The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-08-04
the ancients imagined a winged ser
nent or dra gnn in the stars

the ancients imagined a winged ser
pent or dragon in the stars.
According to many authorities
Draco, or the constellation of the
dragon, is supposed to represent the
serpent that persuaded Eve to eat
the forbidden fruit in the Garden
of Eden.
We know that the constellation
was known to the Chaldeans in the
earliest days of their history. Il Is
probable that at that time the
dragon was imagined to have wings
and that the stars which later were
formed into the Great and Little
Bears formed the dragons wings.
Many Biblical students think that
Draco is referred to in the Book OF
Job, when it says; sg
by His spirit He hath garnished
the heavens; His hand hath formed
the crooked serpent"
In Greek mythology there are
number Of legends connected with
this constellation.
According to one, the gods had to
battle with a group of great giants
for the control of the earth. Aiding
the giants was a great serpent. The
goddess Minerva snatched up the
serpent before it had time to uncoil
and join the battle and hurled 1t into
the sky where We now see 1t. still
coiled up.
Represents Dragon
According to another legend, Ora
co represents the dragon killed by
Hercules.
Hercules was the son Of the god
Jupiter and the princess Alcmene.
AS youth he was distinguished for
his great strength. But the goddess
Juno. Jupiter's wife, hated him and
drove him insane while he was still
a yound man. In his madness he
killed his own children.
The goddess Minerva restored him
TO his right mind but Juno decreed
that because of his deeds while mad
he must carry out the commands Of
his cousin, Eurystheus. He gave
Hercules difficult tasks to perform,
hoping that he would be killed.
One was to steal the golden apples
Of Juno in the shadow of Mt. Atlas
in Africa. A dragon guarded the
apples. Hercules succeeded in kill
ing the dragon.
Then Juno, according to the leg
end, placed the dragon in the sky
where we see him now
Slain by Cadmus
According to the third story, Draco
Is the dragon slain by the hero Cad
mus, founder OF the city of Thebes.
Cadmus found the dragon stand
ing guard on the spot where the
city was to be built.
First, according to the legend. he
hurled a great stone at 1t. But the
stone had no effect Then he hurled
his javelin which pierced the mon
ster's hide.
The dragon rushed at him, breath
ing smoke and fire from his nostrils.
Cadmus retreated. holding his spear
before him. At last, his chance
came. The monster, when his head
was near the trunk of a great tree.
opened his mouth wide. Cadmus
thrust his spear forward pinning
the dragon through his throat to
the tree trunk. ~
Then the goddess Minerva COM
manded him to lake the teeth of the
dragon and SOW them in the field.
Immediately a crop Of armed men
sprang up. Cadmus thought he
would have to fight a new group of
enemies. But instead the armed
men took to quarreling with each
other.
They fought until only five war
riors remained. These five joined
with Cadmus and helped him build
the city of Thebes.
Next article A review of the cir
cumpolar consultations.
Copyright, 1924, by David Dietz)