The Story of Being Tied Together (Not in a Creepy Way)
In the story of Capricorn, the noise and revelry of the gods at a banquet disturbed the giant Typhoon. He then breathed scorching flames at the gods on Mount Olympus, throwing the once-joyful gathering into chaos. The gods fled in panic, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, hurriedly carried her son Eros away. As danger closed in, the mother and son reached a riverbank. Aphrodite used magic to transform them both into fish. To keep them from becoming separated in the swift current, Aphrodite conjured a rope and tied herself to Eros.
After the battle between the Olympian gods and Typhoon had ended, the image of Aphrodite and Eros fleeing while tied together was placed in the sky, becoming the constellation Pisces.
The Great Fish That Rescued a Goddess
Beyond Greek mythology, an ancient Syrian legend also tells a story of a goddess and a school of fish.
The story takes place near Bambyce, an ancient city in northern Syria. A lake nearby was home to a great fish. One cool evening, Atargatis, the Syrian goddess of fertility, went for a walk by the lake. By mischance, the goddess slipped and fell into the water. Atargatis struggled in the darkness, unseen by anyone, as the cold lake water gradually engulfed her. At that critical moment, the great fish swam over and pushed Atargatis ashore. In gratitude for her rescue, the goddess placed the great fish and its two young in the sky: the great fish became Piscis Austrinus, and its two offspring became Pisces.
Observation Guide
On autumn nights, looking toward the south at an altitude of about 20–30 degrees reveals just one bright star in that part of the sky: Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus.
In ancient Persia, Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus, Aldebaran in Taurus, Regulus in Leo, and Antares in Scorpius were known as the Four Royal Stars. This name comes from an ancient astronomical tradition in which these four bright stars were associated with the four directions of the sky and the changing seasons. Around three thousand years ago, their positions were near important seasonal markers such as the spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox, and winter solstice, giving them symbolic significance as guardians of the four directions.
Pisces can be located by starting with the Great Square of Pegasus. After identifying its four bright stars, fainter chains of stars to the east and south can be traced to make out the two fish of Pisces. The fish point in different directions and are joined by a chain of stars.
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Easter Egg
where many beautiful fish were swimming.
Crocquado decided to become friends with them.
