CAPRICORN.

Η Ε Greeks give to this Sign the Name Αιγόκερος, και Αιγιπαν; The Latines Hircus Equeris: In Hebrew it is called Gedi; in Syriac Gadio; in Arabick Al Giedi; in the Perfian Buzeghale; in Turkish Uglack all fignifying a Kid or Goat. In the Coptick or Ægyptian Tongue it is called Hopeatus, i. e. Brachium Sacrificii. It is made up (by the general affent of Aftronomers) of 29 Stars, of which the firft and third are by the Arabs called Min Sad al Dabih, i. e. Exfortuna Mactantis; and simply, Dabigh, i. e. Mactans. The 23d and 24th Stars are called by them Sad Nabira, i. e. Fortuna averruncantis, vel divulgantis Nuncium; But the 24th, by a particular Name from its fituation, is called Danab al Giebi, i. e. Cauda Capricorni.----This was made a Constellation in honour of Ægipan the Son of Jupiter, by the Olenian Goat, or rather his Fofter-Brother, Son of Ega, the Wife of Pan, whence his Name; who as Baffus, in Germanic, from the Authority of Epimenides writes, affifted Jupiter in his Wars against the Titans, and Armed the Gods, and for that reafon honoured with this Coeleftial Dignity. The reafon of his being Figured half Goat half Fifh, Theon, the Scholaft of Aratus reports, was, That he finding on the Sea fhore an empty Murex, or Purple Shell, is faid to have wound it like a Horn, thereby ftriking a Panick fear into the Titans, and therefore they reprefented him with a Tail like a Sea Monster. Celebrated it is, according to the Doctrine of the Pythagoreans and Platonists, for being the Gate by which Souls afcend into Heaven, and therefore filed Porta Deorum. Schillerus afcribes this Afterifm to S. Simon: It afcends the Mid-heaven at Midnight about the end of July, and beginning of Auguft.

A Q VARIUS.

This 'His Sign is by the Greeks called eos, by Appian, Hydridurus; and in the fame fignification by the Arabs, Sakib al Mâ, i. e. Effufor Aque. It is by them likewife called Al Delu; and in Hebrew Deli; in Syriac Daulo; in the Perfian Tongue Dul; in the Turkish Kugha all fignifying an Urn, or Watering-Pot. The Egyptians or Copties call it Hupeutheron, i. e. Brachium Beneficii. There are reckoned therein, according to Ptolomy and Kepler, 45 Stars, whereof 3 inform. Of thefe Stars, the 2d and 3d are called in Arabick Sa'd al Melick, or Sa'd al Muck, the first fignifying Fortuna Regis, the latter Fortuna Opum & Subftantia. The 4th and 5th are called Sa'd al Sund, i. e. Fortuna fortunarum; under which are fome other Stars of lefs Note, called Al Ana. The 6th and 7th are called Sad Bula & al Bulaan, i. e. Fortuna Delutientis, or Delutientium. The 9th, 10th, and 11th Stars are called Sa'd al Abbija, i, e. Fortuna Tentoriorum: The 14th Star in this Conftellation being one of the first Magnitude,

is

is in Arabick called Diphda al Auwal, i. e. Rana prima. It is likewife called Phom al Haut al Gienubi, i. e. Os Pifis Auftralis,and commonly, but corruptly. Phamahant. This Afterifm is by fome Fabled to be Ganymede, the Cup-bearer of Jupiter; by fome Deucaleon: (whence by Vomanus this Sign is Intituled Deucalionis Aqua) By others Ariftens. By Schillerus this Sign is attributed to St. Jude, but by Schickardus to Naaman, 1 Reg. 25. 14.It is feen in the Meridian at Midnight, about the end of August and beginning of Septem ·ber:

T

PISCE S.

His Sign in the Greek is called ' us, and by the Jews accordingly, Dagaim, i. e. Duo Pifces; but the Arabs call it Al Hant, & al Samaca; the Syrians Nano; the Perfians Mahi; the Turks Balick; which fignifies a Fib in the fingular Number; fo likewife in the Coptick it is called Pikotoron, i.e. Pifcis Hori. The Northern of thefe Fibes is in the Arabick called Haut Albemali, i. e. Pifcis Borealis, and is known by the peculiar Name of Xendorias, as being represented by the Chaldeans with the Head of a Swallow; the reafon, as Scaliger conceives, because when the Sun is in this Sign, the Swallow begins to appear in thofe Regions: The Sonthern is called Haut al Gienubi, i. e. Pifcis Australis. The whole Conftellation confifts, according to Ptolomy, of 38 Stars, whereof 4 inform. The Stream, or Tenuis fufio Stellarum utriufque Pifcibus difpofita; Vitruvius calls Mercurii Domum feu Delicias, which Scaliger conceives ought to be read Lagneam; or as Pliny terms it, Commiffuram Pifcium. The Arabians call it Cheit, vel Cheit Kottani, i. e. Filum Linteum.- These are Fabled to be the Syrian Deitiés, according to Germanicus, Syria duo Numina Pifces; by which are understood Venus and Cupid, as Hyginus (from the Authority of Diognetus Erythraus) writes. For Venus, and her Son Cupid, coming to the River Euphrates, and frighted at the fudden appearance of the Giant Typhon, caft themselves into the River, and affumed the fhapes of Fishes, by which means they escaped from danger: For this reafon the Syrians abstain from Eating of Fifh, left they might happen to Eat up their Deities: But the Scholiaft of Germanicus (from Nigidius) writes, That these were the Fishes which turn'd or roll'd up upon the Bank of Euphrates a great Egg, upon which a Dove fitting, Hatch'd Venus, the Syrian Goddess. Schillerus will have these attribu ted to St. Matthias; but Schikardus to the two Fishes in the Gofpel, John 6. 9. -This Afterifm may be feen in the Meridian at Midnight, almoft the whole Months of September and Octo

