He wrought the earth, the heavens, and the sea; the moon also at her
full and the untiring sun, with all the signs that glorify the face of
heaven- the Pleiads, the Hyads, huge Orion, and the Bear, which men
also call the Wain and which turns round ever in one place, facing.
Orion, and alone never dips into the stream of Oceanus.

Homer, The Iliad 18 about 800 BC
 

King Priam was first to note him as he
scoured the plain, all radiant as the star which men call Orion's
Hound, and whose beams blaze forth in time of harvest more brilliantly
than those of any other that shines by night; brightest of them all
though he be, he yet bodes ill for mortals, for he brings fire and
fever in his train- even so did Achilles' armour gleam on his breast
as he sped onwards.

Homer, The Iliad 22 about 800 BC

He never closed his eyes, but kept them fixed on the
Pleiads, on late-setting Bootes, and on the Bear- which men also
call the wain, and which turns round and round where it is, facing
Orion, and alone never dipping into the stream of Oceanus- for Calypso
had told him to keep this to his left. Days seven and ten did he
sail over the sea, and on the eighteenth the dim outlines of the
mountains on the nearest part of the Phaeacian coast appeared,
rising like a shield on the horizon.

Odyssey, V about 800 BC
 

But when the stars of Orion and Sirios have climbed up into midheaven
and rosy-fingered Dawn is facing Arkturos,
then, Perses, pluck and bring home all your clusters of grapes.
... But when you notice that the Pleiades and the
Hyades and the strength of Orion are setting,
then is the time for you to be mindful
of plowing again, acting in season,
and let the seed duly be sowed in the earth.



Hesiod, Works and Days, c.~700 BC

A number of stars wander around the sky,
Forever together, always in company.
However the axle does not change at all,
No, steady it is
in its middle the earth is in balance
and wind the sky around.
In both ends of the axle is a pole.
One of them we do not see,
but high in the north the other stand.
Two bears walk around like wagons
each one alone ...

They call one of them Curving Light
after that Achaeans sail on deep oceans
They name the other the Top.
Phoenicians steer after that friend.
The top is bright and easy to find,
when night is young, it shines bright and clear.
The other is smaller, but for the sailor best.
In a smaller orbit it goes around
and lead the ships of Sidon on their voyage.

Long ago a man the names found
and their shapes too.

Aratos ,Phaenomena about 200 BC
 

My advice to you, whoever you may be,
Oh you who desire to explore the Mysteries of Nature;
if you do not discover within yourself that which you seek,
neither will you find it without.
If you ignore the excellence of your own house,
how can you aspire to find excellence elsewhere?
Within you is hidden the treasure of treasures.
Oh Man! Know thyself, and you will know the universe and the Gods.

The Oracle of Delphi

Thou art as opposite to every good
As the Antipodes are unto us,
Or as the south to the septentrion.

Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 3 159?
 

A segregation of the Turkish fleet:
For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds;
The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane,
seems to cast water on the burning bear,
And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole:
I never did like molestation view
On the enchafed flood.

Shakespeare, Othello 1604