Astronomy 280 Homework #1: Star Myths

Many groups of people have made up myths to explain their observations of natural events. Often these were told by master storytellers as their extended family relaxed around the campfire after supper. The main purpose of stories is, of course, entertainment, but there are usually nature and moral lessons as well. The myths listed below attempt to explain some part of the astronomical world.
Each student will choose a myth and tell it to the rest of the class in an exciting and dramatic fashion in less than five minutes. Since the room will be dark except for a simulated campfire you must tell the story from memory. Also tell the star lore and the moral of the tale.

Moon:

1. Rabbit in the Moon (India, Krupp, p 78) (Megan D.)
2. Rabbit in the Moon (Aztec, Mexico, Krupp, p 77) (Chris S.)
3. Heng O (China, Krupp, p 71) (Hung L.)

Seasons, Order

4. Creation of the World (China, Krupp, p 275) (Matt D.)
5. Glooskap (Algonquin, Canada, Krupp, p 86) (Will D.)
6. Sacred Pole of the Omaha (Omaha, USA, Krupp, p 283)
7. Daedalus and Icarus (Middle East, Hamilton, p 139)
8. Lindu (Estonia, Krupp, p 268) (Nathaniel F.)
9. Demeter and Persephone (Middle East, Hamilton, p 49) (Stef R.)
10. Phaethon (Middle East, Hamilton, p 131)

Constellations:

11. Ursa Major (Middle East, Hamilton, p 290, West)
12. Ursa Major (Wasco, USA, Erdoes and Ortiz, p 171, West) (Jon N.)
13. The Pleiades and Orion (Middle East, Hamilton, p 297, Burnham, West) (Michael S.)
14. The Pleiades and the Pine Tree (Cherokee, USA, Mooney, West) (Ted G.)
15. The Pleiades (Polynesia, Krupp, p 246) (Igor V.)
16. Cassiopeia and Cepheus (Middle East, Hamilton, p 146) (Chrissy V.)
17. Perseus and Pegasus (Middle East, Hamilton, p 141) (Ed K.)
18. Pegasus and Bellerophon (Middle East, Hamilton, p 134) (Kwang B.)
19. Hercules (Middle East, Hamilton, p 164) (needs two storytellers) (Nick M.)
20. Castor and Pollux (Middle East, Hamilton, p 41).
21. Lyra (Orpheus and Eurydice, Middle East, Hamilton, p 103) (Rich D.)
22. Taurus and Europa (Middle East, Hamilton, p 78) (Sean R.)
References:
- Allen, Richard H., Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Dover, New York, 1963
- Burnham, Robert, Astronomy, January, 1987, p 54
- Eddington, Arthur, Stars and Atoms, Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge, 1927
- Erdoes, Richard, Ortiz, Alfonso, American Indian Myths and Legends, Pantheon Books, New York, 1984
- Hamilton, Edith, Mythology, Mentor Books, New York, 1942
- Krupp. E.C., Beyond the Blue Horizon, Harper Collins, New York, 1991
- Mooney, James, Myths of the Cherokee, Smithsonian Institution, New York, 1970
- Motz, Lloyd, Nathanson, Carol, "The Constellations", Doubleday, New York, 1988
- West, M.L., www.csam.montclair.edu/~west/pleiadesmyths.html, / UMamyths.html

Storytelling will be Tuesday, January 30, 2007.