Karkinos

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In Greek mythology, Karkinos (a transliteration of the Greek word for Crab), was a crab that came to the aid of the Lernaean Hydra as it battled Heracles. Karkinos bit Heracles in the foot, but was crushed beneath the hero's heel. For its efforts, however, Hera placed the crab amongst the stars as the constellation Cancer. It is one of a large number of constellations that memorialise the labours of Heracles.

[edit] Sources

• Karkinos at the THEOI PROJECT Guide to Greek Mythology