watched its rising, and by it judged of the swelling of the Nile, which they called "Siris."
In the early classical days, says Allen, it was simply "Canis," and represented "Lælaps," the hound of Acteon, or that of Diana's nymph Procris. Homer called it κύων but this doubtless was a reference to the star Sirius. Novidius called it "the Dog of Tobias," and Dr. Seiss regarded Canis Major as "the Appointed Prince."
On the maps, the Dog is generally pictured as standing on his hind feet watching or springing after the Hare, which cowers close under Orion's feet. Bayer and Flamsteed differ from all others in depicting Canis Major as a bulldog. Prof. Young describes "the Greater Dog" as one "who sits up watching his master Orion, but with an eye out for Lepus."
Aratos referring to Canis Major writes: "His body is dark but a star on his jaw sparkles with more life than any other star." This is of course a reference to Sirius, the brightest of all the fixed stars, and probably the star which has attracted the most universal attention of all the heavenly hosts.
In the early histories and inscriptions we find many astronomical references to "the Dog," but it is uncertain whether the constellation or the star Sirius is intended. The Arabian astronomers called the constellation "AlKalb-al-Akbar," meaning "the Greater Dog." In the Euphratean star list Canis Major is styled "the Dog of the Sun." Early Christians thought the figure represented Tobias's dog or St. David.
The importance of the constellation is overshadowed by the fame of its lucida, Sirius, the "King of Suns," concerning which star volumes have been written. Its matchless brilliancy has inspired the poets of all ages, and historically Sirius is beyond question the most interesting of all the stars in the firmament.
Aratos thus refers to Sirius:
