You don't have to go anywhere to visit this unusual zoo. It is enough to wait for the evening and look at the sky. And there is the Wolf and the Dolphin, the Giraffe and the Flying Fish. Lynx and Lizard, Swan, Hydra, Fly and even Dragon with Unicorn. All this unusual collection of animals settled in the night sky, but it's not so easy to see them!

Surely you have noticed that the stars in the sky seem to be assembled into bizarre figures, and most of them are of a completely incomprehensible shape. People have been staring at them for thousands of years. The history of the constellations began even when the ancient Greeks began to combine the brightest and most noticeable groups of stars into constellations and gave each its own name. They saw the life of mythical Gods and fabulous creatures in the night sky. Entire legends were composed about the appearance of each luminary.

Since the Greeks could only see the northern hemisphere of the Earth, they counted 47 constellations. And only when Europeans began to discover new lands 400 years ago, new beauties of the starry sky became available to people. Gradually, such "modern" names of the constellations as the Microscope, the Electric Furnace, the Clock, the Compass and even the Pump appeared. In total, 88 constellations are now marked on star maps.

But if in ancient times the constellation named several stars, which made up some figure, now a constellation is understood as a certain area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe sky. It includes all the luminaries located in a certain area, even the dimmest and most distant ones. This helps scientists accurately navigate in stellar space.

A special place among the constellations went to the twelve signs of the zodiac. They replace each other every month, at a time when the Sun passes against the background of each of them.

Of all the constellations, the naked eye can only see about thirty. And, of course, the most famous of them are Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. They never leave the sky and are visible from anywhere in the world. Ursa Major is similar to the well-known bucket, consisting of 7 bright stars. In fact, this constellation has over 100 stars.

Why is she called Bear?

In ancient Greece, there was a legend about the girl Callisto, who, out of envy of her beauty, was turned into an ugly bear. The god Zeus, protecting the beast from killing, placed her in heaven. And when he threw the animal, he held on to the tail, which is why he stretched out. In general, bears have a small tail. And the dog Callisto was turned into Ursa Minor, so they remained in the starry sky.

Each of the seven stars Ursa Major has its own name, although usually 2-3 stars are called in the constellations, the rest are designated by one letter, depending on their brightness. With the help of the dimmest of the stars of Ursa Major, visual acuity was previously checked. Only those who could distinguish this star were accepted into the protection of the Egyptian Pharaohs. Only now, since there are no bears in Egypt, the constellation was called Hippo. There were other names as well. In the north of Russia, it was called Elk, Carriage or Cart.

At Ursa Minor most famous star Polar. It is located directly above the North Pole and points the way to the North. For many years it serves as a guide for sailors and wanderers. But it was not always so. After all, all the stars move very slowly. Thousands of years ago, the picture of the night sky was a little different. And in the distant future, people will see the constellations in their new form.

What do you think about when you raise your eyes to the sky? Taking a quick look at the night picture, what do you see?

Every night the stars light up in the sky, and every time they burn the same way, they are in the same location. This is a kind of picture that appears after sunset, and which is drawn by nature itself. What kind of drawings does she create?

There are 88 constellations in the northern and southern hemispheres, and each of them is beautiful in its own way. The constellation of Scorpio, Cygnus, Lyra or Eagle, each captivates our gaze.

So, Orion is very easy to find in the sky, in winter, at night, with fairly good visibility, it is located in the southern part of the sky. If you are well versed in astronomy, then it is located next to Sirius, but if these words do not tell you anything, then take a good look and try to find three stars located almost on the same straight line and at the same angular distance from each other. They are called Orin's Belt. Below and above this trinity are two bright stars. Above are the stars Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. Betelgeuse has a reddish tint and is located on the left side of the constellation, Bellatrix on the first. Below are the stars Rigel and Saif, but, unfortunately, Saif is not such a bright star, and in order to see it, you need to look closely enough. It is located on the left, just below the Rigel level.

If you think about associations, then for many this constellation evokes the silhouette of an hourglass, and indeed, it looks similar.

Unfortunately, the most beautiful part of the constellation is hidden from our eyes, does not lend itself to human vision. Just below Orion's belt (Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka) are two closely spaced stars, between which is the beautiful Orion Nebula, resembling a wonderful rose bud.

This constellation has a very beautiful legend. In ancient Greek mythology, Orion is a famous hunter, it is no coincidence that the constellations Canis Major and Minor, the Hare and Leo are found next to him. He was distinguished by his extraordinary beauty and such growth that he was sometimes called a giant.

Orion was the son of the god of the seas, Poseidon. He was a slender, handsome and agile man. With his two dogs (Big Dog and Small Dog) he went to hunt wild animals in the forests and mountains, but his heart was kind. Once, on behalf of the gods, he cleared the island of Chios from wild animals. The grateful inhabitants of the island staged a magnificent celebration of the hero, during which he was crowned with a laurel wreath and presented with expensive gifts. The holiday was accompanied by the performance of hymns and dances of girls. Among them, Orion saw the beautiful Merope, the daughter of the local king. The young people liked each other, and Orion began to ask the king for the hand of his daughter. However, the father had other plans, and he refused the hero. Then, with the consent of Merope, Orion kidnapped the beauty. The king went to the trick: catching up with the fugitives, he pretended to give consent to their marriage. But at night, having drunk the hero, he blinded him. Poseidon, having learned about this, was terribly angry and asked Helios to restore his son's sight. It seemed that the issue of the wedding after all the misadventures would be resolved, but Hera intervened in the matter. Once upon a time, Orion accidentally killed the beloved bull of the goddess. Knowing that Orion is a brave and dexterous hunter, who has no equal in the art of capturing the beast, she set a Scorpion on him, whose bite was fatal. Orion died, but at the request of Poseidon, Zeus placed him in the sky and even made it so that he could not meet the terrible Scorpio. Indeed, the constellations Orion and Scorpio are never visible in the sky at the same time.

Also, there is a legend that the famous pyramids in Egypt (Khufu, Khafre, Mikerin) were built precisely on these three stars, and the truth is, if we look at them, we will notice the similarity of the location.

“On the ceiling of one of the burial chambers - the pyramid, a walking man is depicted; above it are the three stars of Orion's belt."

The famous French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote the following phrase in his book The Little Prince:

“I wish I knew why the stars shine. Probably, then, so that sooner or later everyone could find their own again. Each person has their own stars.

Think about it, have you already found your stars?

Pleshakov had a good idea - to create an atlas for children, by which it is easy to determine the stars and constellations. Our teachers picked up this idea and created their own key atlas, which is even more informative and visual.

What are constellations?

If you raise your eyes to the sky on a clear night, you can see a lot of sparkling lights of various sizes, which, like a scattering of diamonds, adorn the sky. These lights are called stars. Some of them seem to be collected in clusters and after a long examination they can be divided into certain groups. These groups are called "constellations". Some of them may resemble the shape of a bucket or the intricate outlines of animals, however, in many ways, this is just a figment of the imagination.

For many centuries, astronomers tried to study such clusters of stars and gave them mystical properties. People tried to systematize them and find a common pattern, and so the constellations appeared. For a long time, the constellations were carefully studied, some were broken into smaller ones, and they ceased to exist, and some were simply corrected after clarification. For example, the constellation Argo was divided into smaller constellations: Compass, Carina, Sail, Korma.

The history of the origin of the names of the constellations is also very interesting. To facilitate memorization, they were given names united by one element or a literary work. For example, it was noticed that during heavy rains the Sun rises from the side of certain constellations, which were given the following names: Capricorn, Whale, Aquarius, the constellation Pisces.

In order to bring all the constellations to a certain classification, in 1930, at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union, a decision was made to officially register 88 constellations. According to the accepted decision, the constellations do not consist of groups of stars, but are sections of the starry sky.

What are the constellations?

Constellations differ in the number and brightness of the stars that make up its composition. Allocate 30 most noticeable groups of stars. The largest constellation in terms of area is Ursa Major. It consists of 7 bright and 118 stars visible to the naked eye.

The smallest constellation located in the southern hemisphere is called the Southern Cross and cannot be seen with the naked eye. It consists of 5 bright and 25 less visible stars.

The Little Horse is the smallest constellation in the northern hemisphere and consists of 10 faint stars that can be seen with the naked eye.

The most beautiful and brightest constellation is Orion. It consists of 120 stars visible to the naked eye and 7 of them are very bright.

