| The name was applied originally to third brightest star in the sky, almost across the Pole from the Pleiades, and was extended to the constellation Boötes and to Ursa Major. The star's heliacal rising in the fall marked the beginning of the dangerous winter shipping season. Note possible confusion with King Arthur and see the interesting etymological connection drawn at http://www.geocities.com/~dubricius/arthur.html |
| "The days about the time of the heliacal rising of the Dog-star; noted from ancient times as the hottest and most unwholesome period of the year. They have been variously calculated, as depending on the greater dog-star (Sirius) or the lesser dog-star (Procyon); on the heliacal, or (by some in modern times) the cosmical rising of either of these (both of which also differ in different latitudes); and as preceding, following, or both preceding and following, one of these epochs; and their duration has been variously reckoned at from 30 to 54 days. In the latitude of Greenwich, the cosmical rising of Procyon now takes place about July 27, that of Sirius about Aug. 11; in Mediterranean latitudes, the former is somewhat later, the latter earlier. The heliacal rising is some days later than the cosmical; and all the phenomena now take place later in the year than in ancient times, owing to the precession of the equinoxes. Thus very different dates have been assigned for the dog-days, their beginning ranging from July 3 to Aug. 15. In current almanacs they are said to begin July 3 and end Aug. 11 (i.e. to be the 40 days preceding the cosmical rising of Sirius). The name (Gr. hemerai kynades, Lat. dies caniculares) arose from the pernicious qualities of the season being attributed to the 'influence'of the Dog-star; but it has long been popularly associated with the belief that at this season dogs are most apt to run mad." (OED s.v. dog-days) |
| A bright southern star used in navigation, not visible from the northern Mediterranean but only southward from approximately the latitude of the island of Rhodes. |
| A circumpolar constellation notable because it lies almost across the north pole from Ursa Major, about 11 hours away. |
| Originally "the configuration or position of 'stars' (i.e. planets) in regard to one another, as supposed to have 'influence' on terrestrial things; esp. their position at the time of a man's birth". (OED) |
| From 'North Star', the sense developed figuratively in all the languages to "something that serves for guidance or direction; a 'guiding star'... something that attracts attention by its brilliancy or beauty; a centre of attraction, interest, or admiration."(OED) |
| "The star Sirius, in the constellation of the Greater Dog, the brightest of the fixed stars. Also applied to Procyon (the Lesser Dog-star), a star of the first magnitude in the Lesser Dog." (OED) |
| When the guards are upright, the North Star (which is now about 1½ degrees from the Pole) is at the same elevation as the Pole. The position of the Guards relative to the Pole serve as a sky-clock. |
| Forms in -m- are from the Vulgar Latin variant Jacomus
of Jacobus < classical Latin Jacobus. Our Galaxy was likened to the various routes leading across Europe to the shrine of Santiago (St. James) of Compostela in northwestern Spain. The shrine was very popular in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. |
| Presumably so called because to Italian observers it appeared across the Alps. |
| The three closely spaced stars aligned in the middle of the constellation. |
| The season between the heliacal rising of the Pleiades in the spring (bringing rain) and their setting in the fall was considered favorable for sailing. |
| The brightest star in the sky, whose heliacal rising brings the dog-days. |
| Fixed stars were those that appeared firmly fixed in their positions, as against the planets, and the moon and the Sun (which, as they were wanderers too, were reckoned among the planets). The fixed stars were situated in the eighth heaven or sphere, known also as the firmament. |
| Sole occupant of the fourth heaven. |
| "The asterism comprising the seven bright stars in Ursa Major; known also as The Plough. As the name Arcturus was formerly sometimes applied loosely to the constellation Boötes and incorrectly to the Great Bear, the name Carlewayne-sterre occurs applied to the star Arcturus." (OED) |
| So named for its revolving around the Pole; cf. Eng. helix. |
| Used to locate the Pole and as the hour-hand of the sky-clock. |
| The moon, the knowledge of whose phases was important in the prediction of tides, moved in the first heaven, or sphere, above the earth. |