Crater

Mythology and Legends

Crater has been identified as the Cup of Apollo, Hercules, Achilles, Dido, Medea, Bacchus, Icarus and Noah. The Egyptians saw Crater as a signal that the Nile was cresting during the annual floods.

           Eta 
            *                   Theta
            |                    *
            |                    |
            |                    |
            |                    |
            * Zeta               * Epsilon
             \                  /
              \                /
               *--------------* Delta
             Gamma            |
                              |
                              |
                              |
                              |
             *----------------*------*
           Beta             Alkes    Nu Hydrae


    Notes: Nu Hydrae, actually part of the Hydra
           constellation, has a planetary nebula
           on a line extended from Alkes through Nu.
           The greek names include Crater, such as
           Beta Crater.

The cup is associated with the legends surrounding Corvus.

Cra"ter (kr?t?r), n. [L. crater, cratera, a mixing vessel, the mouth of a volcano, Gr. , fr. to mix; cf. Skr. to mix, ir to cook, r to cook. Cf. Crail, in Holy Grail.]

1.

The basinlike opening or mouth of a volcano, through which the chief eruption comes; similarly, the mouth of a gevser, about which a cone of silica is often built up.

2. Mil.

The pit left by the explosion of a mine.

3. Astron.

A constellation of the southen hemisphere; -- called also the Cup.

© Webster 1913.