All constellations are conventionally divided into those located in the southern or northern hemisphere. Those who live in the southern hemisphere of the Earth cannot see the clusters of stars located in the northern hemisphere and vice versa. Of the 88 constellations, 48 ​​are in the southern hemisphere and 31 are in the northern. The remaining 9 groups of stars are located in both hemispheres. The northern hemisphere is easy to identify by the North Star, which always shines very brightly in the sky. She is the extreme star on the handle of the Ursa Minor bucket.

Due to the fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun, which does not allow seeing some constellations, the seasons change and the position of this luminary in the sky changes. For example, in winter, the position of our planet in the circumsolar orbit is opposite to that in summer. Therefore, only certain constellations can be seen at any time of the year. For example, in the summer, a triangle formed by the stars Altair, Vega and Deneb can be seen in the night sky. In winter, there is an opportunity to admire the infinitely beautiful constellation Orion. Therefore, sometimes they say: autumn constellations, winter, summer or spring constellations.

The constellations are best seen in the summer and it is advisable to observe them in open space, outside the city. Some stars can be seen with the naked eye, while others may require a telescope. The constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, as well as Cassiopeia, are best seen. In autumn and winter, the constellations Taurus and Orion are clearly visible.

Bright constellations that are visible in Russia

The most beautiful constellations of the northern hemisphere visible in Russia include: Orion, Ursa Major, Taurus, Canis Major, Canis Minor.

If you peer into their location and give free rein to your imagination, you can see a hunting scene, which, like an ancient fresco, has been depicted in the sky for more than two thousand years. The brave hunter Orion is always depicted surrounded by animals. Taurus runs to his right, and the hunter swings a club at him. At the feet of Orion is the faithful Great and Lesser Dogs.

Constellation Orion

This is the largest and most colorful constellation. It is clearly visible in autumn and winter. Orion can be seen over the entire territory of Russia. The arrangement of its stars resembles the outlines of a person.

The history of the formation of this constellation originates from ancient Greek myths. According to them, Orion was a brave and strong hunter, the son of Poseidon and the nymph Emvriala. He often hunted with Artemis, but one day, for defeating her during a hunt, he was hit by an arrow of the goddess and died. After his death, he was turned into a constellation.

The brightest star in Orion is Rigel. It is 25 thousand times brighter than the Sun and 33 times its size. This star has a bluish-white glow and is considered supergiant. However, despite such an impressive size, it is much smaller than Betelgeuse.

Betelgeuse adorns Orion's right shoulder. It is 450 times the diameter of the Sun, and if you put it in the place of our luminary, then this star will take the place of four planets before Mars. Betelgeuse shines 14,000 times brighter than the Sun.

The constellation Orion also includes a nebula and asterisms.

Constellation Taurus

Another large and unimaginably beautiful constellation of the northern hemisphere is Taurus. It is located northwest of Orion and lies between the constellations Aries and Gemini. Not far from Taurus are such constellations as: Charioteer, Keith, Perseus, Eridanus.

This constellation in mid-latitudes can be observed throughout almost the entire year, with the exception of the second half of spring and early summer.

The history of the constellation goes back to ancient myths. They talk about Zeus, who turned into a calf in order to kidnap the goddess Europa and bring her to the island of Crete. This constellation was first described by Eudoxus, a mathematician who lived long before our era.

Aldebaran is the brightest star not only in this constellation, but also in other 12 groups of stars. It is located on the head of Taurus and used to be called the "eye". Aldebaran is 38 times the diameter of the Sun and 150 times brighter. This star is located at a distance of 62 light years from us.

The second brightest star in the constellation is Nat or El Nat (bull horns). It is located near the Auriga. It is 700 times brighter than the Sun and 4.5 times larger than it.

Within the constellation are two incredibly beautiful open clusters of stars Hyades and Pleiades.

The age of the Hyades is 650 million years. They can be easily found in the starry sky thanks to Aldebaran, which is perfectly visible among them. They include about 200 stars.

The Pleiades got their name from the nine parts. Seven of them are named after the seven sisters of Ancient Greece (Pleiades), and two more are named after their parents. The Pleiades are very visible in winter. They include about 1000 stellar bodies.

An equally interesting formation in the constellation of Taurus is the Crab Nebula. It was formed after a supernova explosion in 1054 and was discovered in 1731. The distance of the nebula from the Earth is 6500 light years, and its diameter is about 11 light years. years.

This constellation belongs to the Orion family and borders on the constellations Orion, Unicorn, Canis Minor, Hare.

The constellation Canis Major was first discovered by Ptolemy in the second century.

There is a myth that Big Dog used to be Lelap. It was a very fast dog that could catch up with any prey. Once he chased a fox, which was not inferior to him in speed. The outcome of the race was a foregone conclusion, and Zeus turned both animals to stone. He placed the dog in heaven.

The constellation Canis Major is very visible in winter. The brightest star not only in this, but in all other constellations is Sirius. It has a bluish luster and is located quite close to Earth, at a distance of 8.6 light years. In terms of brightness in our solar system, it is surpassed by Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon. The light from Sirius reaches the Earth after 9 years, and it is 24 times stronger than the sun. This star has a satellite called "Puppy".

Sirius is associated with the formation of such a thing as "Vacation". The fact is that this star appeared in the sky during the summer heat. Since Sirius in Greek is called "canis", the Greeks began to call this period holidays.

Constellation Canis Minor

Small Dog borders on such constellations as: Unicorn, Hydra, Cancer, Gemini. This constellation represents the animal that, along with Canis Major, follows the hunter Orion.

The history of the formation of this constellation, if you rely on myths, is very interesting. According to them, the Small Dog is Mera, the dog of Ikaria. This man was taught to make wine by Dionysus and this drink turned out to be very strong. One day his guests decided that Ikaria decided to poison them and killed him. The mayor was very sad for the owner and soon died. Zeus placed it in the form of a constellation in the starry sky.

This constellation is best observed in January and February.

The brightest stars in this constellation are Portion and Gomeisa. Portion is 11.4 light-years from Earth. It is somewhat brighter and hotter than the Sun, but physically differs little from it.

Gomeisa is visible to the naked eye and glows with a blue-white light.

Constellation Ursa Major

Ursa Major, shaped like a bucket, is one of the three largest constellations. It is mentioned in the writings of Homer and in the Bible. This constellation is very well studied and is of great importance in many religions.

It borders on such constellations as: Waterfall, Leo, Hounds Dogs, Dragon, Lynx.

According to ancient Greek myths, Ursa Major is associated with Callisto, a beautiful nymph and beloved of Zeus. His wife Hera turned Callisto into a bear as punishment. One day, this bear stumbled upon Hera and their son, Arkas, with Zeus. To avoid tragedy, Zeus turned his son and nymph into constellations.

The big bucket is formed by seven stars. The most striking of them are three: Dubhe, Alkaid, Aliot.

Dubhe is a red giant and points to the North Star. It is located 120 light years from Earth.

Alkaid, the third brightest star in the constellation, expresses the end of the tail of Ursa Major. It is located at a distance of 100 light years from Earth.

Alioth is the brightest star in the constellation. She represents the tail. Because of its brightness, it is used in navigation. Alioth shines 108 times brighter than the Sun.

These constellations are the brightest and most beautiful in the northern hemisphere. They can be perfectly seen with the naked eye on an autumn or frosty winter night. The legends of their formation allow fantasy to run wild and imagine how the mighty hunter Orion, together with his faithful dogs, runs after prey, while Taurus and Ursa Major are watching him carefully.

Russia is located in the northern hemisphere, and in this part of the sky we manage to see only a few of all the constellations that exist in the sky. Depending on the season, only their position in the sky changes.

Big Dipper

This constellation is circumpolar and is visible above the horizon at any time. But above all above the horizon, this constellation is located on spring and summer nights, then it is best seen. Around it are the constellations of Bootes, Hounds of the Dogs, Leo Minor, Lynx and Ursa Minor.

There are seven of the brightest stars in this constellation, and it is they who form the characteristic figure of this constellation familiar to everyone: a deep ladle with a long curved handle. But only a rich imagination helps to see a huge bear in this figure, as this constellation is drawn in old star atlases and on constellation maps.

According to the ancient Greeks, only bears lived in the northernmost part of the Earth. Therefore, in the northern part of the sky are the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

The penultimate star in the tail of Ursa Major is called Mizar. Visible at an angular distance above it is the faint star Alcor. The names of these stars are given by the Arabs, and they denote respectively "horse" and "rider". By these stars, the Arabs tested the power of vision: the one who could see the star Alcor had normal vision.

