#aratus

[defenestratedcowloftelesphorus]

Which of Asclepius’s sons is your favorite?

Machaon

Podalirius

Telesphorus

Aratus

Voting ended onSep 8, 2025

[shamtrolls]

uh oh. made another bunch of babies. nobody look at the fact that i have 80+ fantrolls, i dont have a problem, i dont know what you’re talking about.

These 6 are from a group of 12 that i’m coming up with with the brilliant @kivovistrolls ! They’re for a fan planet named Innovatus that we’ve been slowly working on. Can’t wait to do more with these guys.

[1five1two]

Below Orion's feet the Hare Is chased eternally; behind him Sirius ever speeds as in pursuit, And rises after, and eyes him as he sets.

Aratus

[archaeologicalnews]

Memorial Tomb of Ancient Greek Astronomer Aratus Unearthed in Turkey

Archaeologists working in the ancient Greek city of Soli Pompeipolis in the southern Mersin province in Turkey have unveiled the memorial tomb of the Greek poet and astronomer Aratus, who was born in 315 BC.

The city, located in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, was still prominent during Roman times but was only rediscovered in the 1800s with the unearthing of the ruins of Zımbıllı Tepe in the Black Sea region of the country.

Soli Pompeipolis, lying just across the river from Taşköprü, in the Gökırmak (Greek: Amnias) Valley, in ancient times stretched as far as the Küre and Ilgaz mountains

The tomb of the gifted poet and astronomer is being excavated by Professor Remzi Yağcı, who is the head of the Department of Museology at Turkey’s Dokuz Eylül University. Read more.

[triste-le-roy]

Engravings of constellation/astrological signs from Aratus’ Hug. Grotii Syntagma Arateorum (Phenomena) (unknown artist, 1600 CE).

(via Pinterest)

[effulgentpoet]

mythology aesthetics

MACHAEON & PODALIRIUS & ARATUS

In Greek mythology, Machaon and Podalirius were sons of Asclepius who led thirty ships from Thessaly in the Trojan War on the side of the Greeks. Both Machaon and Podalirius were highly valued surgeons and medics, caring for Philoctetes, Telephus, and Menelaus during the war. Machaon possessed herbs which were bestowed to his father Asclepius by Chiron, the centaur. He was killed in the tenth year of the war, and buried in Gerenia in Messenia, where he was worshiped by the people. Podalirius was one of those who entered the Trojan Horse. Unlike his brother, Podalirius survived the war, and subsequently settled in Caria, marrying, and founding two cities. Aratus (” the one prayed for”) was a healer and their paternal half brother.

[maestitiaparva]

And ere now before rain from the sky, the oxen gazing heavenward have been seen to sniff the air, and the ants from their hollow nests bring up in haste all their eggs, and in swarms the centipedes are seen to climb the walls, and wandering forth crawl those worms that men call dark earth’s intestines (earthworms). Tame fowl with father Chanticleer well preen their plumes and cluck aloud with voices like noise of water dripping upon water. Ere now, too, the generations of crows and tribes of jackdaws have been a sign of rain to come from Zeus, when they appear in flocks and screech like hawks. Crows, too, imitate with their note the heavy splash of clashing rain, or after twice croaking deeply they raise a loud whirring with frequent flapping of their wings, and ducks of the homestead and jackdaws which haunt the roof seek cover under the eaves and clap their wings, or seaward flies the heron with shrill screams. Slight not aught of these things when on thy guard for rain, and heed the warning, if beyond their wont the midges sting and are fain for blood, or if on a misty night snuff gather on the nozzle of the lamp, or if in winter’s season the flame of the lamp now rise steadily and anon sparks fly fast from it, like light bubbles, or if on the light itself there dart quivering rays, or if in height of summer the island birds are borne in crowding companies. Be not heedless of the pot or tripod on the fire, if many sparks encircle it, nor heedless when in the ashes of blazing coal there gleam spots like millet seed, but scan those too when seeking signs of rain." "(...) Look, too, for foul weather, when in windless clam airy gossamers are flying, and when the rays of the lamp are wan and flickering, or when in fair weather fire and torches are hard to kindle. Why recount all the warning hints that come to men? The unsightly clotting of the ash is sign of snow: the ring of spots like millet seed around the blazing wick of the lamp betokens snow; but sign of hail are live coals, when they outward brightly shine, but in their centre appears, as it were, a hazy mist within the glowing fire.

Phaenomena Aratus