Orion (mythology) facts for kids
In Greek mythology, Orion is a giant hunter. When he goes hunting, his dogs Sirius and Procycon accompany him. He lived in Boeotia and Crete.
He is married to Side, but Hera cast his wife into the Tartaros, because Side was too proud of her own beauty.
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Birth
The stories about Orion's birth are quite interesting and have a few different versions. One popular story says that Orion was born when three gods – Zeus (the king of the gods), Poseidon (the god of the sea), and Hermes (the messenger god) – visited a farmer named Hyrieus in Boeotia.
Hyrieus was very kind and hospitable to the gods. To thank him for his kindness, the gods asked him what he wished for most. Hyrieus said that he longed for a son. The gods then took the hide of a bull that Hyrieus had sacrificed and instructed him to bury it in the ground. From this buried bull hide, Orion was born! This unusual birth story makes Orion a special figure right from the start.
Skills and adventures
Orion was known for his incredible hunting skills. He was said to be the best hunter in the world, and he spent his days tracking animals and exploring the forests. He was a brave and powerful figure, and many stories tell of his amazing adventures.
One famous story involves Orion on the island of Chios. He fell in love with Merope, the daughter of King Oenopion. Orion asked the king for Merope's hand in marriage, but King Oenopion didn't want Orion to marry her. So, the king made a deal with Orion: he had to rid the island of all its wild beasts before he could marry Merope.
Orion, being the great hunter he was, set out to complete this task. He hunted down many dangerous animals, making the island much safer. However, King Oenopion still didn't want Orion to marry his daughter. One night, the king blinded Orion while he was sleeping.
Orion's sight restored
After being blinded, Orion was very sad and determined to regain his sight. He heard that if he traveled east, he could find the sun god Helios, who might be able to heal him. Orion followed the sound of a Cyclops' hammer to the island of Lemnos, where he found Kedalion, one of the Cyclopes.
Orion asked Kedalion to guide him to the east. Kedalion agreed and led Orion to the place where Helios rose each morning. When Helios shone his light on Orion's eyes, his sight was miraculously restored! This story shows Orion's determination and the power of the gods in Greek mythology.
Orion and Artemis
Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, was a close companion of Orion. They often hunted together, and Orion was said to be very fond of her. Some stories even suggest that they were in love. Artemis was a strong and independent goddess, and she admired Orion's hunting skills and bravery.
Death
The stories surrounding Orion's death are varied and tragic. One popular version says that Orion boasted that he could kill all the animals on Earth. Gaia, the Earth goddess, was angered by this boast and sent a giant scorpion to punish Orion.
The scorpion stung Orion, and he died from the poisonous sting. Artemis was very sad when Orion died, and she asked Zeus to place him among the stars as a constellation. This is why we can still see Orion in the night sky today.
Another version of the story says that Artemis accidentally killed Orion during a hunting competition. She was challenged to shoot a distant target. Artemis, being an excellent archer, hit the target, not knowing it was Orion.
In the sky
After his death, Orion was placed among the stars as a constellation. A constellation is a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern in the night sky. The Orion constellation is one of the most recognizable constellations and can be seen in the winter sky.
The Orion constellation is shaped like a hunter with a belt and a sword. It includes several bright stars, such as Betelgeuse and Rigel. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star, and Rigel is a blue supergiant star. These stars help make Orion easy to spot in the night sky.
The constellation of Orion is located near other constellations, such as Taurus (the Bull) and Gemini (the Twins). In the sky, Orion appears to be hunting Taurus, which is fitting since he was a great hunter in mythology.
Images for kids
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The Fountain of Orion, in Messina, Italy
See also
In Spanish: Orión (mitología) para niños
