Star Lore Of All Ages/Perseus

by William Tyler Olcott

Perseus

The Champion

Perseus

Perseus
The Champion

Perseus seek for by her feet
Which ever at his shoulder are revolving.
Tallest of all his compeers at the North
He towers. His right hand stretches toward the chair
Of his bride's mother.
Frothingham's Aratos. 

In the legend of the sacrifice of Andromeda previously related Perseus figures as the hero, and hence we find his constellation situated close to the groups that represent the unfortunate maiden and the ferocious monster that sought to destroy her.

We can never be sure whether the constellation suggested the legend, or the legend the constellation. It may be, as one authority points out, that the legend was suggested by the fact that the constellation Perseus, rising before Andromeda, seems to deliver it from the night, which might well be depicted as a monster, such as appears in the figure of the constellation Cetus.

It seems, however, as if there were a deeper significance in this story that the stars illustrate, of a conflict between man and beast, with a human sacrifice at stake, and the eventual triumph of man.

We find among the stellar figures many conflicts of this nature depicted, and in no case do we find man overcome in the struggle that he is engaged in.

Hercules and Ophiuchus are seen respectively trampling underfoot or holding securely gigantic reptiles. The Archer is about to slay the Scorpion, and Orion threatens undismayed the advancing Bull. Perseus, flying from his victory over the dread Medusa, slays the monster of the deep, and rescues the fair Andromeda.

This universal victory of humanity over the animal world, depicted in the constellations, is one of the chief features of these time-honoured configurations, and is clearly indicative of the fact that the ancient star groups are the product of design and not chance.

Perseus, because of his gallantry, is known as "the Knight Errant of Mythology." The hero was the son of Jupiter and Danaë, and the favourite of the gods. His successful encounter with the Medusa rendered his name immortal, and at his death, it is said, he was transported to the starry skies, where he appears with upraised sword, holding the severed head of the Medusa up to the gaze of all mankind, for all time.

Plunket is of the opinion that the constellation was invented about 1433 b.c., as at that time the star Algol, the well-known variable and most interesting star in the constellation, exactly marked the equinoctial meridian.

"The northern latitude 40° N., suitable for the imagining of this constellation, and the name 'Perseus' seem to point," says Plunket, "to an Iranian school of astronomers as the probable originators of this figure."

Aratos, in an allusion to Perseus, describes him as "stirring up the dust in heaven," so great was his haste to rescue Andromeda. It has been suggested that the dust may be represented by the Milky Way, in a part of which the constellation is located.

Without doubt the story of Perseus was well known in Greece anterior to the 5th century b.c., for Euripides and Sophocles each wrote a drama based on Andromeda's history.

The Arabs called the constellation "Bearer of the Demon's Head," which is represented by the star β Persei, known generally as "Algol." Perseus has also been called "the Rescuer," and "the Destroyer." Dr. Seiss regards the figure as symbolising the Redeemer of Mankind, and others Photo by Hanfstaengl
Perseus and Andromeda
Painting by Rubens have claimed that Perseus represents David with the head of Goliath, and the Apostle Paul with his sword and book.

The constellation is 28° in length, one of the most extended in the heavens. Its principal stars form a curved line that bears the name of "the Segment of Perseus," a figure that is almost as much of a stellar landmark as the Great Square of Pegasus.

The most interesting star by far that the constellation contains is the variable "Algol," the so-called "Demon Star," or "Blinking Demon."

The variability of this remarkable star was first scientifically noted by Montanari in 1670, but it is tolerably clear that these light variations had been detected long before his day. Indeed the winking of this star, so to speak, probably influenced those who christened it, so that they likened it to the eye of some great demon peering down through space seeking his prey.

Goodricke, in 1782, was the first one to advance the eclipse theory to account for the variations in the light of this star, and since that date it has been under the constant observation of trained observers.

In 1880 Pickering reaffirmed the eclipse theory, and Vogel subsequently proved the theory unquestionably correct by means of that wonderful instrument the spectroscope.

