Cancer (constellation)

Originally posted to Shrubbery, 10 Oct 2003

Cancer, the fourth zodiacal constellation, was said by the Greeks to represent a crab sent by Hera to pester Heracles by nipping at his feet while he was trying to kill the many-headed Hydra.

Killing the Hydra had been one of the twelve tasks (known as the Twelve Labours of Heracles) that Heracles had to complete for King Eurystheus of Mycenae as a penance for having killed his own wife (Megara) and children. It was hardly his fault -- jealous Hera had driven him mad.

Killing the Hydra was the second of the twelve labours. At first he'd tried severing the heads with his sword, but each time a head was cut off two more grew back. It looked like an endless battle until Heracles hit upon the idea of having his nephew Iolaus stand ready with a torch to burn each stump as soon as a head was cut off. The cauterised stumps couldn't grow back. The final head was an immortal one, so Heracles trapped it under a rock when he couldn't sever it.

When Hera had noticed that Heracles was winning, she sent the crab Cancer to stop him. The crab, however, was no match for the hero and was crushed to death. Hera had him placed in the sky as a reward for his service.