Queen Cassiopeia and her husband, King cepheus, ruled over the mythical realm of Ethiopia.
Cassiopeia was beautiful and arrogant. Her name means "she whose words excel". This mey be a euphemism referring to her boastful words.
Cassiopeia claimed that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than all the Nereids (daughters of the sea god Nereus)...which brought the wrath of Poseidon, god of the sea, upon Ethiopia.
Cepheus and Cassiopeia were told by an oracle that the only way to appease the sea gods was to sacrifice their daughter.
Andromeda was chained to a rock at the sea's edge at the mercy of Cetus, a sea monster who was destroying Ethiopia. But the hero Perseus arrived in time, saved Andromeda, and ultimately became her husband.
Poseidon punished Cassiopeia's vanity and boastfulness by placing her in the heavens near the Pole Star, which means that as she circles the celestial pole, she is upside-down for half a year...how undignified!
Cassiopeia was beautiful and arrogant. Her name means "she whose words excel". This mey be a euphemism referring to her boastful words.
Cassiopeia claimed that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than all the Nereids (daughters of the sea god Nereus)...which brought the wrath of Poseidon, god of the sea, upon Ethiopia.
Cepheus and Cassiopeia were told by an oracle that the only way to appease the sea gods was to sacrifice their daughter.
Andromeda was chained to a rock at the sea's edge at the mercy of Cetus, a sea monster who was destroying Ethiopia. But the hero Perseus arrived in time, saved Andromeda, and ultimately became her husband.
Poseidon punished Cassiopeia's vanity and boastfulness by placing her in the heavens near the Pole Star, which means that as she circles the celestial pole, she is upside-down for half a year...how undignified!
The constellation of Cassiopeia is easily recognizable due to its distinctive 'W' shape formed by five bright stars. It is known as The Lady of the Chair, and depicts Cassiopeia sitting on her throne, gazing at herself in a mirror as she slowly turns sideways.
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