and this, with the neighbouring star groups, is evidence that the constellations were in all probability designed by dwellers on the coast.

Some regard the dolphin as one of the many animals worshipped in connection with Apollo. Again it is said to be the symbol of spring, and the opening of the season of navigation, and others claim that the title is derived from the name Delphi, as the festival known as "the Delphinia" was celebrated in May, and commemorated "the genial influence of the spring sun on the waters, in opening navigation, and in restoring life to the creatures of the wave, especially to the dolphins which were highly esteemed by the superstitious seafaring fishermen, merchants, etc."^[1]

The star names "Sualocin" and "Rotanev," applied to α and β Delphini, are interesting as presenting a mystery for many years. Webb finally discovered that reversing the spelling gave "Nicolaus Venator," the Latinised name of the assistant to the astronomer Piazzi, who is thus immortalised in starland.

The star γ Delphini is a fine double star for a small telescope, the colours gold and bluish green being in marked contrast, and very beautiful.

ε Delphini was known to the Chinese by the unattractive title "the Rotten Melon," certainly a singular and inappropriate name for any star.

Delphinus, in spite of the fact that it is one of the smallest constellations, is one of the best known, and its popular title, "Job's Coffin," has a wider vogue than the great majority of the constellation names.

1. The star and dolphin combined appear on a coin of the ancient people of Apulia who inhabited Italy before the time of the Romans.