Sagittarius? Centaurus? Or Archer?
East of Scorpius in the summer sky lies a vast yet relatively dim group of stars. Ancient Western envisioned this region as a half-man, half-horse drawing a bow. This leads to the question: should this constellation be called Sagittarius, Centaurus or the archer?
From the English name Sagittarius, the word derives from Latin: sagitta means "arrow," while the suffix -arius indicates "a person associated with." Together, Sagittarius refers to "a person with arrows"—in other words, an archer. But where does the association between the archer and the figure of a half-man, half-horse come from?
Scholars generally believe that while ancient Greeks were familiar with horseback riding, the idea of shooting arrows while riding did not exist in their cultural context. Upon seeing nomadic tribes firing arrows on horseback from distant, the Greeks misunderstood the sight and gave rise to the imagination of a mythical creature with a human upper body and the lower body of a horse.
So, what is the Mandarin name for this constellation? Etymologically speaking, it refers to the archer. However, under the influence of Greek mythology, it came to be known as the "Sagittarius". During Japan’s Meiji period, when the Western constellation system was introduced, functionality and clarity were prioritized in translation. Thus, the name "Archer" was adopted, clearly indicating a figure associated with archery. Taiwan, influenced by Japanese astronomical tradition, widely uses this same name.
Meanwhile, the Centaurus constellation is a completely separate star group located in the southern sky near the Southern Cross, which is far away from Sagittarius.
The story of the wise Chiron
In Greek mythology, Chiron was the child of Cronos, the god of time, and the nymph Philyra. To avoid being discovered, Cronos transformed into a horse, resulting in Chiron’s birth as a half-human, half-horse being. Unable to accept such a child, Philyra left Chiron to be raised by Apollo, the god of the sun. Under Apollo’s guidance, Chiron became skilled in music, medicine, and hunting, eventually gaining renown as a wise and respected being of both gods and mortals.
Many heroes in Greek mythology have been mentored tutored by Chiron. Among them was Hercules, who, ironically, also caused Chiron’s demise.
According to legend, Hercules once visited the gentle half-man, half-horse Pholus. During their meal, they opened a bottle of wine crafted by Dionysus. The wine’s strong aroma attracted a group of wild centaurs, who began attacking. Hercules fought back using arrows coated with the deadly venom of the Hydra. Amid the chaos, Chiron arrived to stop the fight but was accidentally struck by a poisoned arrow. Despite his medical expertise, he could not heal himself. As an immortal being, Chiron was doomed to suffer unbearable pain without end. Eventually, Chiron appealed to Zeus, offering his immortality in exchange for Prometheus’s freedom from punishment. Moved by compassion, Zeus placed Chiron in the sky, where he became the constellation Sagittarius.
A Teapot Easier to Recognize Than the Half-Man, Half-Horse Being
From the tail of Scorpius, a group of stars arranged in the shape of a teapot can be found to the east. This pattern represents the upper body of Sagittarius—the part drawing the bow. Once the teapot shape is identified, locating the rest of the constellation becomes less critical, especially since the centaur's full figure is often difficult to discern.
The Famous Southern Dipper
In addition to the teapot, the six stars of the Southern Dipper, similar to the seven stars of the Big Dipper, can also be lined up on the upper part of the Sagittarius.
In traditional Chinese astrological system, the Southern and Northern Dippers are seen as opposing forces: the Southern Dipper governs life, while the Northern Dipper presides over death. Legend has it that a young man was predicted to die young by a prophet, but he was also told to bring wine and meat to offer beneath a large tree, where tow elderly were playing chess. Following this advice, the young man made his offering. The elder on the southern side, who is the Lord of Southern Dipper, was moved by the gesture and extended his life expectancy from nineteen to ninety, thus rewriting his original short-lived destiny.
In Eastern stories, the Southern Dipper grants life, while in the West, Chiron suffer a painful end. The same stars in the night sky unfold unique stories in different regions, reflecting the depth of human cultural imagination.
Some images are sourced from the internet. If there are any copyright concerns, please contact us.
Easter Egg
On July 15, 2025, Crocodile fell asleep in a cave.
In his dreams, groups of centaurs went crazy and attacked.
With his short hands and legs, Crocodile kept being stepped on, and woke up in pain.