Auriga (constellation)

Originally posted to Shrubbery, 15 Nov 2003

This constellation's a bit of a puzzle if you're doing mythology. It only has about ten stories that could go with it. To top it off, it's called Auriga the Charioteer but most books show it as a shepherd holding a lamb or a kid. Soooo... since I'm not in the mood for shepherds I've decided to go with the charioteer, or at least a charioteer.

One of the charioteers from ancient Greek myth was Erichthonius, mythological king of Athens.

It seems that at one time the lame god Hephaestus (Vulcan, to the Romans) had asked for Athene as his wife. Athene was disgusted by his appearance and escaped his advances, causing him to "spill his seed" on the ground. This impregnated Gaia (Mother Earth) and Erichthonius was born. Gaia was somewhat put off by this accidental child, so Athene agreed to foster him. She took him to her sanctuary on the Athenian acropolis and had King Cecrops' daughters look after him. There are many stories of his upbringing, but I don't think I'll go into them.

Erichthonius, with Athene's help, later became king of Athens himself. Because of his connections with the goddess of the earth, the god of the smithy, and the goddess of wisdom, he was able to teach the people many things that improved their lives. Erichthonius was said to have been the creator of the horse-drawn chariot. He also showed the people of Athens how to improve their crop yields by tilling the soil, and how to work in silver. Silver was considered to be more important than gold.

Erichthonius was also said to have instituted the Panathenaea (Athens' major festival) in honour of his foster mother.

Because of his vast contributions to humanity, Erichthonius was made a god after his death and the constellation Auriga (according to this story, anyway) celebrates his achievements. The Erechtheion on the Athenian acropolis possibly started out as a temple to him, although he was later conflated with Erechtheus. Things get kind of confusing, there. It's probably the same person.