Ox in Chinese Astrology.
Orion (the Hunter) Constellation,
M42 - The Great Orion Nebula (with M43)Perhaps second only to the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, the constellation of Orion is one of the most recognizable patterns of stars in the northern sky. Orion, the hunter, stands by the river Eridanus and is accompanied by his faithful dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor.
Together they hunt various celestial animals, including Lepus, the rabbit, and Taurus, the bull. According to Greek mythology, Orion was in love with Merope, one of the Seven Sisters who form the Pleiades, but Merope would have nothing to do with him. Orion's tragic life ended when he stepped on Scorpius, the scorpion.
The gods felt sorry for him, so they put him and his dogs in the sky as constellations. They also put all of the animals he hunted up there near him. Scorpius, however, was placed on the opposite side of the sky so Orion would never be hurt by it again.
In Greek mythology, Orion was a giant and a great hunter. Artemis, goddess of the Moon and of the hunt, fell in love with him and neglected her task of lighting the night sky.
Her twin brother, Apollo, seeing Orion swimming far out to sea challenged his sister to hit what was no more than a dot among the waves. Not realising that this was Orion, Artemis shot an arrow and killed Orion.
When his body washed up on shore, Artemis saw what she had done. Inconsolable, she placed his body in the sky, together with his hunting dogs. Her grief is manifest in the coldness and sadness of the Moon.
