Why is the constellation Ursa Major called that? What is the origin of its curious name? Like all constellations, its name derives from the shape that appears by joining the “points” of the main stars. It is one of the most important constellations in the northern sky, already described by the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy over 2000 years ago.
In Greek mythology, the Big Dipper is linked to the figure of the nymph Callisto, with whom Zeus fell madly in love. At this point the versions of the myth differ a little: one of them says that Zeus and Callisto had a son named Arcas, but when Hera discovered it, to take revenge on Zeus, she transformed the nymph into a bear, pushing Arcas to kill her.
Zeus and Artemis, goddess of hunting of whom Callisto was the favorite nymph, stopped Arcas just in time to prevent him from killing his mother, transforming him into Ursa Minor. At that point Hera, enraged, asked the nymph Thetis for help to curse the two constellations, forcing them to revolve around the north celestial pole for eternity.
Another version of the myth says that it was Diana who transformed Callisto into the Big Dipper because she had not respected her oath to remain a virgin. When Arcade, son of Callisto, became a hunter, he decided to kill the Great Bear to defend Diana’s nymphs, unaware that she was his mother. Zeus then transformed him into Ursa Minor.
There are further myths about this wonderful constellation, such as that of the Native Americans according to which the Big Dipper represents seven brothers and a sister who, chased by their mother’s head, decapitated by their father, fled to the sky.
Now that you know everything about its origins, all you have to do is raise your eyes to the sky, also because winter is the best time to observe it.
SOURCES: Edu Inaf/Amsa Grosseto