There are two brightest stars in the constellation - Alioth and Dubhe. By the two extreme stars of this figure, you can find the North Star.

There are many legends about the origin of the Great Bear.

The ancient Greeks associate the Big Dipper with the victim of the love story of the nymph Callisto, the daughter of the Arcadian king Lycaon, who fell in love with Zeus and gave him a son Arkad, which provoked the wrath of the jealous wife of Zeus, the goddess Hera. She decided to take revenge on the hated lovebird, and deprived her of her feminine beauty, turning her into an ugly bear. The discouraged Arkad, seeing a bear in his house, instantly tried to shoot an arrow at her, not even suspecting that he wanted to kill his own mother. But the enamored Zeus prevented this and saved his beloved, raising her to heaven. However, as in any love story, everything is rather confusing, because according to another legend, it was not Hera who brought down the curse on Callisto. Say, Zeus himself, trying to hide his adventures, placed his mistress in the sky, taking at the same time his son as Ursa Minor, covering up the traces of the crime, so to speak. However, it is quite possible that Zeus, as well as Hera, had nothing to do with what happened at all.

And Callisto was severely punished for disobedience and loss of virginity by Artemis, whose companion was the future Ursa Major.

There is another legend about the Big Dipper. Once upon a time, there lived a man. And he had seven daughters - brave and beautiful girls. Everywhere and everywhere they kept together. No one remained indifferent to them - everyone admired them.

Once, when the girls were walking at the foot of the mountain, they stumbled upon the king of the devas. Without hesitation, they rushed up to the top of the mountain. Dev is behind them. It looked like he was about to overtake them. But at this time, the girls made a desperate jump up and ascended into the sky. In order not to be separated, they stood close to each other.

So these girls began to glow with seven stars. Since then, they have been called “Etegen Yondoz”, which means seven stars (Great Bear).

The Bashkirs have their own legend. In ancient times, the earth was the size of a spoon, and the sky was the size of a cup. The human race gradually multiplied, there were also more animals, and the earth began to gradually increase. The sky has also grown.

At that time, all people ate from one cauldron. But then the Giant (Alyp) came from somewhere and emptied the boiler to the bottom. What to do? We decided to make the boiler bigger. And you need a ladle for the boiler. The cauldron was cast from silver, and the ladle from gold. The Giant raised the cauldron and said: "Good." Put it in place, lifted the bucket. “And this something is too light,” said the Giant, “and threw the ladle high, wanting to catch it on the fly. But the ladle, whirling, flew straight into the sky, to the stars, and stuck between them.

The Giant's Bucket still exists today. It sparkles with seven stars in the sky: four stars, as it were, form the bottom, three - the handle. In the evening, the bucket is upside down, in the morning it turns upside down. And so constantly.

The beautiful constellation Ursa Major also attracted the attention of the Bulgarian people, who gave it the name Carriage. This name is associated with such a legend. Once a young man went to the forest to chop wood. He came to the forest, unharnessed the oxen and let them graze. Suddenly, a she-bear ran out of the forest and ate one ox. The young man was very brave, he grabbed the bear and harnessed her to the wagon instead of the ox that she had eaten. But the bear could not pull the wagon, twitching from side to side, and therefore in the constellation the wagon seems to be twisted.

In the constellation Ursa Major, old people liken individual stars like this: the star η - Charioteer, the star Mizar ζ - Ursa, the star ε - Ox, the star Alcor - a dog that barks at a bear. The rest of the stars form the wagon itself.

Because of similar geometric figures in the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the Bulgarian people also call the constellation Ursa Minor the Little Carriage.

There is another version of this myth. The eternally young goddess Artemis, dressed in hunting clothes, with a bow, a quiver and a sharp spear, wandered through the mountains and forests for a long time in search of good game. Following her, her companions and maids moved, resounding with laughter and songs of the mountain peaks. The girls were one more beautiful than the other, but the most charming was Callisto. When Zeus saw her, he admired her youth and beauty. But the servants of Artemis were forbidden to marry. To master it, Zeus went to the trick. One night, in the form of Artemis, he appeared before Callisto...

From Zeus, Callisto gave birth to a son, Arkad, who quickly grew up and became an unsurpassed hunter.

The jealous wife of Zeus Hera, who learned about her husband's love affair, unleashed her anger on Callisto, turning her into an ugly clumsy bear.

One day, the son of Callisto Arkad was wandering through the forest, and suddenly a bear came out of the bushes to meet him. Not knowing that it was his mother, he pulled the string, and the arrow flew into the she-bear. But Zeus, who vigilantly guarded his beloved Callisto, at the last moment took the arrow away, and it flew past. At the same time, Zeus turned Arcade into a little bear cub. After that, he grabbed the bear with the cub by the tails and carried them to the sky. There he left Callisto to shine in the form of the beautiful constellation Ursa Major, and Arcade - in the form of the constellation Ursa Minor.

In the sky, in the form of the constellations Callisto and Arkad, they became even more beautiful than on Earth. Not only people admired them, but Zeus himself. From the top of Mount Olympus, he often looked at the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor and enjoyed their beauty and continuous movement across the sky.

Hera was unpleasant when she saw her husband admiring his pets. She turned with an ardent prayer to the sea god Poseidon so that he would never allow the Big Dipper to touch the sea. Let her die of thirst! But Poseidon did not heed the pleas of Hera. Could he really let the beloved of his brother, Zeus the Thunderer, die of thirst?! The Big Dipper continues to circle around the pole, and once a day it descends low over the northern side of the horizon, touches the sea surface, quenches its thirst, and then rises again, attracting the eyes of people and gods with its beauty.

Hercules

HERCULES is one of the largest constellations in the entire celestial sphere. It can be seen high above the horizon, almost at its zenith, at night in July. Near Hercules are the constellations Arrow, Eagle, Ophiuchus, Serpent, Northern Crown, Bootes, Dragon, Lyra and Chanterelle.

On a clear and moonless night in the constellation Hercules, about 140 stars can be distinguished with the naked eye, but in general these are very faint stars, the brightest are stars of the third magnitude. If you mentally connect them with lines, you get a characteristic geometric figure of the constellation Hercules - two large trapeziums with a small common base, located one on top of the other. What an amazing imagination the ancient Greeks had, if in this geometric figure with groups of faint stars located nearby, randomly scattered near the brightest stars, they saw a giant figure of the mythical hero Hercules, holding a highly raised club in his right hand, and two snakes in his left, whom he strangled as a child when they attacked him in the cradle! On his mighty shoulders, like a cloak, is thrown the skin of the Kiferon lion, whom Hercules killed while still a young man. On old star charts and in atlases, Hercules' head is directed to the south, and his feet are to the north.

The ancient Greeks called this hero of myths Hercules. The soothsayer Pythia called him Heracles, and the Romans called him Hercules, and in this form this name has been preserved in astronomy.

In the constellation Hercules (near the star v Hercules) there is an apex - an imaginary point on the celestial sphere, towards which the movement of our Sun and the entire solar system is directed; the speed of this movement is 20 kilometers per second relative to the nearest stars.

Image of the constellation Hercules.

The constellation Hercules has many interesting objects, some of which can be observed without any instruments.

The double star α Hercules is perhaps one of the most interesting stars visible to the naked eye. The main star has a size of 3m,1. At an angular distance of 4"",5 from it there is a satellite of size 5m,4. In the visual field of the telescope α Hercules is a magnificent sight: the main star sparkles orange, and its companion is green. The satellite is a double spectral star with a period of 51.6 days, and the main star is a semi-regular variable star, its brightness varies from 3m to 4m.

At first glance, there is no periodicity in the complex light curve of the main star. But after long and careful observations of this star, two periods of change in its brightness were discovered, which overlap one another. One period lasts six years. During this period, the star a Hercules changes its brightness with an amplitude equal to half the magnitude of the star. A second period is superimposed on this long period, the duration of which ranges from 30 to 130 days. Within the boundaries of this non-constant period, the luminosity of a Hercules changes with a variable amplitude from 3m to 1m.

The semi-regular variable star α Hercules can be clearly observed with the naked eye. Constant observations of this object will help to more deeply study the complex changes in its brightness.

The star δ Hercules is also of interest. In the visual field of the telescope, it is visible as two stars located next to each other. One shines with white light, the other with purple. But δ Hercules is not a physical double star, it is an optical double star.

