Eratosthenes considered it to be the shaft with which Apollo exterminated the Cyclops, and it has been regarded as the Arrow of Cupid.
In classical times Sagitta was thought to represent the Reed from which arrows were formed.
The Hebrews, Armenians, Persians, and Arabians all knew it as an Arrow.
Cæsius considered it the shaft winged by Joash at Elisha's command, or one of those sent by Jonathan towards David at the stone Ezel.
Schiller thought it represented the spear or the nail of the Crucifixion.
According to Argelander it contains sixteen naked eye stars, none brighter than the fourth magnitude.
It culminates on Sept. 1st.
ζ Sagittæ is a triple star, and "an interesting system," says Allen.
The Sextant
This is a modern asterism sometimes called "Urania's Sextant," and first appeared on the chart of Hevelius which was published in 1690.
This celestial Sextant is supposed to commemorate the sextant so successfully used by Hevelius in taking stellar measurements at Dantzig from 1658 to 1679.
The astronomer von Rheita imagined that this group represented Saint Veronica's Sacred Handkerchief.
The original figure of the Sextant comprised the twelve unclaimed stars between Leo and Hydra, west of Crater, and it has been generally recognised by astronomers since the date of its invention.
The lucida of the group, a fourth magnitude star, is situated 12° south of Regulus.
According to Argelander the Sextant contains seventeen naked eye stars.
