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Star Lore Ursa Major Part 2 - Europe

Karlsvagn

Ursa Major is the most prominent constellation in the in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is one of the 48 original Ptolemaic Constellations. Early European cultures visualized the asterism now know as the Big Dipper as a chariot or wagon. Later, a variety of other interpretations - from plows to saucepans - emerged.

Celtic Mythology In Ireland and on the British Isles, the asterism now called the Big Dipper was originally known as the Great Wain (i.e. wagon), Arthur's Wain, Charles's Wain or the Butcher's Cleaver. The terms Charles's Wain is derived from the still older Carlswćn, based on the Anglo-Saxon word Churl for man, - similar to the Karlsvagn (Man’s Chariot) in Viking and Norse mythology. Later, the interpretation changed and the formation became known as as "the Plough" (An Camchéachta – the bent plough, in Irish).

The original Starry Plough flag Source: Wikipedia

In 1914, the Starry Plough became a political symbol by Irish Republican and left wing movements. Source: Wikipedia

Nordic and Viking Mythology In Norse mythology, the Big Dipper was seen as a wagon driven by a god. Richard Denning refers to it as Wodan's Wagon. According to Jonas Persson, the Big Dipper and Ursa Minor are called the Karlsvagn (Man’s Chariot) and Kvennavagn (Woman’s Chariot), respectively, suggesting that the man is Thor, while the woman in the smaller wagon is Freyja.

Karlsvagn; Jonas Persson

Sources: Wikipedia, Jonas Persson: Norse Constellations, Richard Denning: What did Vikings and Saxons call the stars

Medieval Germany The Nordic version of the wagon has survived in Germany and Scandinavia. In 1533, in Horoscopion Generale, German astronomer and cartographer Petrus Apianus showed Ursa Major as a chariot pulled by three horses. In German, the Big Dipper is still called Grosser Wagen (Great Wagon). In Scandinavia, it is called Karlavagnen (Swedish), Karlsvognen (Norwegian) or Karlsvognen (Danish), all meaning Charle's Wagon, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word Churl for man. Sources: Wikipedia, Jonas Persson: Norse Constellations, atlascoelestis.com Richard Denning: What did Vikings and Saxons call the stars

"Grosser Wagen" (Great Waggon) in Horoscopion Generale, 1533 Source: atlascoelestis.com

Netherlands Although officially called Grote Beer (Great Bear), in Dutch the big Dipper is popularly known as Steelpannetje (Saucepan). Source: Wikipedia Finland In Finnish, the asterism is sometimes called by its old Finnish name, Otava, which means a salmon weir. Ancient Finns believed the bear was lowered to earth in a golden basket from the constellation Ursa Major. When a bear was killed, its head was positioned on a tree to allow the bear's spirit to return to the heavens. Source: Wikipedia

Finish Bear Spirit Source: Pinterest

Hungary In Hungarian, the Big Dipper is commonly known as Göncölszekér (Göncöl's Wagon) or, less often, as Nagy Göncöl (Big Göncöl). In Hungarian mythology, Göncöl was a táltos, a shaman who carried medicine that could cure any disease. Source: Wikipedia

Hungarian shaman reenactor Source: Wikipedia

Slavic Mythology In most Slavic languages, as well as as in Romanian, the formation is call it the "Great Wagon." Source: Wikipedia Lithuania In Lithuanian, the stars of the Big Dipper are known as Didieji Grįžulo Ratai ("The Big Back Wheels") or as Perkūno Ratai (The Wheels of Perkūnas). In Baltic mythology, Perkūnas was the god of sky, thunder, lightning, storms, rain, fire, war, law, order, fertility, mountains, and oak trees. Other Lithuanian names for the asterism are Kaušas (The Bucket), Vežimas (The Carriage) and Samtis (The Ladle). Source: Wikipedia

Perkūnas Source: aminoapps.com

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