Story: Night sky

Interpretations of Orion

Interpretations of Orion

To the ancient Greeks, the seven bright stars of Orion resembled a giant. The line of three stars was his belt, from which hung his sword. In the southern hemisphere, Orion’s belt is viewed either as the bottom of a pot or as a bird perch. Māori considered that Rigel, which they called Puanga, was a fruit, and birds would alight on the perch to feed.

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How to cite this page:

John Field and Maggy Wassilieff, 'Night sky - Seasonal stars', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/7917/interpretations-of-orion (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by John Field and Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006