Does Hermes Have a Constellation?

Hermes is one of the most well-known gods in Greek mythology. He is known as the messenger of the gods, the god of commerce, thieves, and travelers.

Hermes has been depicted in various ways throughout history – as a young man with winged sandals, a traveler’s hat and carrying a magic wand or as an older man with a long beard and staff. But does Hermes have a constellation? Let’s find out.

The Zodiac Constellations

Before we dive into whether Hermes has a constellation, let’s first understand what constellations are. A constellation is a group of stars that form an imaginary pattern or shape in the sky. There are 88 officially recognized constellations, and they are used to divide the night sky into regions and aid in navigation.

Out of these 88 constellations, there are 12 zodiac constellations that lie along the ecliptic – the path the Sun takes across the sky over the course of a year. These zodiac constellations are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus (or Capricorn), Aquarius and Pisces.

Hermes in Mythology

Hermes was one of twelve Olympian gods who resided on Mount Olympus. He was born to Zeus and Maia on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. According to mythology, Hermes was known for his speed and agility which helped him carry messages from one god to another.

He was also known for his intelligence and wit which made him an ideal messenger between gods. In addition to this role as messenger of gods, Hermes was also associated with travelers, merchants and thieves.

Hermes in Astronomy

Now that we have some background on both constellations and Hermes himself let’s answer our original question – does Hermes have a constellation? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Hermes is not one of the recognized constellations in modern astronomy. However, there is a minor planet named after him – 69230 Hermes. It was discovered in 1937 by Karl Reinmuth and is located between Mars and Jupiter.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Hermes may not have his own constellation in the night sky, he remains an important figure in Greek mythology and continues to be celebrated in various forms of art and literature.