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Orion, otherwise known as The Hunter, is one of the oldest and most recognizable constellations. His iconic belt allows for even the most inexperienced stargazers to locate his position in the sky with ease. Part of what makes this constellation so recognizable is that it consists of two of the brightest stars in the sky (“Orion”, n.d.). Rigel, the seventh brightest star, and Betelgeuse, the tenth brightest star, are beacons that draw people to watch this iconic image (“Stellar Brightness”, n.d.). Because it lies on the celestial equator, it is visible throughout the world, which also contributes to it's recognizability. The formation of this constellation looks to be of a human figure with outstretched limbs, holding a sword to indicate that he is in battle (“Orion Constellation”, 2020).

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"The stars that make up and surround the Orion constellation, as well as an outline of the general shape of the constellation" (NASA, n.d.)

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"The stars that make up and surround the Orion constellation, as well as an outline of the general shape of the constellation" (NASA, n.d.)

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Because it is one of the oldest known constellations, there is no record of when it was first discovered and named. However, it was first cataloged in The Almagest, a constellation catalog by a Greek astronomer named Ptolemy. The constellations in The Almagest were from a variety of sources, including myths from Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Babylon (“Constellation”, n.d.). The name Orion is a reference to the Greek mythological hunter who fought with Scorpio, the scorpion. Both Orion and Scorpio were killed in this battle, and both were put into the heavens, but on opposite sides so that Orion and Scorpio are never seen at the same time ("Ep. 224: Orion", 2011). The story of Orion can be seen in the neighboring constellations as well, as it appears that Orion is accompanied by two dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor, and either fighting with Taurus, the Bull, or chasing Lepus, the Hare, depending on the depiction (“Constellation Guide”, n.d.).

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The oldest known image of Orion, as seen on a 32,000+ year old ivory tablet

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The oldest known image of Orion, as seen on a 32,000+ year old ivory tablet

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It is also speculated that the tablet could be a pregnancy calendar. There are 86 notches on the back of the tablet, which is a significant number for two reasons: It is the number of days that, if subtracted from a year, equals the number of days in human gestation. It is the number of days that Betelguese (the second brightest star in the constellation) is visible (Whitehouse, 2003). While we know very little about the Aurignacian people, it is entirely possible that that tablet and the image of Orion was connected to their cultural beliefs of fertility.

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Johannes Hevelius' Orion from Uranographia (Hevelius, 1690)

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Johannes Hevelius' Orion from Uranographia (Hevelius, 1690)

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One of the oldest known depictions of Orion is from the mysterious Aurignacian people in the Alb-Danube region of Germany between 32,500 and 38,000 years ago. An ivory tablet depicting a human figure standing in the same pose as Orion, with arms and legs outstretched. While there has been some speculation on what exactly the purpose of this ivory tablet is, Dr Michael Rappenglueck, who is known for his work locating prehistoric star charts, claims that it is indeed a depiction of the iconic constellation (Whitehouse, 2003).

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The night sky with illustrations of the constellations Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Lepus, and Taurus

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The night sky with illustrations of the constellations Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Lepus, and Taurus

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Because it is so recognizably human and it is visible throughout the world, there are plenty of different cultural myths and interpretations associated with Orion. Aside from the Aurignacian depiction, there have also been records of Orion in ancient Babylonian star catalogs, Egyptian Solar Calendars, and Mexican pyramids, to name just a few (“Orion Constellation”, 2020).

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In China, the three stars of Orion's belt represent three gods. "'The Chinese regarded them as the three gods of fortune, prosperity and longevity. When the three stars shine highly at the southern sky after sunset, that means it’s time for the spring festival" (Byrd, 2016).

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A depiction of the three Chinese gods that are represented by the three stars in Orion's belt. (Zhang, 2016)

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A depiction of the three Chinese gods that are represented by the three stars in Orion's belt. (Zhang, 2016)

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In The Star Atlas of al-Sūfī, an Arabic constellation catalog similar to the Greek catalog by Ptolemy, the constellation of Orion is depicted similarly to the way it is viewed in Western culture. It is shown as a man in a kneeling stance and brandishing a weapon.

In ancient Egypt, Orion's belt was believed to be representative of the god Sah, as well as being closely related to other gods. The three pyramids of Giza also align with the three stars of Orion's belt, pointing directly to the constellation. There are also pyramids in Mexico that mirror the positioning of Orion’s belt (“Orion Constellation”, 2020).

