*おおぐま座とこぐま座の神話とは？
おおぐま座とこぐま座の神話は、親子の深い絆を描いたギリシャ神話に基づいています。物語の主人公は、ゼウスに愛された美しい娘カリストとその息子アルカスです。ゼウスの妻ヘラは嫉妬のあまり、カリストを熊の姿に変えてしまいます。成長したアルカスは、ある日森で熊となった母と遭遇し、彼女とは知らず槍を向けてしまいます。その瞬間、ゼウスは悲劇を防ぐため、二人を天に上げました。母カリストは「おおぐま座」、息子アルカスは「こぐま座」となって夜空に輝くようになったのです。
*What is the Myth of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor?
The myth of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor is rooted in a Greek tale that highlights the deep bond between a mother and her child. The story centers around Callisto, a beautiful maiden loved by Zeus, and her son Arcas. Out of jealousy, Zeus’s wife Hera transformed Callisto into a bear. Years later, Arcas, now grown, encountered the bear in the forest without realizing it was his mother. As he raised his spear to strike, Zeus intervened to prevent the tragedy. To save them both, he lifted them into the sky. Callisto became the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, while Arcas became Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. Ever since, mother and son have shone together in the night sky, a symbol of their eternal connection.