The star 68U Hercules, which is an eclipsing variable star of the β Lyrae type, also attracts attention. Its brightness changes strictly periodically over 2,051 days. When the brightness of the star 68U Hercules is at its maximum, it has a magnitude of 4m.8. After that, its brightness begins to weaken, and it reaches a value of 5m.3 (the first minimum). Following this, its brightness begins to slowly increase, and it reaches a value of 4m.9 (the second minimum). After that, the star reaches its initial maximum brightness, and then the phenomenon is repeated with strict periodicity.

Between the stars η and ζ of Hercules there is a globular star cluster M 13 (NGC 6205) with an integral magnitude of 5m.9 - almost at the border of visibility with the naked eye. You can admire this wonderful sight even with binoculars.

The star cluster M 13 Hercules is located at a distance of 24,000 light years from us. It has a diameter of 75 light years and contains about 30,000 stars. According to experts, the probability that some of the stars in this cluster have planetary systems with developed civilizations is 0.5. Based mainly on this consideration, radio signals are sent in the direction of the globular star cluster M 13 Hercules, which in coded form contain the most necessary information about earthly civilization. The choice of the M 13 cluster for this purpose is also explained by the fact that due to the expansion of the beam of radio signals with an increase in the distance traveled, at a distance of 24,000 light years (namely, this is the distance to M 13), this beam will have a width of 75 light years and will be able to cover the entire star cluster M 13 and all 30,000 stars in it. Thus, the energy consumption is reduced to a possible minimum. Radiograms to the M 13 cluster are sent at 12.6 cm wavelengths using a radio telescope in Arecibo (Puerto Rico) with an antenna diameter of 300 meters, which is located in the crater of an extinct volcano.

Each radiogram contains 1679 short radio pulses with intervals between them. Accepted and registered by a hypothetical civilization, these radiograms must certainly attract the attention of thinking beings by the number 1679 itself. This number is the product of two prime numbers 73 and 23. If they write radio pulses in 73 lines, 23 in each line, they will get a picture from which they can extract rich information about terrestrial civilization. And first of all about the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0 that we use, then about the atomic weights of the chemical elements hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus. From the following lines, they learn about the molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid - the main hereditary substance of a living cell. Then they will see the figure of a man and the figure four billion - the number of the population of the Earth ... From the last lines they will learn about our solar system and the third planet in order in it - the Earth. The picture will end with a diagram of a radio telescope, with the help of which radiograms are sent. All quantities in it are expressed in units of 12.6 centimeters - the length of the radio wave on which the radio pulse is sent.

The first radiogram to the globular cluster M 13 Hercules was sent on November 16, 1974. Since then, every time the radio telescope is free of observations, a radiogram is sent automatically in the same direction. It will reach the cluster in 24,000 years. If we assume that the civilization that received the signals immediately after deciphering the radiogram will give an answer, then this answer will come to Earth 48,000 years after the signals were sent ...

12 Labors of Hercules

In mythology, many stories are associated with the name of Hercules, his exploits still excite us with their universal ideals. Here are some of them.

Once in Mycenae, Electryon ruled. He had many sons and only one daughter named Alcmene, so sweet and beautiful that even Zeus, when he saw her, was fascinated and since then he has been looking for an opportunity to visit her.

The serene life of Electrion did not last long. The sons of King Pterelaus attacked his country with a large army, killed his sons and stole his flocks. Electrion fell into deep grief and announced that he would give his daughter Alcmene as a wife to someone who would avenge his murdered sons and return the stolen herds to him. The hero Amphitryon managed to fulfill this condition, and Elektriyon gave him Alcmene as his wife. A magnificent wedding was arranged, but during the general fun, Elektriyon and Amphitryon quarreled. Intoxicated wine clouded Amphitryon's mind, and he, without hesitation, drew his sword and killed Electrion. The whole city was outraged by this treacherous murder. Amphitryon had to immediately leave Mycenae and seek refuge in foreign lands. Alcmene followed her husband, but took an oath from him that he would avenge her murdered brothers. They fled to Thebes, where they were received by King Creon as honored guests. Creon gave them everything they needed for a happy life. Here Alcmene reminded Amphitrion of the oath he had given. He gathered a large army and went to take revenge on King Pterelaus and his sons. Alcmene was left alone - this is an opportunity that Zeus had been waiting for a long time. One night, taking the form of Amphitryon, he appeared at Alcmene. From Zeus and Amphitryon, Alcmene was to give birth to twin sons.

Anger and jealousy seized Hera when she learned that Zeus was close to Alcmene. She hated the son of Alcmene and Zeus before he was born. But Hera pretended to be calm and even delighted by the words of Zeus. At the same time, with the ingenuity characteristic only of a goddess, she came up with an insidious plan to destroy Zeus' plans for the future of his expected son. Calmly, she approached Zeus and with a sweet smile, hiding deceit, told him: “O great ruler of Heaven and Earth! Take an oath that the one who is born today the first in the Perseid family will command all his relatives!

Ata, the goddess of lies and deceit, came to Hera's aid. She so confused the mind of Zeus that he could not unravel the insidious plan of Hera and swore by the waters of the Styx that he would fulfill what she asked. Hera immediately rushed in her golden chariot to Argos. She appeared in the house of Perseid Stenel and hastened the birth of his wife, who was resolved by a weak premature baby, who received the name Eurystheus. After the birth of Eurystheus and Alcmene, she gave birth to two twin sons - Hercules According to the data accepted by us, the child at birth received the name Alkid. Later, the Delphic oracle gave him the nickname Hercules, which means "performing feats because of the persecution of Hera." (Note per.)
, son of Zeus, and Iphicles, son of Amphitrion.

Having reached her goal, Hera returned to Olympus, appeared before Zeus and told him: “Great ruler! In Argos, a son was born to Perseid Stenel. He was the first born today, and he should be master over all the descendants of your son Perseus! Only now did Zeus understand Hera's insidious plan. Of course, she would not have been able to deceive him if the goddess of deceit Ata had not clouded his mind. He became angry with the goddess of deceit and threw her from Olympus, strictly forbidding her to appear there. Since then, the goddess of deceit Ata lives among people on Earth.

Zeus could not break his sacred oath to Hera. But he took measures to alleviate the fate of his beloved son, who appeared from the most beautiful of mortal women - Alcmene. He concluded an agreement with Hero that his son Hercules would not be under the rule of Eurystheus until the end of his life, but only until he fulfilled his twelve orders. After that, he will be freed from his power and will receive immortality.

Zeus knew that Hercules would have to expose his life to terrible dangers, overcome inhuman difficulties in carrying out the instructions of the weak and cowardly Eurystheus, but he could not save his son from all this, since he swore an oath to Hera. Nevertheless, he asked his daughter Pallas Athena to help Hercules and protect him when his life was in mortal danger.

By order of Zeus, the god Hermes took the newborn Hercules and delivered him to Olympus, where he placed the child on the chest of the sleeping Hera. From her divine milk, Hercules acquired such strength that no mortal could possess. But Hera, waking up, pushed little Hercules away from her breast. Her hatred for him became even greater, and she decided to destroy him at any cost.

One evening, when Alcmene swaddled Hercules and Iphicles and left them in the cradle to sleep, Hera sent two snakes. Quietly they crawled to the cradle and with a hiss began to wrap themselves around the body of little Hercules. They squeezed him harder and harder and were about to strangle him. But the future hero woke up, pulled out his hands from under the diapers, grabbed the snakes by the heads and squeezed them so hard that they immediately died. In their agony, they hissed so loudly that Alcmene and her maids woke up. They saw a child with snakes in their hands and screamed in fear. Amphitrion ran into the room to the cry of women and with a drawn sword.

Alcmene and Amphitryon, shocked by the unexpected strength of little Hercules, asked the soothsayer Tiresias to tell them about the fate of their son. Looking into the future, the wise old man told them in detail about what feats Hercules would have to perform. With them he will become famous as the greatest hero, and the gods will reward him with immortality. And Hercules will live with them on Olympus...

