Analysis Of Greek Creation Myth: Canis Major

Greek Creation Myth: Canis Major was often represented as a dog 'following' the constellation known as Orion the Hunter. In Greek mythology, Canis Major was associated with the fastest dog in the world, Laelaps, who was destined to catch anything it pursued. Laelaps was given to Europa as a present from Zeus, as well as a javelin that couldn't miss. Europa's husband Cephalus accidentally killed Europa with this javelin and so took Laelaps to a Greek province north of Athens, known as Thebes, to catch a fox that was causing trouble. However, the fox was destined never to be caught and so the chase between Laelaps and the fox seemed to be never ending. Zeus finally ended the chase, turned both animals to stone, and placed the dog in the night sky as the constellation Canis Major.

He was owned by Orion, who was also a well trained and talented hunter himself. The dog followed Orion wherever he went, helping him to hunt down enemies and to get food. One evening, whilst Orion was in the midst of hunting down a particularly vicious bear, he was killed. As Orion drifted into the heavens, the dog known as Canis Major continued to follow him , and sacrificed his own life to join his master in the sky. This is the reason why the constellation of Canis Major appears to be following Orion, as Canis Major refused to be separated from his