Humanities › History & Culture What Are the Names of the Ancient Constellations in Latin? Print The Big Bear Constellation. NYPL Digital Gallerty History & Culture Ancient History and Culture Greece Figures & Events Ancient Languages Egypt Asia Rome Mythology & Religion American History African American History African History Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By N.S. Gill N.S. Gill Ancient History and Latin Expert M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 13, 2018 Here are the 48 original constellations introduced by the Greek Astronomer Ptolemy in "The Almagest," c. A.D. 140. The form in bold is the Latin name. The three-letter form in parentheses shows the abbreviation and the form in single quotes provides a translation or explanation. For instance, Andromeda was the name of a chained princess, while aquila is Latin for eagle. Read More A Gallery of Constellation Pictures By Carolyn Collins Petersen Additional information tells whether the constellation is part of the zodiac, a northern constellation or a southern one. The Argonaut's ship, the Argo is no longer used as a constellation and the serpent constellation is divided in two, with the Ophiuchus between the head and tail. Andromeda (And)'Andromeda' or 'The Chained Princess'Northern Constellation Aquarius (Aqr)'The Water Bearer'Zodiacal Aquila (Aql)'The Eagle'Northern Constellation Ara (Ara)'The Altar'Southern Constellation Argo Navis'The Argo(nauts') Ship'Southern Constellation (Not in www.artdeciel.com/constellations.aspx "Constellations"; no longer recognized as a constellation) Aries (Ari)'The Ram'Zodiacal Auriga (Aur)'The Charioteer'Northern Constellation Boötes (Boo)'The Herdsman'Northern Constellation Cancer (Cnc)'The Crab'Zodiacal Canis Major (Cma)'The Great Dog'Southern Constellation Canis Minor (Cmi)'The Little Dog'Southern Constellation Capricornus (Cap)'The Sea Goat'Zodiacal Cassiopeia (Cas)'Cassiopeia' or 'The Queen'Northern Constellation Centaurus (Cen)'The Centaur'Southern Constellation Cepheus (Cep)'The King'Northern Constellation Cetus (Cet)'The Whale' or 'The Sea Monster'Southern Constellation Corona Australis (CrA)'The Southern Crown'Southern Constellation Corona Borealis (CBr)'The Northern Crown'Northern Constellation Corvus (Crv)'The Crow'Southern Constellation Crater (Crt)'The Cup'Southern Constellation Cygnus (Cyg)'The Swan'Northern Constellation Delphinus (Del)'The Dolphin'Northern Constellation Draco (Dra)'The Dragon'Northern Constellation Equuleus (Equ)'The Little Horse'Northern Constellation Eridanus (Eri)'The River'Southern Constellation Gemini (Gem)'The Twins'Zodiacal Hercules (Her)'Hercules'Northern Constellation Hydra (Hya)'The Hydra'Southern Constellation Leo Major (Leo)'The Lion'Zodiacal Lepus (Lep)'The Hare'Southern Constellation Libra (Lib)'The Balance' or 'The Scales'Zodiacal Lupus (Lup)'The Wolf'Southern Constellation Lyra (Lyr)'The Lyre'Northern Constellation Ophiuchus or Serpentarius (Oph)'The Serpent Bearer'Northern Constellation Orion (Ori)'The Hunter'Southern Constellation Pegasus (Peg)'The Winged Horse'Northern Constellation Perseus (Per)'Perseus' or 'The Hero'Northern Constellation Pisces (Psc)'The Fishes'Zodiacal Piscis Austrinus (PSA)'The Southern Fish'Southern Constellation Sagitta (Sge)'The Arrow'Northern Constellation Sagittarius (Sgr)'The Archer'Zodiacal Scorpius (Sco)'The Scorpion'Zodiacal Serpens Caput (SerCT)'The Serpens Head' andSerpens Cauda (SerCD)'The Serpent's Tail' (Not in An Astronomical Vocabulary, but since Ophiuchus separates them, they must be Northern Constellations.) Taurus (Tau)'The Bull'Zodiacal Triangulum (Tri)'The Triangle'Northern Constellation Ursa Major (Uma)'The Great Bear'Northern ConstellationSee The Story of Callisto Ursa Minor (Umi)'The Little Bear'Northern Constellation Virgo (Vir)'The Virgin'Zodiacal Sources Constellations and An Astronomical Vocabulary, by John Russell Hind Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Gill, N.S. "What Are the Names of the Ancient Constellations in Latin?" ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/names-of-ancient-constellations-in-latin-118621. Gill, N.S. (2021, February 16). What Are the Names of the Ancient Constellations in Latin? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/names-of-ancient-constellations-in-latin-118621 Gill, N.S. "What Are the Names of the Ancient Constellations in Latin?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/names-of-ancient-constellations-in-latin-118621 (accessed April 20, 2024). copy citation