In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, was both wild and approachable. He brought wine, music, and joy, leaving behind many romantic legends. Among them, the two crown-shaped constellations in the sky, Corona Borealis and Corona Australis, are both related to Dionysus. However, their symbolic meanings are completely different. One embodies love and commitment, while the other represents revelry and vitality.
The Golden Crown of Princess Ariadne
In the labyrinth of Crete lived the Minotaur, a half-man half-bull monster, who fed on prisoners or tributes of young men and women. On this day, the Greek hero Theseus came to eliminate this monster. Princess Ariadne of Crete, moved by his bravery, fell in love with him. However, the labyrinth imprisoning the Minotaur was extremely complex. No one who entered could find the way out, of course not even Minotaur. Therefore, before Theseus walked in, Princess Ariadne gave him a ball of silk thread, so that he could tie one end at the entrance and release the thread along the way. After slaying the Minotaur, Theseus followed the thread back out.
After successfully escaping the labyrinth, Theseus left Princess Ariadne. At that moment, the god of wine saw the princess, fell in love at first sight, and took her as his wife. As a symbol of love, Dionysus gave Ariadne a splendid golden crown. To commemorate this marriage, the gods placed the crown in the sky, becoming the constellation Corona Borealis.
Corona Borealis is located between Lyra and Boötes, with seven bright stars forming a semicircle, and is quite striking in the summer night sky.
The Flower Crown of Dionysus
As the god of wine, Dionysus excelled in the art of wine-making. The gentle intoxication and joy brought by alcohol also earned him the title of the god of joy. During the festivals of revelry, the flower crown Dionysus wore symbolized vitality and joy, and was also placed in the sky as the constellation of Corona Australis.
Compared to Corona Borealis, Corona Australis is dimmer. Positioned beneath the teapot of Sagittarius, Corona Australis can only be seen from Taiwan’s latitude near the southern horizon under conditions of an open view and minimal light pollution.
The similar drawing of Chinese Constellations
The drawings of Chinese Constellations usually differ greatly from the western constellations, yet Corona Borealis is one of the few exceptions. In Chinese constellations, Guan Suo is formed by nine stars arranged in a semicircle, corresponds to the position of Corona Borealis. However, while Corona Borealis depicts the crown given to Princess by the god of wine, Guan Suo refers to a cage.
The joy of Dionysus sparkles in the night sky. The golden crown carries the story of love, while the flower crown symbolizes vitality and revelry. The two crowns keep Dionysus’s joy, romance, and mystery forever within the stars.
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Easter Egg
He found a crown and wine lying on a table.
Crocodile carefully put on the crown,
took out the cheese he carried, pairing it with wine to regain some strength.
In a daze, he seemed to hear joyful laughter.
