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Old 09-08-2009, 07:13 PM
Enchilada
Enhanced Astronomer

Enchilada is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 753
Some Pacific islanders had this as the name octopus for Orion - as either a fisherman hold the Octopus (the star around the belt stars) or the whole constellation of Orion. The eyes of the octopus are the belt stars. I recall it being mention in the 1899 Richard Allen's "The Constellation, Their Lore and Meaning". However, it is all pretty much obscure.

Not a popular legend, but makes sense to Pacific islanders throughout Polynesia. Also, the Maori culture never such a constellation, where it was known sometimes as Haorua and the belt stars were known as Tautoru or whata (grain store). None were associated with the sea.

Note: Such a constellation is neither northern or southern hemisphere, as Orion lies on the celestial equator.
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