Stories about Cancer

Greek Myths

The most famous story about Cancer the crab comes from Greek mythology. Hercules was given twelve difficult tasks to complete. The second task was to destroy Hydra, a constellation just below Cancer. During the long and difficult battle, Cancer bit Hercules in the toe in a futile attempt to protect Hydra.

Hercules eventually won the battle, but the gods were so impressed with his loyalty and perseverence that they may him a constellation.

In ancient times the sun passed through Cancer at its highest point. The Greeks thought that it was the constellation closest to the gods and called it the Gate from Heaven. They believed that souls passedthrough this gate when they came to earth from heaven.

Christian Myth

A cluster of stars called the Beehive Cluster or Praesape is often believed by Christians to represent the manger in the birth of Jesus. Two stars represent donkeys that watched over the baby at his birth.

Other Beliefs

Ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Chinese and Greeks described this constellation as a tortoise. In later times the Egyptians thought it was a scarab or beetle, a symbol of immortality.

To most of us, the stars in the constellation Cancer don't look very much like a crab, but in the past people believed that these groups of stars had powerful meaning.