Cetus Constellation, Bode, 1801

Cetus Constellation, Bode, 1801

Cetus constellation from Johann Elert Bode's Uranographia sive Astrorum Descriptio, 1801. Cetus is one of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. Its name refers to Cetus, a sea monster in Greek mythology. Cetus may have originally been associated with a whale, which would have had mythic status amongst Mesopotamian cultures. It is often now called the Whale, though it is most strongly associated with Cetus the sea monster, who was slain by Perseus as he saved the princess Andromeda from Poseidon's wrath. Cetus is located in a region of the sky called "The Sea" because many water associated constellations are placed there, including Eridanus, Pisces, Piscis Austrinus, Capricornus, and Aquarius. Cetus has been depicted many ways throughout its history. In the 17th century, Cetus was depicted as a "dragon fish" by Johannes Bayer. Both Willem Jansson Blaeu and Cellarius depicted Cetus as a whale-like creature in the same century. However, Cetus has also been variously depicted with animal heads attached to a piscine body.

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4800 x 3640 px | 50.0 MB

40.6 x 30.8 cm | 16.0 x 12.1 in (300 dpi)