A Skyful of Stories: How the Constellations Came to Be

The night sky has always fascinated mankind. It has been a source of countless tales and legends, of omens and harbingers, of mysteries and enigmas. Through the ages, several stories have been woven around the shapes and patterns that stars form in the night sky. Various cultures from around the world have contributed to these stories. From the great classics of Greece, Rome and ancient India to tales from Egyptian, aboriginal, Asian and Native American traditions, these accounts are fascinating interpretations of how the constellations came to be associated with concepts and ideas that are so human. Shobha Viswanath gathers together the stories behind the origins of stars as well as those behind seven constellations-Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, Pleiades, Aries, Canis Major and Centaurus. A Skyful of Stories puts faces on the stars so that the next time you gaze at the night sky, it will be peopled with characters you know and love.