Dreamtime and the Seven Sisters - The World's oldest story is about Pleiades
Crecganford・2 minutes read
The story of the Seven Sisters, or Dream Time, involves a man chasing young women transformed into stars for protection, connecting Greek and Australian myths with Orion and the Pleiades. Various cultures worldwide have stories about the Pleiades and Orion, with over 340 mentions of the Pleiades and over 220 motifs of Orion in different regions, dating back 70 to 100,000 years.
Insights
- The story of the Seven Sisters, found in both Greek and Australian myths, involves young women transformed into stars for protection, with mysteries surrounding the number of visible stars and the spread of the myth to different cultures.
- The similarities between Greek and Australian myths, including the Pleiades and Orion, suggest a common origin predating European contact with Australia, possibly over 70,000 years ago, highlighting the enduring nature of these ancient stories across different cultures.
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Recent questions
What is the story of the Seven Sisters?
The story of the Seven Sisters, also known as Dream Time, is an ancient tale involving a man chasing young women who are transformed into stars for protection. In Greek mythology, this story features Orion pursuing Agnes's daughters, leading to the creation of the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. The myth intertwines with Orion's pursuit of Artemis, with Zeus transforming the daughters into doves and then stars in the constellation of Taurus. This narrative has spread to various cultures worldwide, including Australia, with similar themes of love, kidnapping, and transformation into stars.
Why are the Pleiades called the Seven Sisters?
The Pleiades are called the Seven Sisters despite only six stars being visible, leading to a mystery surrounding their name. The stars are named after characters from Greek mythology, representing the Seven Daughters of Atlas and Pleione, with two stars named after their parents. The missing seventh sister may have been a part of the constellation in the past, as suggested by the star called peony being further away from Atlas in ancient times. This discrepancy in the number of visible stars adds an intriguing element to the mythological origins of the Pleiades.
When did human awareness of the Pleiades first emerge?
Human awareness of the Pleiades dates back to around 2357 BCE, as evidenced by the first written records in Chinese astronomical literature. The Pleiades, a young group of stars, emerged around 125 million years ago, making them one of the oldest known star clusters. The motif of seven stars turning into six within the Pleiades cluster is estimated to be 70 to 100,000 years old, indicating the long-standing cultural significance of these stars across different civilizations.
What is the connection between Orion and the Pleiades in mythology?
In various mythologies, including Greek and Australian, Orion is depicted as a hunter pursuing the Pleiades, leading to their transformation into stars. The Greek myth involves Orion chasing the daughters of Pleione, with Zeus intervening to protect them by turning them into doves and then stars in the constellation of Taurus. The similarities between Greek and Australian stories of Orion and the Pleiades suggest a common origin predating European contact with Australia, possibly over 70,000 years ago, highlighting the enduring nature of these myths.
How did the Pleiades myth spread to different cultures?
The myth of the Pleiades has spread to various cultures worldwide, with over 90 myths incorporating the Seven Sisters in different narratives. Russian academic Yuri Bereskin collected data on these stories, emphasizing their prevalence in Australian First Nation tribes' culture and rituals. The similarities between Greek and Australian myths, including the association with the Pleiades, Orion as a hunter, and the missing star, suggest a shared origin for these stories across different regions. The enduring nature of the Pleiades myth reflects its universal appeal and cultural significance throughout history.
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Summary
00:00
Ancient myths of Seven Sisters and Orion
- The story of the Seven Sisters, also known as Dream Time, is considered one of the oldest stories globally, involving a man chasing young women who are transformed into stars for protection.
- Greek mythology's version of the story features Orion pursuing Agnes's daughters, leading to the creation of the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters.
- Two main mysteries arise from this tale: why the Pleiades are called the Seven Sisters when only six stars are visible, and how this myth spread to Greece and Australia with similar narratives.
- The Pleiades, a young group of stars, emerged around 125 million years ago, with the first written evidence of human awareness dating back to 2357 BCE in Chinese astronomical literature.
- The stars are named after characters from Greek mythology, representing the Seven Daughters of Atlas and Pleione, with two stars named after their parents.
- The Greek myth of the Seven Sisters involves Orion chasing the daughters of Pleione, leading to Zeus transforming them into doves and then stars in the constellation of Taurus.
- The myth intertwines with Orion's pursuit of Artemis, leading to his placement in the sky near the Seven Sisters, with Zeus and Apollo's involvement adding further complexity.
- Over 90 myths worldwide incorporate the Seven Sisters, with Russian academic Yuri Bereskin collecting data on these stories, highlighting their prevalence in Australian First Nation tribes' culture and rituals.
- Australian Dream Time myths depict the Seven Sisters as ice-formed radiant beings, followed by young men known as the Belly Belly, with a tale of love, kidnapping, and transformation into stars.
- The similarities between Greek and Australian myths, including the association with the Pleiades, Orion as a hunter, and the missing star, suggest a common origin predating European contact with Australia, possibly over 70,000 years ago.
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Ancient Stories of Orion and Pleiades
- The star called peony was further away from Atlas in the past, suggesting that it was visible as part of the Seven Sisters constellation.
- The First Nation Australians left Africa between 100,000 and 70,000 years ago, with DNA links to Eurasian populations, arriving in Australia around 50,000 years ago.
- The First Nation Australians maintained a continuous cultural line for over 50,000 years, with minimal external cultural influences until European arrival in 1788.
- Various cultures worldwide have stories about the Pleiades and Orion, with over 340 mentions of the Pleiades and over 220 motifs of Orion in different regions.
- The motif of seven stars turning into six within the Pleiades cluster is estimated to be 70 to 100,000 years old, making it one of the oldest known motifs.
- The similarity between Greek and Australian stories of Orion and the Pleiades may be coincidental, with academic skepticism about the age and origins of these myths.