Having learned about the future of Hercules, Amphitryon took up his education: he taught him to shoot accurately from a bow, to use a club. Not only did Amphitrion want to develop strength and dexterity, he wanted to give his son knowledge and a good upbringing, but in this Hercules did not show such zeal: it was impossible to compare his success in reading, writing and playing the kithara with the success he showed in jumping, wrestling archery and the ability to use other weapons. The music teacher Lin, brother of Orpheus, often complained to Amphitrion that Hercules did not want to play the cithara and had to scold and punish him. Once Lin got angry with Hercules and hit him, then little Hercules grabbed a cithara and hit his teacher so hard that he fell to the ground dead. Amphitryon was very disturbed by this incident. Seeing how the strength and power of Hercules are growing every day, he began to be afraid of him and therefore sent him to the distant island of Kieferon. There, among the cool forests, Hercules grew up in freedom. He soon surpassed everyone in size, strength, agility and ability to wield weapons. The spear and arrows of Hercules always hit the target.

The philosopher Prodicus (who lived in the 5th century BC) artistically described the following "case". One morning, when Hercules was exercising in a green meadow, two fabulously beautiful girls appeared in front of him. One was called Tenderness - she invited Hercules to lead him through an easy and pleasant life, full of pleasures and carelessness. The second was called Virtue - she offered Hercules another life path, replete with difficulties, dangers and suffering, but great glory awaited him on this path. Without hesitation, Hercules chose the path suggested by Virtue, and did not deviate from this path all his life. He defeated cruel kings, destroyed ferocious monsters, conquered the terrible forces of nature.

Hercules endured many difficulties and sufferings, but he constantly fought for the well-being of people. While still quite young, he saved the inhabitants of Kieferon from the terrible Kieferon lion, who lived high in the mountains and descended into the valleys at night, destroying everything that was on his way. Hercules discovered his lair, attacked the lion and speared him. After that, he took off his skin, threw it like a cloak over his mighty shoulders, tying his front paws in a knot on his chest, and the lion's head served as his helmet. From an ash tree as hard as iron, uprooted by Hercules, he made a huge club that no one could even lift. From Hermes, Hercules received a sharp sword as a gift, and Apollo handed him a bow and arrows. Hephaestus forged a golden shell for him, and Pallas Athena herself wove clothes for Hercules. Thus armed, Hercules went to the city of Thebes. At that time, the Thebans paid tribute every year to the Orchomenian king Ergin. In the battle, Hercules killed him and imposed on the Orchomenians twice the tribute that Thebes paid them annually. The Theban king Creon, admiring the courage of Hercules, who saved the city from such evil, gave him his daughter Megara as a wife, and the gods sent him three sons.

Hercules lived happily in Thebes with his family. But, like a hot fire, Hera's hatred for Hercules flared up. She sent him a serious illness. In a fit of madness, Hercules mistook his children and the children of his brother Iphicles for sacrificial animals and threw them into the fire. When his mind returned to him, he realized what atrocity he had unwittingly committed, and fell into deep sorrow. Seeking solace, Hercules left Thebes and went to the holy city of Delphi to ask the god Apollo what needs to be done to be cleansed of this terrible crime. Through his prophetess Pythia, Apollo ordered him to immediately go to Argos. There he had to serve Eurystheus for twelve years and perform twelve feats on his orders. Only after this Hercules was to receive immortality from the gods.

Hercules went to Argos and became a humble servant of the cowardly Eurystheus, who was so afraid of Hercules that he did not even allow him to appear in Mycenae, and transmitted his orders through the messenger Koprey.

Heavy assignments had to be carried out by Hercules in the service of Eurystheus. First, he was ordered to kill the Nemean Lion, which devastated the environs of the city of Nemeus (see the constellation Leo). Then Eurystheus ordered Hercules to deal with the Lernean Hydra, a terrible monster with the body of a snake and nine dragon heads, one of which was immortal (see the Hydra constellation). Delivered from the suffering caused by the Hydra, people staged magnificent celebrations to commemorate the feat of Hercules.

As soon as Hercules returned home with a victory, he was immediately awaited by a new assignment from Eurystheus, even more difficult and dangerous: it was necessary to kill the Stymphalian birds. The surroundings of the city of Stimfal turned these birds into a desert, they pounced on people and animals and tore them apart with their copper claws and beaks. The feathers of these birds were of hard bronze, and the birds, when they took off, could throw them like clouds of arrows at those who dared to attack them. With the help of Pallas Athena, Hercules managed to drive these birds away, and they never returned to Stymphalus.

The goddess Artemis, offended by the inhabitants of Arcadia, sent them the Kerinean doe, which devastated the fields and gardens. Eurystheus ordered Hercules to catch the deer and bring her alive to Mycenae. But doing so was not easy. Like a whirlwind, the doe rushed through the mountains and valleys of Arcadia and did not know fatigue. She never stood in one place for long. For a whole year, the doe Hercules pursued from the northernmost to the southernmost edge of the Earth, but could not overtake her in any way. Only in Arcadia did he manage to approach the deer, shoot an arrow and wound her in the leg. The deer could no longer run as before, and Hercules managed to grab her. But then the goddess Artemis appeared before him and said with anger: “Why did you, Hercules, hurt my beloved doe?” Hercules calmly answered her: “Great goddess! It was not of my own free will that I pursued your doe, but on the orders of Eurystheus. The gods themselves commanded me to carry out his orders, and I cannot but obey them, because by doing so I will offend them.

Artemis forgave Hercules for his guilt and allowed her to take a doe and take her to Mycenae to Eurystheus.

On Mount Erymant there was a boar that showed no mercy to anyone and with its terrible fangs tore both people and animals, devastating the surroundings of the city of Psofis. Eurystheus ordered Hercules to kill this boar, but it was not so easy to find him. The boar lived high, on the very top of Mount Erymant, in a dense, impenetrable forest. Hercules climbed to the top of the mountain and with loud cries drove the boar out of its lair. Hercules pursued him for a long time and finally drove him into deep snow, in which the boar got stuck and could not run. Hercules grabbed him, tied him with strong bonds and brought him alive to Mycenae.

The king of Elis, Avgii, the son of Helios, had innumerable herds of cattle. Among his herds were three hundred bulls, one more violent than the other. But Avgii's barnyard was not cleared for 30 years, and no one was able to clear it. Eurystheus entrusted Hercules with the task of doing this within one day. Hercules came to Augeus and offered him to clean the barnyard in one day, on the condition that Avgiy would give him one tenth of his herds. Augeas agreed without hesitation, because he was sure that Hercules could not do the job in one day. But Hercules broke through the wall that surrounded the barnyard on both sides, blocked the Alpheus River with a dam and directed its flow to the courtyard. A powerful stream of water washed out the stalls and carried away all the manure. When Hercules demanded from Avgiy to fulfill the promise - to give a tenth of the herds, he expelled him. Empty-handed, Hercules returned to Eurystheus, but then, having accomplished all his exploits and freed himself from the service of Eurystheus, he gathered a large army, attacked Avgii and pierced him with a deadly arrow. Hercules took away his property, made rich sacrifices to the gods and laid the foundation for the Olympic Games.

A great disaster struck the distant island of Crete. God Poseidon, angry with King Minos for not sacrificing a bull to him (see about the constellation Taurus), instilled rabies in this animal. The enraged bull rushed around the island with terrible fury and destroyed everything in its path. Eurystheus heard about this disaster and ordered Hercules to immediately go to the island of Crete to catch and bring the mad bull alive to Mycenae. Hercules brilliantly fulfilled this order of Eurystheus.

The Thracian king Diomedes had beautiful horses, but so wild and violent that they could only be kept on iron chains. They ate not grass, but human flesh. In order not to sacrifice his subjects, Diomedes threw to the horses to eat all the aliens who, during a shipwreck, stuck to the shores of Thrace. Wild horses tore them apart and devoured them along with the bones. Eurystheus ordered Hercules to bring the horses of Diomedes alive, hoping that they would tear Hercules apart as soon as he began to untie the iron chains in the stall.

Hercules gathered true friends, among whom was his best friend Abder, the son of the god Hermes, and sailed on a ship to Thrace. Having landed on the shore, they went to the horses. Hercules managed to untie them and take them to his ship. At this time, Diomedes attacked him with a large army. Hercules instructed Abder to guard the horses, and he himself, with a few of his remaining companions, entered into battle with Diomedes and killed him. Returning to the ship, Hercules saw a terrible picture - the horses of Diomedes tore to pieces his favorite Abder. He buried his friend in the Thracian land and founded the city of Abdera there. Hercules brought wild horses to Mycenae, but when he saw them, Eurystheus was so frightened that he ordered them to be set free in the impregnable mountains of the Peloponnese.

