Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog

Unlike Canis Major (see “Laelaps in the Sky with Diamonds”) Canis Minor isn’t really much of a constellation, just two stars.

Almost nobody knows where they are so you can sound pretty erudite by just picking out any two stars and saying with authority that is Canis Minor and reciting its origin.

The legend behind the constellation is that Icarius received the secret of winemaking from the Greek Wine God, Dionysius. Wine was known only to the gods at the time.

Some accounts say that Dionysius seduced Icarius’ daughter, Erigone, who gave birth to a child Staphylus whose name means “a bunch of grapes.” But that is probably just Olympia gossip. (see “virgin” below)

Mortals never seemed to learn not to mess with the secrets of the gods so when Icarius made some wine and gave it to the peasants, they thought they had been poisoned. Whether it lacked the right bouquet or was just not fruity or impudent enough is not known. At any rate they killed Icarius.

Grief stricken, Icarius’ loyal dog Maera ran home to tell Erigone what had happened. Erigone rushed to him and in a fit of grief and remorse that the Greeks were sometimes prone to at the time hanged herself. The loyal Maera remained there until he starved to death.

The gods had mercy on Icarius, Erigone, and Maera, for reasons known only to the gods, and transported them to the sky.

Icarius became the constellation Boőtes the herdsman, Erigone became Virgo the virgin, and Maera became Canis Minor, the lesser dog.

Canis Minor may have grown bored just hanging around the sky being a lesser dog, as later legends have him joining Canis Major and Orion the Hunter in their battle with Taurus the Bull.

Comments

[Marion]

I loved this post, Jan...and now I will consider myself an expert on finding Canis Minor. An expert at the story of it, at any rate, lol! Summer skies are so great for star watching!!

[Health Insurance]

Yup, the blog article is very informative thanks for for this information.

[jackie]

2 stars? only 2 stars..someone got gypted.

[Wendy]

These dog constellations are Sirius business.

[pam]

You must have been a wildly popular lit professor. This would have made a memorable lecture!

[dog toys]

I never thought about that, just another great info from you..

[Dennis the Vizsla]

The cool thing about being a constellation with just two stars is that you can be everywhere at once.