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Depiction of Orion in the Bodleian manuscript, part of Al-Sufi's Star Atlas (Van Gent, n.d.)

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Depiction of Orion in the Bodleian manuscript, part of Al-Sufi's Star Atlas (Van Gent, n.d.)

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A side-by-side comparison of the Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico, the stars in Orion's belt, and the Great Pyramids of Giza

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A side-by-side comparison of the Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico, the stars in Orion's belt, and the Great Pyramids of Giza

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Astronomycast Podcast Episode 224: Orion

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Astronomycast Podcast Episode 224: Orion

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An entry-level discussion on the Orion constellation. This podcast discusses many different subjects related to astronomy in an accessible manner, without making the listener feel talked down to. They also discuss the history of the constellation in a more completed sense than simply telling the story of Orion. A lot of questions that people who do not know much about Orion are addressed an expert, Dr. Pamela Gay from Southern Illinois University. They use fact-based explanations of what we know about Orion, and how we know it. This includes how to locate Orion, when it is visible in the sky, the history we know of it, and the future of it.
http://www.astronomycast.com/2011/06/ep-224-orion/

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Job 38:31: "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?"

There are many references to astronomy in the Bible, especially in Job, but this verse in particular is referencing specifically Orion. This is important because it shows that Orion was recognized as a constellation when the Bible was written. The purpose of the verse and the surrounding verses is to remind Christians that they lack the power to change the stars, but the Lord had the power to create and name them all.
I chose this literary work to reference because the Bible is one of the most culturally significant works of literature in the world, even for those who are not Christians. It is the way of life for millions of people, and has been for decades. The acknowledgement of Orion in this book not only solidifies just how long the constellation has been around, but it shows that it is culturally significant enough that those who read the Bible would know the constellation well enough to understand the reference.

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The constellation Orion has been recognized for so long that its origin is not known. What is known, however, is that it is a known constellation throughout the world. It is interesting to look into the ways that different cultures all put their individual beliefs into an organized set of stars without communicating with one another beforehand. In Western cultures, Orion typically represents the Greek myth of Orion the Hunter. It’s significance is in telling that story. In some other cultures, however, Orion has utilitarian purposes as well. An example of this is the implication that the Aurignacian connected the appearance of Orion as related to fertility in some way. Another example of a utilitarian purpose of the constellation is the Chinese interpretation of Orion as a symbol of their gods that indicates that it is time for the spring festival.

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A look at the Orion Nebula, one of the most easily visible Nebulas. It is located near Orion's belt. Video from NASA's Hubble telescope shows breathtaking images from this Nebula. After viewing the constellation with the naked eye, being able to take a closer look at the nebula inside of it is an amazing and humbling experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2RvGEkZzEI

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Cultures throughout the world developed these interpretations of Orion on their own because Orion is visible throughout the world, and is easily visible to the naked eye. They would not have needed to wait to discuss with others who could see the constellation, nor would they need to wait for the invention of the telescope. It is interesting, however, to see that it was cataloged both in Greek culture and in Arabic culture. Ptolemy’s Constellation Catalog and Al-Sufi’s Star Atlas both served the same purpose: to record known constellations and what they represent. These works are not the only ones of their kind, but they are important examples of a very important aspect of astronomy. They help to provide some historical context as to where these ideas came from, as well as how they differ in interpretation and how they have changed over time.

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Sounds from Orion's Nebula by the ALMA Radio-Telescope

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Sounds from Orion's Nebula by the ALMA Radio-Telescope

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What the Orion nebula sounds like, as we can hear it. It is interesting to listen to it, because it is surprising to find out what space sounds like. While it does sound very empty, there is still noise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkFqWTAjvI4&t=7s

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Taking a look back at the unique interpretations of Orion throughout the history of our world, it is interesting to see the similarities and differences between cultures. Even though the constellation can be seen as just a bunch of dots, countless people have found and shared meaning in those dots. Humans have an amazing ability to put meaning in things like a pattern of stars in the sky, regardless of their place of origin. Although there is no way to find the original person who saw the image of Orion in the sky, it is easy to see how Orion has since become a collaborative effort to both find and put meaning in the world.