Re: Star Names (was; Re; Back!)

On Mon, 19 Jul 1999, Steg Belsky wrote:

> Well, the Rokbeigalm, being seafaring nomads, probably have their own
> names for many stars and constellations, but i haven't figured them out
> yet.  :)  .  Although they call the North Star _gamnuh-a sudnihmwe-a_,
> "the Unmoving Star".
>
Wilwarin and Valacirca appear low on the horizon.  Menelmacar is more
prominent in the night sky, but anyone who remembers Cuivienen might find
it odd because the Swordsman of the Sky is upside down.  Later travellers
after the Rokbeigalm used the stars to mark the changing of seasons, for
example, the rising of the Pleiades in spring marks the beginning of the
year.  Gil-Estel is also prominent in the night sky.  Several groups that
settled southern seas long after the Rokbeigalm had passed away found one
lesser group of stars significant enough to adopt it as an emblem of
identity, the Southern Cross.

- andrew.
--
Andrew Smith, Intheologus                       hobbit@earthlight.co.nz

        Lo! thy dread empire, Chaos! is restored;
        Light dies before thy uncreating word:
        Thy hand, great Anarch! lets the curtain fall;
        And Universal Darkness buries All.
                        - Alexander Pope, The Dunciad, Book IV.