During 2,5 days Algol is constant at magnitude 2.3. It then begins to diminish in brilliance, at first gradually, and afterwards with increasing rapidity to 3.5 magnitude during a period of about nine hours; its total period being stated as two days, twenty hours, forty-eight minutes, and fifty-five seconds.

In accordance with the eclipse theory to account for the variations of light in Algol, it has been proved that this star is accompanied by a great dark satellite as large as our sun, which at regular intervals passes between us and Algol, cutting off a portion of its light. Algol is said to be one million miles in diameter, while the diameter of the satellite is given as eight hundred thousand miles. The distance between these enormous bodies is three million miles. Both stars are probably surrounded by extensive atmospheres and their united mass is estimated to be two-thirds that of our own sun.

It is said that the famous astronomer Lalande, who died in Paris in 1807, was wont to remain whole nights, in his old age, upon the Pont Neuf, to exhibit to the curious the variations in the brilliancy of the star Algol.

In astrology Algol was considered the most unfortunate and dangerous star in the heavens.

Among the Hebrews Algol was said to represent Adam's mysterious first wife, Lilith. The star has also been called "the Medusa's or Gorgon's Head," "Satan's Head," ".the Spectre's Head," "Double Eye," and the Chinese knew Algol by the unsavoury name of "Piled up Corpses." The Arabs called the star "Al-Ghul," the Demon or "Fiend of the Woods," from which our word ghoul is derived.

Algol is a Sirian star, and is approaching our system at the rate of a mile a second. It is on the meridian at 9 p.m. Dec. 23d, and at that time is almost exactly in the zenith of New York City.

There are two beautiful star clusters in this constellation, situated in the "Sword Hand of the Champion," about midway between the "Segment of Perseus" and Cassiopeia.

Hipparchus refers to them as "a cloudy spot," while Ptolemy called them "a dense mass." They are visible to the naked eye, and present a beautiful appearance in an opera-glass. Seen through a telescope the glory of the sight is indescribable. In one of these clusters at least one hundred stars may be seen in an area less than one quarter as broad as the face of the full moon.

The well-known Perseid meteor shower, with its maximum about August 10th, radiates from this constellation. These meteors are sometimes called "the Tears of St. Lawrence," and the shower has been recorded as far back as the year 811.

α Persei, a star of the second magnitude, bears the name "Algenib," meaning the "Side." It has also been called Photo by Brogi
Perseus and Medusa
Bronze by Cellini at Florence "Marfac," meaning the "Elbow." It is flanked on either side by a bright star, and in this respect resembles Altair, the first magnitude star in Aquila.

ε Persei is a double star, "especially interesting," says Serviss, "on account of an alleged change of colour from blue to red which the smaller star undergoes coincidently with a variation of brightness."

η Persei is also a double star, noteworthy as having three faint stars on one side nearly in a line and one on the other forming a miniature representation of Jupiter and his satellites.

ξ and ο Persei bear respectively the names "Menkib" and "Atik."

"The Milky Way around Perseus," says Burritt, "is very vivid, being undoubtedly a rich stratum of fixed stars, presenting the most wonderful and sublime phenomenon of the Creator's power and greatness." Kohler, the astronomer, observed a beautiful nebula near the face of Perseus, besides eight other nebulous clusters in different parts of the constellation.

About midway between β and δ Persei there appeared Feb. 21, 1901, a nova or new star. It was discovered by Dr. Anderson of Edinburgh and when first seen was of 2.5 magnitude. It shone with a bluish-white light and two days after its discovery it was brighter than Capella, having in three days increased its brightness 25,000 fold. All novæ are temporary and rapidly diminish in brightness. Following the usual course Nova Persei became invisible to the naked eye in six weeks and its spectrum soon became nebulous. So terrific was the heat evolved that the gases expanded outward with a velocity of over 2000 miles a second, and the distance was so great that its light only reached us after a period estimated at 300 years, hence the collision which we witnessed by the advent of this new star must have occurred about the year 1600.

Nova Persei was the most brilliant star that has appeared since 1604.