Far away on the shores of Meotida (Sea of ​​Azov) was the kingdom of the Amazons. These were warlike women who did not allow men into their country. And the most warlike was their queen Hippolyta. She rushed like a whirlwind on her violent horse, and her arrows hit even great heroes. The symbol of her power over the Amazons was a magical belt, which she never took off. This belt was given to her by Ares, the god of war.

Once the daughter of Eurystheus Admet, who was a priestess of the goddess Hera, said to her father: “Father, I would like to have the belt of Hippolyta!” Eurystheus answered her: “You will have it, dear daughter!” He immediately ordered Hercules to get the girdle of Hippolyta.

Hercules gathered a small detachment of warriors, but in this small detachment there were famous heroes, and sailed on a ship across the blue sea to the country of the Amazons. They sailed for a long time. Along the way, Hercules and his companions accomplished many feats, and, finally, they arrived in the city of Themyscira, the capital of the country of the Amazons. The glory of Hercules has already reached these places. Queen Hippolyta went out to meet the son of Zeus and find out why he had come. Hercules answered her the truth: “Glorious queen! I have traveled a long and difficult journey across stormy seas and have come here with my army against my will. By the will of the gods, I must fulfill the twelve orders of Eurystheus. On his behalf, I came here to take your belt and take it to his daughter Eurystheus, who wished to own it.

Queen Hippolyta listened to these truthful words and was ready to give her belt to Hercules, but the goddess Hera, who did not stop plotting against Hercules, disguised herself as an Amazon and quietly joined their ranks. She whispered to several Amazons, "Don't trust Hercules! He then came here with soldiers to capture our queen and take her into slavery! These words of Hera were passed from mouth to mouth, and after a while all the Amazons learned about them. Believing the lies of Hera, they grabbed their bows and spears and unexpectedly attacked the companions of Hercules. A fierce battle began. Many of Hercules' companions died from the arrows of the warlike Amazons, but many Amazons also found their death on the battlefield. Seven of the bravest of them simultaneously attacked Hercules, but he fought off their spears with a shield and captured two of them - Antiope and Melanippe. The Amazons were defeated. Hippolyta, in order to redeem her most daring assistant Melanippe from captivity, gave the belt to Hercules, and he delivered it to his daughter Eurystheus.

Before Hercules had time to rest from the battles with the Amazons, Eurystheus entrusted him with a new, even more difficult assignment. Far, far away, on the westernmost edge of the Earth, where every evening the radiant Helios descended from heaven, among the stormy ocean was the island of Erythia. There lived the terrible giant Gerion, who had three heads, three bodies, six arms and six legs. On this island, under the vigilant guard of the two-headed dog Orfo and the giant Eurytion, the famous cows of Geryon grazed. Hercules had to bring them to Mycenae.

Hercules went to carry out the assignment. First, he passed through Africa, crossed the hot desert of Libya, passed through many more countries and, finally, reached the western edge of the Earth, where there was a narrow sea strait. In memory of his long and difficult journey, Hercules erected two huge rocks, which are now called the Pillars of Hercules. From here, Hercules saw the island of Erythia far away in the expanses of the stormy ocean. But how can he get to it?

Hercules sat thoughtfully on the shore and looked into the distance. It began to get dark. The chariot of Helios has already descended to the waters of the ocean. Blinding light and unbearable heat spread around. Hercules jumped to his feet, grabbed his sword and rushed at the radiant god. Helios only smiled, seeing the fearlessness of the son of Zeus, and, appreciating his heroism, gave him his golden boat, on which he crossed the ocean every night with horses and a chariot from the western to the eastern edge of the Earth. Hercules descended into the boat, and she carried him along the waves of the ocean. Thus he reached the island of Erythia.

As soon as Hercules stepped onto the island, the bloodthirsty two-headed dog Orfo flew at him, whose terrible barking was like thunder in a thunderstorm. Hercules calmly waited for him, and when the dog approached him, he brought down his heavy club on him. Orfo fell to the ground dead. At that moment, like a hurricane, the giant Eurytion attacked Hercules, but the son of Zeus was not afraid. With terrible force he threw his spear, which pierced the giant through and through, and Eurytion, like a huge rock, collapsed to the ground.

Hercules drove the wonderful cows of Gerion to the place where he left the boat, and was just preparing to load them into it in order to cross the ocean with them, when Geryon himself attacked the hero. As if three giants attacked Hercules at the same time. If at least one arrow or spear of Hercules had not hit the target, Geryon would have defeated Hercules. But in this difficult duel, Athena Pallas came to the aid of Hercules on the orders of her father. One after another, like lightning, the arrows of Hercules flew and pierced all three heads of the monstrous giant. Hercules smashed them with his club, and Gerion collapsed with such a roar that it seemed as if three huge rocks had fallen to the ground.

Having ferried the cows across the ocean, Hercules left the boat on the shore so that Helios would continue his long journey at night to the eastern edge of the Earth.

Hercules drove the cows of Gerion on. He traveled with them all of Southern Europe and met many difficulties along the way. But the greatest obstacles were erected by the goddess Hera. She sent rabies to the whole herd. With a terrifying moo, the cows ran in different directions. Hercules ran after them for a long time and with great difficulty already in Thrace gathered most of the herd and delivered the cows to Mycenae. There he gave them to Eurystheus, who sacrificed them to the goddess Hera in gratitude for the fact that she created such incredible difficulties in the path of Hercules.

A little time passed, and Eurystheus entrusted the hero with a new task - to bring the dog Kerberos, who in the underworld of Hades guarded the shadows of the dead.

One sight of the dog Kerber has already terrified people. It had three heads, fangs as sharp as swords protruding from the mouths of each head, and huge snakes hissed around its neck. The long tail of Cerberus ended with the head of a dragon, which incessantly spewed out flames. No one dared to approach this monster and leave the gloomy kingdom of Hades.

Enormous difficulties had to be overcome by Hercules in order to fulfill this assignment. He went south and reached Laconia. Here, near Tenar, in the southernmost part of the Peloponnese, Hercules descended into a bottomless gloomy abyss. In the darkness, he did not notice how he reached the gate leading to the kingdom of Hades. He stopped in front of the gate and wondered how to get into the realm of shadows. At this time, Hermes approached him, who accompanied the souls of the dead to Hades. It was he who introduced Hercules into the underworld, and Pallas Athena accompanied him and did not leave him until he fulfilled the instructions.

As soon as Hercules took a few steps, the shadow of his friend Meleager appeared before him. Meleager asked Hercules to marry his sister Dejanira, who remained defenseless after his death, and begged Hercules to be her protector. Hercules promised that upon his return he would fulfill Meleager's request.

After going through all the horrors of the underworld, Hercules appeared before the throne of Hades himself and told him that, by the will of the gods, he needed to take Cerberus away and hand him over to Eurystheus. Hades could not offend the refusal of the gods and answered the hero: “Son of Zeus, if you can tame my Cerberus without weapons, take him, he is yours!”

Hercules went in search of Cerberus. He wandered for a long time through the underworld and finally found him on the banks of the Acheron River. Hercules pounced on the dog and wrapped his powerful arms around his neck. The faithful guardian of Hades became furious, his howl shook the underworld. But more and more Hercules squeezed the dog's neck. The long tail of Kerberus wrapped around the body of Hercules, the head of the dragon at the end of the tail tore the hero's body with his teeth. But the hands of Hercules clenched like a vice on the neck of Kerberos, and finally, exhausted and half strangled, the dog fell at the feet of the son of Zeus. Hercules brought Cerberus out of the underworld and led him to Mycenae. The dog had never seen the light and was so frightened that sweat and poisonous foam began to drip from its sides, and where they hit the ground, poisonous herbs immediately grew.

At Mycenae, Hercules showed Cerberus to Eurystheus. He was so frightened that he ordered to immediately return him to the underworld. Hercules took him back to Hades, and there Kerberos began, as before, to guard the shadows of the dead.

The heavy service of Hercules with Eurystheus was drawing to a close. He had to fulfill the last assignment - Hercules had to go to the titan Atlas, who held the vault of heaven on his shoulders, take three golden apples from his gardens, guarded by the daughters of Atlas, the Hesperides, and bring them to Eurystheus.

The difficulty of this feat was that no one knew the way to the gardens of Atlas and could not show it to Hercules. Hercules wandered for a long time, he went around many countries and reached the farthest North, where the Eridanus River flowed. Here the nymphs told him how to find the way to the Atlas. Having overcome many difficulties on his way, Hercules reached the edge of the Earth, where the great titan Atlas stood. Hercules looked in amazement at the mighty titan holding the vault of heaven on his shoulders.

