Mythology in the Skies Above
By Avani Sharan
Team Cosmofluencer
The Southern Cross
The Southern Cross, or Crux, is one of the most recognizable constellations in the southern sky. Known for its distinctive cross-shaped asterism, it not only is a navigational aid but also carries deep cultural significance across various societies, particularly in Aboriginal mythology.
Join us in this series on Mythology of the Constellations as we explore how the astronomers of the golden era used to imagine the heavens above and how they passed on these tales to the next generations.
About The Crux
The Southern Cross is a small but bright constellation visible mainly from the Southern Hemisphere. It consists of five prominent stars, forming a distinctive cross shape.
The main stars forming the cross are Alpha Crucis (Acrux), Beta Crucis (Mimosa), Gamma Crucis (Gacrux), and Delta Crucis (Imai). A fifth star, Epsilon Crucis (Ginan), is sometimes included in the asterism.
The Crux’s favourite neighbour is the Centaurus constellation. It is one of the largest and most prominent constellations in the southern sky and envelopes the Southern Cross on the three sides–east, north, and west.
Alpha Centauri A is the brightest star in Centaurus with a magnitude of about -0.27. It is part of a triple-star system, including the Proxima Centauri, located just 4.3 light-years from Earth and is the closest star to us besides the Sun.
Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri stars function as the Southern Pointer stars and guide us to the Southern Cross and help locating the Southern Celestial Pole.
Southern Cross’ brightest star, Acrux, lies about 320 light-years away, and the entire constellation helps navigators find the south celestial pole, a crucial tool for explorers before the advent of compasses and GPS.
The Southern Cross holds a significant value in multiple aspects. It not only is pictured in the European Southern Observatory (ESO) but also in many national flags.
In brazil, the country’s national anthem and ancient currency also have reference to the Crux constellation.
Stories of the Southern Cross
The Southern Cross has a variety of versions across cultures. In India, there is a story related to the creation of Trishanku Swarga created by Sage Vishwamitra. It goes with the story of prince Satyavrat and how his bad karmas lead to him not being accepted at the original Lord Indra’s heaven or swarga . The name Trishanku is a combination of Sanskrit words Tri meaning ‘three’ and śaṅku meaning ‘stumps’, thus the name means ‘three stumps’, likely denoting to the alignment of stars of the Southern Cross constellation.
In Mapuche cosmology from parts of Chile and Argentina, the Southern Cross is interpreted as the footprint of a ñandú (a South American ostrich-like bird), with the “Southern Pointers” (Alpha and Beta Centauri) representing bolas (throwing weapons) used by a hunter chasing the bird.
In South American mythology, the Crux constellation (also known as the Southern Cross) holds diverse meanings, including the footprint of a ñandú (ostrich-like bird) for the Mapuche people, and a hunting field of ñandús with the footprint as the bird’s leg.
The Maori, indigenous people of New Zealand, considered the asterism to be the anchor of a celestial canoe, according to Te Aka, a Maori language dictionary. Here the name for the Southern Cross is Māhutonga and it is thought of as the anchor (Te Punga) of Tama-rereti’s waka (the Milky Way), while the Pointers are its rope.
Aboriginal cultures in Australia have rich stories associated with the Southern Cross. These stories vary across different regions but often reflect themes of creation, identity, and connection to the land. Australian Aboriginal astronomy has been passed down orally to children and grandchildren, through ceremonies and through their artwork of many kinds.
In Australian Aborginal astronomy different groups have their own interpretations of the Southern Cross, but here are a few prominent ones:
1. The Possum ( Boorong people, Wimmera region)
The people from the Northwestern Victoria, a state in Australian have said the Crux itself is the possum, an arboreal marsupail animal sitting in a tree.
2. The Sky Canoe (Milingimbi People, Arnhem Land)
The Yolŋu people of Arnhem Land see the Southern Cross as part of a celestial canoe, guided by ancestral beings. According to their lore, these stars represent warriors or hunters traveling the night sky, their journey influencing the lives of people on Earth.
3. The Emu in the Sky (Wiradjuri & Kamilaroi People)
Instead of focusing on bright stars, the Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi people observe the dark patches in the Milky Way band, seeing the shape of an emu stretching across the sky. The Southern Cross marks the emu’s head, while its body extends further into the galactic dust clouds. This celestial emu serves as a seasonal guide, indicating when emu eggs are ready for harvesting.
4. The Four Brothers (Mara People, Northern Australia)
Another story tells of four brothers who journeyed into the sky, where they were transformed into the four brightest stars of the Southern Cross. The fifth, fainter star represents their fire, reminding people of their connection to the ancestral spirits watching over them.
In other regions within Australia, the Southern Cross is considered a representation of the sky deity, Mirabooka. It is also seen as an eagle and a sting ray in other stories.
In Conclusion...
The Southern Cross is more than just a constellation—it is a cultural touchstone, a navigation tool, and a source of ancient wisdom. To the untrained eye, it is a simple set of stars, but through the lens of mythology, it becomes a living story that connects the past to the present.
As we continue our journey through Mythology in the Skies Above, we will explore other constellations and the tales they have inspired across different cultures. Whether through science or storytelling, the night sky remains a source of wonder for all who look up.