- Dogstar The brightest star visible from any part of Earth is Sirius. Sirius is sometimes called the Dog Star. It is located in the constellation Canis Major or the Greater Dog. Although white to blue white in color, Sirius is also called the rainbow star, as it often flickers with many colors.The brightness, twinkling and color changes sometimes prompt people to report Sirius as a UFO ! The shimmering and color changes happen for other stars, but are more noticeable for Sirius because Sirius is so bright.
- Greeks and Romans -- The dog days of summer occurred around the days when Sirius appeared to rise just before the sun, in late July. These days, were the hottest time of the year. Sirius was the god or goddess of the Dog Star. It appears in many guises in myth. He or she was variously described as Maira or Maera daughter of the Titan Atlas, Maira the dog of the hero Icarius, Lailaps or Laelaps the hound of Orion.When Zeus was a baby, a dog, known only as the “golden hound” was charged with protecting the future King of Gods. . The star was also connected with the dog loving goddess Hekate , daughter of Perses.
Florence and the Machine
Dog Days Are Over
- Egyptians -- The name Sirius signified its nature as scorching or sparkling. The star was associated with the Egyptian gods Osiris, Sopdet and other gods. Ancient Egyptians noted that Sirius rose just before the sun each year, immediately prior to the annual flooding of the Nile River. Although the floods could bring destruction, they also brought new soil and new life. Osiris was an Egyptian god of life, death, fertility and rebirth of plant life along the Nile. Sopdet who might have an even closer association with the star Sirius began as an agricultural deity in Egypt, also closely associated with the Nile. The Egyptian new year was celebrated with a festival known as The Coming of Sopdet.
- In India -- Sirius is sometimes known as Svana, the dog of Prince Yudhistira. The prince and his four brothers, along with Svana, set out on a long and arduous journey to find the kingdom of heaven. However, one by one the brothers all abandoned the search until only Yudhistira and his dog, Svana, were left. At long last they came to the gates of heaven. The gatekeeper, Indra, welcomed the prince but denied Svana entrance. Yudhistira was aghast and told Indra that he could not forsake his good and faithful servant and friend. His brothers, Yudhistira said, had abandoned the journey to heaven to follow their hearts’ desires. But Svana, who had given his heart freely, chose to follow.
- Romulus and Remus and the Wolf -- Legend has that the twins Romulus and Remus were born around 770BC, the sons of a mortal priestess, Rhea Silvia, and the Roman god of war, Mars. The boys were abandoned at birth and thrown into the River Tiber in a cradle. However, they were rescued by a she-wolf, taken to her cave lair, and suckled on her milk. After being found by the shepherd, Faustulus, and raised to adulthood, the twins decided to establish a city where the wolf had nursed them, Rome. However, the pair argued about who had the support of the gods, and Romulus killed Remus and became king of Rome. Roman scholars record that Romulus also created Rome's military system and senate, and conquered many areas of modern Italy for his city before death. He was deified as the devine spirit of Rome and the Roman people.
Trivia
A black dog is a spectral or demonic entity found primarily in the
folklore of the British Isles. The black dog is essentially a nocturnal
apparition, some of them shapeshifters, and are often said to be
associated with the Devil or described as a ghost or hellhound. Its
appearance was regarded as a portent of death. It is generally supposed
to be larger than a normal dog and often has large glowing eyes.
Music Trivia
In 1976,the song Shannon was a big hit written about Brian Wilson"s, dog. Who got lost at sea. The high falsetto voice was an imitation of Brian Wilson voice of the Beach Boys.
Shannon
Shannon is gone I heard
She's drifting out to sea
She always loved to swim away
Maybe she'll find an island
With a shaded tree
Just like the one in our backyard
Henry Gross
