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Star Lore Scorpius Part 3 - Africa, Australia and Americas

Nanaboujou

Scorpius is one of the most prominent and most recognizable constellations in our summer sky. Located on the celestial equator, the constellation is visible throughout the world. The interpretations of the constellation are as diverse as the cultures touched by it.

Africa

ǀXu The ǀXu of southern Africa call Antares (α Sco) the Fire-Finishing Star. It has a reddish colour, and at certain times of the year it sets very late at night, when the camp fires have died down. (Other nations have similar meanings for other stars: For the /Gwi people, the Fire-Finisher is Regulus (α Leo), while various other groups call Arcturus (α Boo) the Fire-Finishing Child) Source: ASSA - African Ethnoastronomy

Khoe Khoe The Khoe Khoe people in southwestern Africa call the binary system of μ1 and μ2 Scorpii Xami Di Mura, meaning "eyes of the lion." In 2017, the IAU assigned names to the binary system of μ1 and μ2 Scorpii, sharing the Khoe Khoe story with a legend from Tahiti. μ1 Scorpii was named Xamidimura, while μ2 Scorpii received the Polynesian name Pipirima. Source: Wikipedia

Lion in a rock engraving in Twyfelfontein, Namibia Source: worldatlas.com

Australia

Boorong The Boorong of north-Western Victoria call Antares (α Scorpii) Djuit. He is the son of Marpeankurrk, which is Arcturus (α Boötis). The faint stars at either side of Antares are Djuit's wifes. Djuit is also the Boorong name for the Red-rumped parrot. Source: Stanbridge

Red-rumped parrot Source: Wikipedia

The two stars at the end of the scorpio's tail, Shaula (λ Scorpii) and Lesath (υ Scorpii) are a male and a female Kestrel (a kind of falcon), called Karik Karik. The stars are directly overhead in the early evening in August, when the kestrel start laying their eggs. Source: Stanbridge

Australian Kestrel Source: Wikipedia

Torres Strait Islanders Tagai is a large constellation made up of Lupus, Centaurus, Crux, Corvus, with part of Hydra and one of the stars of Ara. In the culture of the Torres Strait Islanders, Tagai is a creation hero. He is depicted as a fisherman standing in a canoe outlined by the stars of Scorpius. In one story (see Centaurus), Tagai kills twelve of his crewmates in rage. But since his crewmates were spiritual beings, they could not die, but became stars (Orion and the Pleiades) instead. The only one who was not killed in Tagai's rage was his "first mate" Kareg, who in some sources is called Tagai's brother while other sources call him his friend.

Tagai constellation Source: Wikipedia

After the onslaught, in an uncanny resemblance to the Greek myth about Orion and the Scorpion, Tagai and Kareg were placed far away from their former mates in a canoe outlined by the stars of Scorpius. Kareg is personified as Antares (α Scorpii), the bright red star sitting at the stern of the canoe. Kareg was an important part of the Islander's agricultural calendar. The star's heliacal rising marked the time at which a little red bug called Moramor was going to attack the Yam plants. Sources: deadlystory.com, Wikipedia, Tommy Pau, Hamacher et al.: Astronomy and Music in the Torres Strait, Folk-Lore Quarterly, Vol. I, 1890

Kareg © Tommy Pau

Wangaibon The Wangaibon in New South Wales tell a story about Antares (α Scorpii): Gwarmbilla, the eaglehawk had two wives, a mallee-hen and a whip-snake. Gulabirra, a lizard-man wanted the wives and they wanted him. So, one day, Gwarmbilla was out hunting, his wifes set a trap, filled with bone spikes and blood. The eaglehawk fell into the trap, but his mother pulled him out. Until this day, he is still covered red with blood. The mother took the two wives and put them either side of the eagle (Tau Scorpii and Sigma Scorpii, so they could never stray again. Source: Dianne Johnson p. 171

Eagle Hawk © Jack Britten

Wardaman The star ε Scorpii bore the traditional name Larawag in the culture of the Wardaman people of the Northern territory of Australia, meaning "clear sighting." On 19 November 19, 2017 the IAU Working Group on Star Names approved the name Larawag for ε Scorpii in the organization's star catalogue. Sources: Wikipedia

Warnindhilyagwa The Warnindhilyagwa have a special meaning for the two stars at the very tip of the Scorpion's "stinger." To them, Shaula (λ Scorpii) and Lesath (υ Scorpii) are the children of Duwardwara and Barnimbida. Duwardwara, the woman is represented by Jupiter, while the man, Barnimbida, is represented by Venus. Source: Dianne Johnson p. 162

Yolngu The people of Arnhem Land saw a crocodile called Ingalpir in the constellation we know as Scorpius. This part of the Northern Territory was the first place at which Australian Aboriginals had contact with their Asian neighbours. At least since the 18th century (and probably earlier) Muslim traders from Sulawesi visited Arnhem Land each year to trade, harvest, and process sea cucumbers. When Ingalpir appeared in the evening sky, the Aboriginal people know that the boats of the Malay traders would arrive from the north. Sources: Geocaching.com and Bryan E. Penprase, The Power of Stars p. 80

Crocodile Dreaming © Doongal Aboriginal Art

Americas

Aztecs McIvor sees evidence of a rattlesnake as an Aztec constellation created out of stars from Ophiuchus and Scorpius. In the 13th month of their calendar, the Aztecs "... baked bread in the shape of this snake with dough used exclusively for ritual purposes. After a priest has consecrated these snake figures, they were eaten as communion bread and the Aztecs believed they possessed healing properties." Source: harvard.edu

