Arktos

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Arktos, Greek αρκτος, means 'bear'. The Arctic is named from this Greek word in reference to the northern constellations of Ursa Major, Great Bear, and Ursa Minor, Little Bear.

Arktos was a centaur who fought against the Lapith spearmen.^[1]

Arktos is also one of the The Hours, known as Horai - Greek tutelary goddesses of the time of day; Arktos is last light.^[2]

"The hall of Allmother Harmonia [in the vault of heaven], where that Nymphe dwelt in a house, self-built, shaped like the great universe with its four quarters joined in one. Four portals were about that stronghold standing proof against he four Aetai (Winds). Handmaids [Horai of the Hours] protected this dwelling on all sides, a round image of the universe: the doors were allotted - Anatolia (Rising) was the maid who attended the East Wind’s (Euros’) gate; at the West Wind’s (Zephyros’) was Dysis (Setting) the nurse of Selene; Mesembrias (Midday) held the bold of the fiery South (Notos); Arktos the Bear was the servant who opened the gate of the North (Boreas), thick with clouds and sprinkled with hail."^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ Stewart, Michael (2005). People, Places & Things: Arktos. Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
2. ^ The Pagan Book of Hours. Cauldron Farm (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
3. ^ Nonnos, Dionysiaca 41.263 - Greek Epic 5th century AD quoted in Atsma, Aaron (2006). Horai. Greek mythology. Theoi Project. Retrieved on 2006-08-18.