As it is said for the constellation of the Balance, the Scorpion was much more was
extended in the sky and comprised, considered like Chelae, also the stars of current
Balance: only in the first century a.C. the Roman introduced this last one separating
the stars. The more luminous star is Antares, Greek name composed from "anta" ("in
contrast to" or "rival of") and "Ares" ("Mars"), therefore "in contrast to Mars",
for its red color that confused the star with the Mars planet. The star Beta Scorpionis
calls instead Graffias, "chele" in Latin, or Acrab, "scorpion" in Arab. The star that
represents the tip of the constellation is Shaula, from the Arabic word that means
"sting". The history of the Scorpion always is tied to the dead of Orione the hunter.
Arato and Eratostene narrate of a scorpion that came sended from Artemis (for the
Roman Diana,the goddess of the hunting) to kill Orione,culprit to have try of rape her.
The same Eratostene but has supplied we an other version, second which Orione came
punished with the scorpion from Artemis, but because he had dared to boast himself just
of its preys of hunting in front of the goddess. The reason of this Scorpione-Orione
relation remained however in their celestial position: while the first one rises, the
other sets. For this reason an eternal escape of the hunter in the sky is imagined to
appear of mortal animal.
Already five millenia ago the Sumeri recognized this constellation like GIR.TAB,
the scorpion, exactly.