Editing Canis Major (section)

=== In western astronomy ===
In ancient [[Mesopotamia]], Sirius, named KAK.SI.SA<sub>2</sub> by the [[Babylon]]ians, was seen as an arrow aiming towards Orion, while the southern stars of Canis Major and a part of [[Puppis]] were viewed as a bow, named BAN in the ''[[Babylonian star catalogues#Three Stars Each|Three Stars Each]]'' tablets, dating to around 1100 BC. In the later compendium of Babylonian astronomy and astrology titled ''[[MUL.APIN]]'', the arrow, Sirius, was also linked with the warrior [[Ninurta]], and the bow with [[Ishtar]], daughter of [[Enlil]].<ref name="rogers1998">{{cite journal | first=John H. | last=Rogers | year=1998 | title=Origins of the Ancient Constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions | journal=[[Journal of the British Astronomical Association]] | volume=108 |issue=1 | pages=9–28 | bibcode=1998JBAA..108....9R }}</ref> Ninurta was linked to the later deity [[Marduk]], who was said to have slain the ocean goddess [[Tiamat]] with a great bow, and worshipped as the principal deity in Babylon.{{sfn|Wagman|2003|p=71}} The Ancient Greeks replaced the bow and arrow depiction with that of a dog.<ref name="rogers1998a">{{cite journal | first=John H. | last=Rogers | year=1998 | title=Origins of the Ancient Constellations: II. The Mediterranean Traditions | journal=Journal of the British Astronomical Association | volume=108 | issue=2| pages=79–89 | bibcode=1998JBAA..108...79R}}</ref>
[[File:Sirius 1.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Sirius A]], the brightest star in the night sky, lies in Canis Major.]]
In Greek Mythology, Canis Major represented the dog [[Laelaps (mythology)|Laelaps]], a gift from [[Zeus]] to [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]]; or sometimes the hound of [[Procris]], [[Diana (mythology)|Diana's]] nymph; or the one given by [[Eos|Aurora]] to [[Cephalus]], so famed for its speed that Zeus elevated it to the sky.{{sfn|Allen|1963|p=117}} It was also considered to represent one of Orion's hunting dogs,{{sfn|Ridpath|Tirion|2001|pp=98–99}} pursuing [[Lepus (constellation)|Lepus]] the [[Hare]] or helping Orion fight [[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]] the Bull; and is referred to in this way by [[Aratus|Aratos]], [[Homer]] and [[Hesiod]]. The [[ancient Greeks]] refer only to one dog, but by [[ancient Rome|Roman]] times, [[Canis Minor]] appears as Orion's second dog. Alternative names include Canis Sequens and Canis Alter.{{sfn|Allen|1963|p=117}} Canis Syrius was the name used in the 1521 ''[[Alfonsine tables]]''.{{sfn|Allen|1963|p=117}}

The Roman myth refers to Canis Major as ''Custos Europae'', the dog guarding Europa but failing to prevent her abduction by [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]] in the form of a bull, and as ''[[Cerberus|Janitor Lethaeus]]'', "the watchdog".{{sfn|Allen|1963|p=118}} In medieval Arab astronomy, the constellation became ''al-Kalb al-Akbar'', "the Greater Dog", transcribed as ''Alcheleb Alachbar'' by 17th century writer [[Edmund Chilmead]]. Islamic scholar [[Abū Rayḥān al-Bīrūnī]] referred to Orion as  ''Kalb al-Jabbār'', "the Dog of the Giant".{{sfn|Allen|1963|p=117}} Among the [[Merazig]] of [[Tunisia]], shepherds note six constellations that mark the passage of the dry, hot season. One of them, called ''[[Merzem]]'', includes the stars of Canis Major and Canis Minor and is the herald of two weeks of hot weather.<ref>{{cite journal |title = A Review of African Ethno-Astronomy: With Particular Reference to Saharan Livestock-Keepers |last = Oxby |first = Claire |journal = [[La Ricerca Folklorica]] |date = October 1999 |pages = 57–58 | jstor = 1479768 |issue = 40|doi = 10.2307/1479768 }}</ref>
[[File:Canis Major on the Manuchihr Globe.jpg|thumb|Canis Major as depicted on the [[Abu al-Fath Manuchihr Khan|Manuchihr]] Globe made in [[Mashhad]] 1632–33 AD. Adilnor Collection, Sweden.]]