Cassiopeia (mother of Andromeda) facts for kids

Cassiopeia, also known as Cassiepeia, was a famous queen in Greek mythology. She ruled the land of Aethiopia and was married to King Cepheus. Cassiopeia was known for being very proud and boastful, especially about her beauty. This pride eventually led to big problems for her and her kingdom. Her name comes from the Greek word Kassiópē.

Cassiopeia's Family Background

Some old stories say that Cassiopeia was the daughter of Coronus and Zeuxo. Other tales describe her as a nymph, which is a type of nature spirit. There are even stories that call her Iope, the daughter of Aeolus.

The Myth of Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia once bragged that she and her daughter, Andromeda, were more beautiful than the Nereids. The Nereids were lovely sea nymphs, daughters of the sea god Nereus. This boast made Poseidon, the powerful god of the sea, very angry.

To punish Cassiopeia and her kingdom, Poseidon sent a terrible sea monster named Cetus to attack Aethiopia. The monster began destroying the land. King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia were desperate to save their people. They asked a wise oracle for advice. The oracle told them that the only way to calm Poseidon's anger was to sacrifice their own daughter, Andromeda, to the sea monster.

So, Andromeda was chained to a rock by the sea, waiting to be eaten by Cetus. But then, a hero named Perseus arrived! He bravely fought and killed the sea monster, saving Andromeda. Perseus then married Andromeda, and they lived happily ever after.

Even though Andromeda was saved, Poseidon still felt Cassiopeia needed to be punished for her vanity. So, he placed her in the heavens as a constellation. In the sky, she is shown chained to a throne. This position reminds everyone of Andromeda's ordeal and Cassiopeia's punishment. Sometimes, in old drawings, Cassiopeia is shown holding a mirror, which symbolizes her vanity. Other times, she holds a palm frond.

The Cassiopeia Constellation

The constellation named Cassiopeia is easy to spot in the night sky. It looks like a giant "W" or "M" shape. You can find it near the North Star. People living north of 35°N latitude can see this constellation all year round. It is also visible in countries north of the Tropic of Capricorn during late spring.

Cassiopeia in Ethiopian History

Some old Ethiopian king lists mention Cassiopeia as a real ruling queen of Ethiopia. For example, a list from Prince Tafari Makonnen says she ruled for 19 years. This shows how important her story was in different cultures.