Myths in the Sky: the Lyre and the Swan

The Lyre (lat. Lyra)

This constellation was known in hoary antiquity. Thanks to the fact that it is located in the north it moved slowly along the sky and was depicted in the semblance of a tortoise. Having drawn the strings over its shell, Hermes, the protector of shepherds, made the first Lyre. He presented it to Apollo, who gave him a winged warder in exchange, which inspired the hearts of people who were at loggerheads, with sympathy. This warder is a symbol of trade to this day, and Hermes — its god.

^{Johannes Hevelius, atlas Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Map 9}

The Swan (lat. Cygnus)

Hiding from his jealous wife Hera, Zeus, in the image of a swan, penetrated into the premises of the beauty Leda, the daughter of the King of Aetholia Testius. The outcome of this was that Leda gave birth to twins Castor and Pollux, and Helen — who later was the one to cause the Trojan War.

^{Johannes Hevelius, atlas Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Map 10}