ber.

F

II. Of

II. Of the Ancient Northern CONSTELLATIONS.

HELIC E.

;

Named by the Greeks; it is also called Urfa Major, &c. Plauftrum Majus; in Arabick Dub Ackber; it is likewife by the Arabs cal led Benat al Nofb al Cubra, i.e. Filia feretri Majoris,in regard the 4 Stars that make the Body of the Bear refemble a Bier,and the Three in the Tail, the Virgins or Maidsthat Attend the Corps: And for this Reason,the Chriftian Arabs call the four Stars Nafh Laâzar, i. e. Feretrum Lazari and the Three in the Tail, Mary Magdalen, Martha and their Maid by the Perfians it is called Haphtürengh Mihin, i, e. Septentrio Major; and by the Turks, Tidigher Tilduz, i. e. Septena stella, and by the Latins, Septem Triones. This Conftellation confifts of 35 Stars, whereof 8 inform. Of thefe Stars the 12 and 13 are called in Arabick al Nekra al Thâlitha, i, e. Cotyle, Scrobs feu Cavitas offis Tali; the 16 Dubr al Dub al Ackber, i. e. Dorfum Urfi Majoris; the 17 Meråk al Dub al Ackber, i. e. Epigaftrium Urfi Majoris; the 18 Mg'res al Dub al Ackber, i. e. Uroxygium Urfi Majoris; the 19 Phaid al Dub al Ackber, i. e. Femur Urfi Majoris; and thefe four laft Named make up al Nah al Cubra Feretrum Majus. The 20 and 21 are called al Phikra or rather al Nekra, al Thanija, i. e. Vertebra feu Cotyle fecunda; the 23 and 24 al Nekra al Ula, i, e. Vertebra feu Cotyle prima. The three Stars that make the Tail are called, al Renat, i. e. Filia; whereof the first is called al Haun, fignifying album Nubiculum; the fecond is called al Inak, or al Anak, i. e. Capella; the third Alkaid, i. e. Gubernator. This Constellation was first found out by Naupibus, and was Anciently the Greek Sea-Mens Guide; as the Leffer the Phenicians: The Reafon is, because to the Greeks, who Sailed the Mediteranean, Pontick and Euxine Seas, this Constellation was ftill apparent: But to the Sydonians, Phenicians and Carthagenians, who were more Southerly, part of the Greater Bear was either by the Pofition of the Sphere, or fome other Accident, fometimes depreft, or obfcured; but Cynofura always ap peared to them: And therefore, these last chofe the Leffer, and the Greeks the Greater Bear for their Directress.

Schillerus Attributes this Conftellation to St. Michael; but Hartfdorfus to one of Elifa's Bears, 2 Reg. 2. 24. Or the Wagon of Jacob,or Chariot of Jofeph, Gen. 45. 27, &c. 46. 29.

CTNO SR A.

So called by the Greeks, quafi Canis Canda; the Hebrews call it Genafb, i. e. Gallinam cum Filiis fuis; by the Arabs it is called Dub Afgher, i. e. Urfus Minor, and Benat al Nash al Sughra, i.e. Filia Feretri Minoris; by fome of them it is called Agiala, i. e. Plauftrum z by the Perfians it is called Haphurengh Kihn, i. e. Septentrio Minor ; the Star in the extremity of the Tail, is called by the Arabs Caucah She

mali; i. e. Stella Borealis; by the Turks, Tilduz Shemali; and abfolutely Tilduz, i.e, Stella; and by a peculiar Name in Arabick it is called Giedi, i. e. Hedus. The Italians call it Tramontana; and we, the Pole, or North Star. The two laft and brightest in the Feretrum,or Square,are called by the Arabs al Phercadan or al Pharcadein,i.e.Duo Vituli. The whole Conftellation confifting (according to Ptolomy) of Eight Stars, whereof one inform. Of the Fabulous Anaftrofis of this and the former Conftellation, Diadorus Siculus Reports, that these were the NurJes of Fupiter, and privately kept him from the fearch of Saturn, for which they were by him, in gratitude placed in the Heavens, and called by the Name of the two Bears, being Worfhipped with Divine Rights,by the Cretians and Sicilians, by whom they were Styled Dea Ma. tres. Others refer it to the Fable of Calisto and her Son Arcas; as Hefiod and Ovid. This Constellation was first discovered by Thales the Milefian, as Hyginus affirms, for which Reason it was called likewife Phanice, from Thales its Inventor,being by defcent a Phenician, who firft gave it the Name of Ardus or the Bear; but trulier fo denominated from the whole Nation of the Phænicians, who in their Navigations (before Thales) obferved her as their Direttrefs.