Aztec Snake Source: National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Cherokee To the Cherokee, Sirius (α CMa) and Antares (α Sco) are the dog stars that guard the end of the "Path of Souls", the Milky Way. Sirius in the winter sky guards the eastern end, while Antares in the summer sky guards the eastern end. A departing sould must carry enough food to placate both dogs and pass beyond or spend eternity wandering the "Path of Souls". Source: Jay B. Holberg

Cherokee Milky Way; Source: powersource.com

Cree The first rising of Serpens in early summer signaled the arrival of the thunderstorm season. The Cree people in what is now Canada saw a thunderbird in the northern stars of Scorpius and the stars of Serpens. Source: Atchakosuk

Thunderbird; © Native Skywatchers

Thunderbird in a Cree petroglyph Source: Atchakosuk

Thunderbird Constellation Source: Atchakosuk

Inca The Inca saw a jaguar in the constellation Scorpius and celebrated its return with a large ceremony. Source: Wikipedia (German)

Navajo The constellation Átsé Etsoh, First Big One, depicts an elderly man with a cane and a basket of seeds. He rep-resents the wisdom of the elders and the concept of Sá'áh Naagháii Bik'éh Hózhóón, the concept that "with old age comes happiness or contentment." His a cane provides strength and stability. The basket signifies the entire cosmos and regeneration. Átsé Etsoh represents the wisdom and knowledge that come with old age. He is depicted as an elder, strong in assurance and the stability of life. The constellation is located in the upper part of the Greek constellation Scorpius and includes stars of Sagittarius and Libra. Antares (α Sco), the bright, reddish star in the constellation Scorpius is considered the heart of Átsé Etsoh. Sources: Navajo Skies, grandcanyon.org, Navajo Astronomy

Átsé Etsoh © Melvin Bainbridge

The "Tail" of the Scorpion, consisting of λ, κ, υ and ι1Scorpii is called Gah Haat'e'ii, the "Rabbit Tracks." Navajo hunters used these stars to determine when the traditional hunting season would begin. As long as the "Rabit Tracks" remained up right in one position, young deer still depended on their mothers for nourishment and thus, deer were not hunted. on their mothers for nourishment. Only when ste stars tips to the east, it was deer hunting season. Sources: Navajo Skies, grandcanyon.org, Navajo Astronomy

Gah Haat'e'ii - Rabbit Tracks

Also part of Scorpius is Kaalogi, the Butterfly constellation. It is adjacent to the First Big One, Átse’ Etsoh. It is considered a summer constellation, visible during the time when butterflies are migrating through the Navajo Nation. Navajos, like other southwestern tribes, respect the butterfly as a symbol of the process of change, growth and regeneration. Source: Navajo Skies

Kaalogi © Melvin Bainbridge

Ojibwe On the Ojibwe Star Map, the constellation Scorpius is depicted as Nanaboujou. He is a hero figure and a spirit that had many excursions on Earth a long time ago. He helped the people by creating dry land after the last flood. The constellation shows Nanaboujou shooting an arrow at the Great Panther, represented by the constellations Leo and Cancer. Source: Ojibwe Constellation Guide

Nanaboujou Source: Ojibwe Constellation Guide

Pawnee The Pawnee in the North American Plains, have a special meaning for the two stars at the very tip of the Scorpion's "stinger." To them, Shaula (λ Scorpii) and Lesath (υ Scorpii) were known as the Swiming Ducks. When they first appeared just before dawn, spring and the time of thunder were not far away. The ducks told the sleeping water animals to awake and break through the ice. They also told the water birds to fly north again. The Swiming Ducks brought thunder and lightning which caused the spirits of life to awaken. Source: Stewart, Williamson; They dance in the sky: Native American star myths p. 54

To the Pawnee, Antares was one of the four Direction Stars that were used to align their dwellings. Pawnee earth lodges were dome-like, resembling the sky. The centers were held up with poles that were marked white, yellow, red, and black as colors of the stars. White stood for Sirius (α CMa), yellow for Capella (α Aur), red for Antares (α Sco), and black for Vega (α Lyr). Source: Pawnee Star People

Flags and other National Symbols The center of the Brazilian flag presents the night sky as it would have been on November 15, 1889 at 08:30 over Rio de Janeiro. Each star corresponds to a Brazilian Federate Unit, sized in proportion relative to its geographic size.

Antares (α Sco), the brightest star in the constellation symbolizes the state of Piauí. The Flag of Piauí also features the star.

Graffias* (β Scorpii) symbolizes the state of Maranhão; The Flag of Maranhão also features the star.

* In official literature, Brazil used the old Portugese name Graffias for β Scorpii, instead of the IAU designation Acrab.

	Laraweg (ε Sco) symbolizes the state of Ceará.	Sargas (θ Sco) symbolizes the state of Alagoas.
	Apollyon (ι1 Sco) symbolizes the state of Sergipe.	Girtab (κ Sco) symbolizes the state of Paraíba.

Shaula (λ Sco) symbolizes the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Xamidimura & Pipirima (μ Sco) symbolize the state of Pernambuco. Source:Wikipedia, Flags of the World - Astronomy of the Brazilian Flag

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