Cancer (constellation)

History of the name

The early Sanskrit name of this constellation was Karka and Karkata, the Tamil Karkatan, and the Cingalese Kathaca. The later Hindus knew it as Kulira, from Κολουρος (Koloyros), the term originated by Proclus.

Related Topics:
Sanskrit - Tamil - Cingalese - Proclus

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Aratos called it Καρκινος (Karkinos), which Hipparchos and Ptolemy followed, the Carcinus of the Alfonsine Tables being Latinized form of of the Greek word. Eratosthenes extended this as Καρκινος, Ονοι, και Φατνη: the Crab, Asses, and Crib.

Related Topics:
Aratos - Hipparchos - Ptolemy - Alfonsine Tables - Eratosthenes

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Litoreus, Shore-inhabiting, is from Manilius and Ovid. Astacus and Cammarus appear with various classic writers. Nepa is from Cicero's De Finibus and the works of Columella, Plautus, and Varro - all signifying Crab, Lobster, or Scorpion.

Related Topics:
Manilius - Ovid - Cicero - Columella - Plautus - Varro

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Kircher said that in Coptic Egypt it was Κλαρια, the Bestia seu Statio Typhonis, the Power of Darkness. La Lande identified this with Anubis, one of the Egyptian divinities commonly associated with Sirius.

Related Topics:
Kircher - La Lande - Anubis - Sirius

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