DRAC 0.

His Conftellation the Poets feign to have been the Dragon that kept the Hefperides flain by Hercules, and made an Afterism by Juno. Others will have the Dragon to be brought by the Giants, in their Flight with the Gods to oppofe Minerva, and by her to have been strangled and thrown up to Heaven, and there fix'd as a Trophy of her Victory. Schillerus Attributes this Afterifm to the H. Innocents; but Schickardus to Draco Infernus. It is called by the Greeks Aggxovros Aseccojos, by the Latines Draco; in Hebrew Tannin, i. e. Draco; by the Arabs Tinnin and Tannin, as the Hebrew; it is likewife by them likewife called Taaban, or rather Thuban, and in the fame fenfe by the Perfians Afbdeba, which is interpreted Serpens, qui Homines ac Beftias devorat. Some among the Arabians give it the Name of al Haija which is also appropriate to the Southern Conftellation of the fame kind. It is made up of 31 Stars; of which, the firft Star in the Tongue is by the Arabs called al Rakis, or Arrakis, i. e. Saltator, feu Tripudiator; the three next al Awaid, i. e. Pulfatores Teftudinis. The gth in the Head is called Ras al Tinnin, i. e. Caput Draconis. The 14, 15 and 16th are called al Thâphi, i. e. Chytropodes, from their Pofture, representing a Skillet with Feet, Tripon or Brandiron. The 20 and 21 are called Adphar al Dib, i. e. Ungula Lupi. The 27 is called Aldibeh, i. e. Victima, as being placed before that in the Horn of Capricorn called Sa'd al Dahih, i. e. Fortuna mactantis. This Conftellation is feen in the Meridian about the end of June.

T

ENGO NAS I

His Afterifm in Greek bears the Name of 'Erra Onad?wv, i. e. In= geniculus; and by fome of the Latines Nifus, vel Nixus, quia Lahoranti fimilis; by the Arabs Giathi ala Rucbeteihi, i. e. Incumbens Genis bus. The Number of Stars in this Constellation are by Ptolomy reckoned to be 29, of which the firit is called Ras al Giathi, i. e. Caput Ingeniculi and commonly Aas al Aben. That in the Elbow from its feituation, is called Marphak, that in his Wrift Mis'am, i. e. Carpus, and commonly Maafym. This Conftellation fome will have to reprefent Thefens or Ixion others Orpheus or Promotheus; others Thameris or Thamyras a Thraftan Poet; who contending with the Mufes for Skill, and by them overcome, was punished with the lofs of his Eyes; and in the Memorial of their Victory, plac'd in the Heavens in a fupplicatory Posture, as deprecating his Punishment: But Panyafes will have this Afterifm to reprefent Hercules. This Constellation comes to the Meridian at Midnight in the Month of June.

ARCTO PHT LAX or BOOTES.

Retophylax and Bootes are one and the fame Conftellation; the First

A for air

fignifying Custos Urforum, the Latter fo called Boos, i. e. Bovis, '0iv, i. c. pellere, quafi Boum Agitator; but in the Eastern Tongues the fame feems to be deriv'd à Bozv, i. e. a Clamando, whence by the Arabs called al Auwa, i.e. Vociferator, and al Neckar, i. e. Foffor feu Paftinator.It confifts of 23 Stars.- This fome Fable to be Lycaon others Arcas, the Son of Califto his Daughter by Jupiter; the Scholiaft of Germanicus makes it to be the Conftellation of Icarus; and accordingly Propertius ftiles the Septentriones, Icarus his Oxen, in this Verse,

Flectum Icarii Sidera tarda Boves.

*

Which Conftellation is feen upon the Meridian at Midnight about the beginning of May.

S

ARCTURU S.

Ome will have this Star fo called, quafi ab Sveg 'Apx i. e. a Cauda Urfa; but trulier, ad augs 'Agure, i. e. Cuftos Urfe, in the fame sense as Arctophylax. This the Arabs call al Simak al Ramih, i. e. Efferens Histeferim; in the common Globes and Hemispheres falfly Huzme.

THis

ARIADNES CROWN.

His by the Greeks is called sçaves #gros, i. e. Corona Borealis, & Prima; and accordingly by the Arabs, al Iclil Almani, i. e. Corona Borealis, and fimply Al Iclil, i. e. Corona: It is by them likewife called al Phecea, i. e. Apertio; in Hebrew Kir Schetali, i. e. Corona Siniftra; and in Chaldee, Melphelcarti, i. e. Sertum Pupille. The Constellation is in Form of a Circle not compleated, and therefore

by