Editing Leo (constellation) (section)

==History and mythology==
[[File:F17.v. Leo -NLW MS 735C.png|thumb|Leo from a western scientific manuscript, c.1000]]
Leo was one of the earliest recognized constellations, with archaeological evidence that the Mesopotamians had a similar constellation as early as 4000 BCE.<ref name="pasachoff"/> The Persians called Leo ''Ser'' or ''Shir''; the Turks, ''Artan''; the Syrians, ''Aryo''; the Jews, ''Arye''; the Indians, ''Simha'', all meaning "lion".
[[File:Hercules and Nemean Lion Stamp.jpg|thumbnail|Cypriot stamp depicting a mosaical image of the encounter between Hercules and Leo, the Nemean Lion]]
Some mythologists believe that in Sumeria, Leo represented the monster [[Humbaba]], who was killed by [[Gilgamesh]].<ref>Tamra Andrews (Oxford University Press 2000) Dictionary of Nature Myths: Legends of the Earth, Sea, and Sky ({{ISBN|9780195136777}}).</ref>

In Babylonian astronomy, the constellation was called UR.GU.LA, the "Great Lion"; the bright star [[Regulus]] was known as "the star that stands at the Lion's breast." Regulus also had distinctly regal associations, as it was known as the King Star.<ref>''Babylonian Star-lore'' by Gavin White, Solaria Publications, 2008 page 140, {{ISBN|978-0955903700}}</ref>

In [[Greek mythology]], Leo was identified as the [[Nemean lion|Nemean Lion]] which was killed by [[Heracles]] (Hercules to the Romans) during the first of his [[Labours of Hercules|twelve labours]].<ref name="pasachoff">{{cite book |title=Stars and Planets |last = Pasachoff |first = Jay M. |location = Boston, Massachusetts |publisher = Houghton Mifflin|isbn=9780395537596 |date = 2006}}</ref>{{sfn|Ridpath|Tirion|2001|pp=166-167}}  The Nemean Lion would take women as hostages to its lair in a cave, luring warriors from nearby towns to save the damsel in distress, to their misfortune.<ref name=Parker>{{cite book|title=Mythology: Myths, Legends and Fantasies|date=2007|publisher=[[Struik]]|isbn=9781770074538|pages=121–122|editor=Janet Parker|display-editors=etal}}</ref> The Lion was impervious to any weaponry; thus, the warriors' clubs, swords, and spears were rendered useless against it. Realizing that he must defeat the Lion with his bare hands, Hercules slipped into the Lion's cave and engaged it at close quarters.<ref name=Parker /> When the Lion pounced, Hercules caught it in midair, one hand grasping the Lion's forelegs and the other its hind legs, and bent it backwards, breaking its back and freeing the trapped maidens.<ref name=Parker /> Zeus commemorated this labor by placing the Lion in the sky.<ref name=Parker />

The Roman poet [[Ovid]] called it ''Herculeus Leo'' and ''Violentus Leo''. ''Bacchi Sidus'' (star of [[Dionysus|Bacchus]]) was another of its titles, the god [[Dionysus|Bacchus]] always being identified with this animal. However, [[Marcus Manilius|Manilius]] called it ''Jovis et Junonis Sidus'' (Star of [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]] and [[Juno (mythology)|Juno]]).