Tuesday, August 16

Mythology and Space Exploration

"Among the myths we have used to name and claim the heavens is Cassiopeia, a constellation in the northern hemisphere. It is named for a mythical queen of Aethiopia, whom Poseidon punished for her vanity by lashing her to her throne. Cassiopeia’s daughter, Andromeda, was also made to suffer for her mother’s sins by being chained naked to a rock, where she waited for the sea monster Cetus to rape her. In the myth, Perseus saved Andromeda and took her as his wife, but as a constellation, she still waits chained to her rock."

--Leila A. McNeill in her Aron article "The Struggle of Women in Science is Written in the Stars." Her piece shows how the modern search for our place in the universe still blooms from some pretty archaic thinking.