Atlas noticed Hercules and asked what brought him here. Hercules answered him: “Great Atlas! By the will of the gods, I carry out the instructions of Eurystheus. It was he who ordered me to take three golden apples from your garden and bring them to him. Answer me, will you give them to me of your own free will? Atlas replied: “Son of Zeus! I will give you golden apples, but so that I can go and pick them, stand in my place and support the firmament so that it does not collapse!

Hercules took the place of Atlas. A terrible weight fell on his shoulders. He bent over, and his muscles swelled like mountains. Sweat flowed like a river from his body, but the goddess Pallas Athena reinforced his strength, and he held the vault of heaven until Atlas appeared. Atlas brought three golden apples, but did not give them to Hercules, but offered to take them to Mycenae to Eurystheus himself. Then Hercules realized that Atlas, by cunning, wants to be forever freed from the obligation to maintain the vault of heaven, and decided to cheat himself. And he said to Atlas: “I agree, Atlas, but I ask you to change me for a while until I find a pillow that I want to put on my shoulders so that the firmament does not press on them so much.”

Innocent Atlas agreed. Then Hercules took the apples from him and went to Mycenae. He gave the golden apples to Eurystheus, who gave them to Hercules. Then Hercules gave these apples to his patroness Pallas Athena, and she returned them to the Hesperides so that the apples would forever remain in their gardens.

Hercules defeats the death god Thanatos

When Hercules and his friends went for the horses of King Diomedes to Thrace, they had to sail for a long time on a stormy sea. To reinforce his forces, Hercules decided to land near the city of Thera and visit his friend King Admet. But the day was unfortunate when the ship of Hercules landed in the bay. Admet's family and the whole city were in deep mourning. A few hours remained until the death of the wife of Admet Alcestis.

Several years ago, on an autumn day, when a cold wind blew from the mountains with terrible force and every person tried to get to a warm house as soon as possible, a beggar appeared in Admet's palace, dressed in rags, through which his blue body shone through. He came to King Admet and asked him to take him as a servant for a year. Admetus asked the beggar what his name was and where he came from, but he said nothing more. The king ordered to give him clothes, to feed him, and since the poor fellow did not know how to do anything, they sent him to pasture the sheep.

Time passed day by day. A year has passed. Once Admet went to the mountains and heard magical music there. He looked around and saw on the top of the mountain a slender young man with a radiant face, who was playing a golden lyre. The melody was so tender and beautiful that the sheep surrounded the musician and listened so hard that they did not even look at the lush green grass.

Admet approached the young man. Was this the same beggar whom he had taken in a year before and sent to tend the sheep? Now he introduced himself to him: “I am the god Apollo. A year ago, my father the Thunderer Zeus drove me from the bright Olympus and ordered me to serve for a whole year with some person. You, Admet, accepted me, dressed me, put shoes on, fed me, and I am pleased with you. Tell me now, what do you want me to do to repay you for your kindness?”

Admet was confused, but nevertheless answered: “Great master! I'm happy that you're happy with me. I don't want anything from you!"

Before leaving for Olympus, Apollo told Admet that he could always ask him for help if necessary.

Admet was left alone and thought for a long time about what had happened. Night fell and he returned home to the palace. Mentally, he was transported to the neighboring city of Iolk, whose king was the cruel Pelius. He had a daughter, Alcestis. Everyone who saw her experienced a feeling of exciting joy - she was so sweet and beautiful. From close and distant countries, the sons of kings came to woo her, but she refused everyone, because she liked only her neighbor - Admet, the young king of the city of Fera. He came to Pelius and Admet to ask for the hand of his daughter. Pelius looked at the groom for a long time, thought, and finally said to him: “If you want me to give you my daughter as a wife, prove that you are worthy of her hand and being my son-in-law. You must come for her in a chariot drawn by a lion and a boar! If you arrive on any other chariot, even if made of pure gold and with flying horses, you will not see Alcestis!

Admet was sad, he realized that by setting this condition, Pelius was letting him know that he did not want to give him his daughter. Is this a thing heard of: harnessing a lion and a boar into one team?!

Every day Admet became sadder and sadder. But one morning, the god Apollo appeared before him with a silver bow and a quiver full of arrows, and so he said to him: “I know why you are sad, Admet, but the condition of Pelias is not so difficult. Come with me".

They went together to the mountains, surrounded by dense forests. A little time passed, and a lion appeared before them with a deafening roar. Apollo pursued him, caught him, and tamed him so that the lion, meek as a lamb, followed them. And then the boar did not keep itself waiting. His eyes flashing fiercely and baring sharp long fangs, he rushed towards them. Apollo released the lion, who caught the boar and brought it to them. They returned to the palace and harnessed the two animals to one team. Admet sat in the chariot, waved his whip and rushed to the city of Iolk. Seeing a lion and a boar harnessed to the chariot, and Admet in the chariot, firmly holding the reins and whip, Pelias could not contain his amazement. He never believed that anyone could perform such a miracle. He gave his daughter Alcestis to Admet, who took her to his palace. A magnificent wedding celebration was arranged there, at which Apollo himself was present, playing magical melodies on his lyre.

Admet and Alcestis lived happily. The gods sent them two beautiful children - a son and a daughter. At the request of Apollo, the goddesses of fate - Moira - predetermined that Admet could get rid of death if someone else voluntarily agreed to die in his place.

Years passed, and the last hour of Admet came. He asked his elderly parents that one of them should die in his place, but neither father nor mother agreed. Nor did any of Admet's closest relatives or friends agree. And death was already approaching ... Then Alcestis came to Admetus and told him that she was ready to die in his place.

Alcestis prepared to leave for the realm of shadows, kissed her children for the last time and asked the goddess of the hearth, Hestia, to protect them when they were left without a mother. Then she retired to her chambers and went to bed. Those around her mourned bitterly. Admet himself begged her not to leave him alone. And the hated god of death, Thanatos, was already leaning over Alcestis. Apollo begged him to postpone the death of Alcestis, but the god of death was relentless. So he bent over Alcestis, and from his chilling breath she began to cool down and closed her eyes ...

When Alcestis was already being prepared to be carried to the tomb, Hercules and his companions arrived in the city. Admet met them, but grief did not allow him to express joy at the meeting.

Admet ordered to take Hercules to the guest room and arrange a rich feast for him, and he himself went to the cemetery. Unaware of the misfortune that befell his friend, Hercules feasted with his companions. But it did not escape his attention that the faces of the servants were sad and that they wept secretly with bitter tears. Hercules asked them about the cause of grief, but Admet forbade the servants to reveal the terrible truth. Then Hercules guessed that some great misfortune must have befallen his friend. He called one of the servants aside and insisted that he tell him what had happened. The servant could no longer lock himself up at the sight of such participation on the part of Hercules and answered him: “Dear stranger, today our lady, the beautiful queen Alcestis, descended into the kingdom of the dead.”

Sorrow filled the heart of Hercules. It hurt him that on this unfortunate day for his friend, he was feasting and having fun in his house. Hercules decided to thank Admet for the fact that, despite the grief that befell him, he nevertheless hospitably met him. He learned from the servant where the tomb of Alcestis was located, took his club, a spear with a bow and rushed to the tomb. Running there, Hercules hid behind the tomb and waited for the moment when the god of death Thanatos appeared there. A little time passed, and he heard the flapping of terrible black wings. Chilling everything around with his breath, Thanatos flew in to drink at the grave of the blood of Alcestis. At that moment, Hercules pounced on him, grabbed him with powerful hands and began to choke him. The chilling cold of death emanated from Thanatos, but the son of Zeus squeezed his throat more and more, and finally, Thanatos lost his last strength and, helpless, lowered his black wings. Then Hercules tied him tightly to a thick tree and said that he would untie and release him only when he gave him Alcestis. Thanatos had to part with his victim and leave her alive. Hercules and Alcestis returned to the palace, entered the chambers of Admet and saw him bitterly mourning his beloved wife. He didn't even notice them coming. Hercules quietly approached his bed and said to him: “My dear Admet, grieve no more! Here is your favorite Alcestis. I got it in a hard fight with Thanatos. Be happy again and enjoy life as before!

Joy flashed in the soul of Admet. He hugged Hercules and said: “Glorified son of Zeus! You gave me back my happiness. What and how can I thank you? Stay with me as a guest, and we will solemnly celebrate your victory over the god of death!

However, Hercules could not stay longer with Admet, as he needed to swim after the horses of Diomedes.

Hercules gains immortality

When Hercules was in the kingdom of Hades, he promised his friend Meleager to take his sister Dejanira as his wife. Returning from the realm of shadows, Hercules went to the city of Calydon to King Oineus and told him about the meeting with the shadow of Meleager, the son of the king, and the promise that he gave him. But it turned out that many other men and youths also sought the hands of Dejanira, and among them the river god Aheloy. It was difficult for Oinei to decide to whom to give his beloved daughter. Finally, he announced that Dejanira would become the wife of the one who won the fight. Hearing this, all the other applicants for the hand of Dejanira refused the duel, because they saw no chance of defeating Achelous. Only Hercules remained. The rivals went to a wide clearing and stood up against each other. Wasting no time, Hercules rushed at the huge Achelous and clasped him with his powerful arms. But no matter how Hercules strained his muscles, he could not topple the enemy, who stood as unshakable as a huge rock. The fight became more and more fierce. Already three times pressed Hercules to the ground Aheloy, but only the fourth time he managed to grab him so that victory seemed to be close. At this moment, Aheloy resorted to cunning. He turned into a snake and slipped out of the hands of the hero. Not at a loss, Hercules grabbed the snake and squeezed its head so tightly that the snake's tail could no longer twist into tight rings. But the snake slipped out of the hands of Hercules and instantly turned into a ferocious bull, which attacked the son of Zeus with fury. The hero grabbed the bull by the horns and twisted his head so that he broke one horn and knocked him half dead to the ground. Left without strength, the god Aheloy fled and hid in the stormy waters of the river.

Oeneus gave Dejanira as a wife to the winner, and the wedding was magnificent and cheerful. After the wedding, Hercules and Dejanira went to Tiryns, the homeland of Hercules. The road led them to the stormy and high-water river Even, the water dragged huge stones, and it seemed impossible to cross to the other side - there was no ford, no bridge. The centaur Ness carried travelers across this river. Hercules called him and asked him to take Dejanira to the other side. The centaur agreed, and Dejanira sat on his broad back. Hercules threw his club, bow, spear and quiver of arrows to the other side, and he himself rushed into the stormy waters of the river and swam across it. As soon as he went ashore, he heard the frightened cry of Dejanira. Nessus, admiring the beauty of Dejanira, wanted to kidnap her. Hercules grabbed his faithful bow, and the whistling arrow overtook the fleeing Nessus and pierced his heart. The mortally wounded centaur gave Dejanira the insidious advice to collect his poisoned blood, telling her: “Oh, daughter of Oineus! I carried you last through the turbulent waters of Even. I'm dying. I give you my blood as a keepsake. It has a wonderful property: if someday Hercules stops loving you and another woman becomes dearer to him than you, rub at least his clothes with this blood. So you will return his love, and no mortal woman or goddess will be dearer to him than you.

Dejanira believed the words of the dying Nessus. She collected his blood and hid it. Together with Hercules, they continued their journey to Tiryns. There they lived happily, and their children grew up carefree and delighted their parents.

Once, Ifit came to visit them. Hercules warmly received his friend. Noting a joyful meeting and talking, the friends went for a walk to the Tiryns fortress, standing on a high rock. From the walls of the fortress below, a terrible deep abyss was visible. Standing on the wall, Hercules and Ifit looked into the darkness of the gorge. And at that moment the goddess Hera, whose hatred for Hercules flared up more and more, instilled in him anger and madness. Not controlling himself, Hercules grabbed Ifita and threw him into the abyss. With this involuntary murder, Hercules greatly angered his father, the almighty Zeus, as he unwittingly violated the sacred customs of hospitality. As punishment, Zeus sent a serious illness to his son, from which Hercules suffered for a long time. No drugs could relieve his pain and suffering. Finally, he went to Delphi. There, the soothsayer of the god Apollo, Pythia, told him that he would recover only if he was sold into slavery for three years, and he gave the money received for him to Ifit's father Eurytus.

Hercules was sold into slavery to the Lydian queen Omphale, who subjected him to painful humiliations. She dressed the illustrious hero in women's clothes and made him spin and weave along with her maids. And Omphala herself at that time threw on herself a lion's skin, which served Hercules as a cloak, took his club, which she could hardly tear off the ground, and girded herself with his sword. Proudly she walked past Hercules and mocked him. The hero's heart was filled with anger, but he could not do anything - after all, he was a slave of Omphala: she bought him and could do whatever she wanted with him. Three years of slavery at Omphala were difficult for Hercules. During this time, he never sent any message to Dejanira, and she fell into despair, because she did not know if her husband was alive. But one day the messenger brought her joyful news: Hercules is alive and well, his messenger Lichas should arrive soon, who will tell her in detail how Hercules captured the city of Oikhalia and destroyed it.

Finally, Lichas arrived. He brought with him captives, among whom was the king's daughter Iola. Lichas told about the victory of Hercules and pleased Dejanira, saying that Hercules should also return soon. In the crowd of captives, Dejanira noticed a beautiful girl, whose mournful appearance attracted attention, and asked Lichas about her. But he didn't answer her.

Dejanira ordered the captives to be taken to the room allotted for them. As soon as Lichas left, a servant approached her and whispered softly: “Glorious lady! Lichas did not want to tell you the truth about this grieving slave. Hear me, lady! This is Iola, the daughter of King Eurytus. Hercules did not send her here as a slave. As soon as he returns, he will marry her…” Dejanira heard this, and the pangs of jealousy began to torment her soul. The thought that after the return of Hercules she would be abandoned and exiled oppressed her more and more. In desperation, she remembered the advice of the centaur Nessus. She rubbed the cloak with the blood of Nessus, which she sewed for Hercules, wrapped it up and handed it to Lichas, saying to him: “Lichas, quickly take this cloak to Hercules and tell him to immediately put it on and make sacrifices to the gods. But no mortal must wear this cloak before him. Even the rays of Helios must not touch the cloak before Hercules puts it on. Hurry, Lichas!"

The messenger set off immediately. Dejanira returned to the room and was horrified to see that the wool with which she rubbed her cloak with the blood of a centaur turned into ashes as soon as the rays of Helios fell on her. And in the place where the wool lay, poisonous foam appeared. Only now did Deianira understand the insidious deception of the dying Nessus, but it was too late: Lichas handed over the cloak to Hercules. Hercules threw on a cloak and sacrificed twelve bulls to his father Zeus and other gods. From the warmth of the burning altar, the cloak stuck to the body of Hercules, and he began to writhe in terrible convulsions from unbearable pain. His son Gill, who was with him at that time, carried his father to the ship, and he hurried to his mother to tell what she had done. When Gill told his mother about the inhuman suffering of his father, Dejanira, without saying a word, went to her chambers, closed herself there and pierced herself with a double-edged sword. They brought the dying Hercules. He experienced even greater torment when he learned that Dejanira had killed herself and he could not take revenge on her. The poison burned his body, and he no longer had the strength to endure this pain. He ordered his son to burn him on a funeral pyre and thereby save him from further torment. Gill and his relatives fulfilled his father's wish. Hercules was carried and laid on a fire, but no one wanted to light it, no matter how much Hercules begged to do so. At this time, Philoctetes came, and Hercules persuaded him to light a fire and promised to leave him his bow and arrows as a reward. Philoctetes fulfilled his wish. Huge tongues of flame engulfed the body of Hercules, but lightning flashed brighter than fire, which was thrown by the great Zeus, and thunder seemed to tear the sky apart ... Pallas Athena and Hermes rushed on a golden chariot. They brought to Olympus the famous hero and beloved son of Zeus. There the gods granted Hercules immortality, and he, as an equal among equals, began to live among them. Hera herself, forgetting her hatred, joyfully met Hercules and gave him her daughter, the beautiful and eternally young goddess Hebe, as his wife. The gods rewarded Hercules for all the heroic deeds, sufferings and torments he endured on Earth, for the fact that he saved people from monsters that caused them terrible disasters ... The Lord of Heaven and Earth Zeus turned his beloved son into the constellation Hercules. It appears high above the horizon during the summer months. In the sky, this constellation is surrounded by the constellations of Leo, Hydra, Taurus, Dragon and others, reminding people of the hero's great deeds.