Humanities › History & Culture What Are the Names of the Ancient Constellations in Latin? Share Flipboard Email Print The Big Bear Constellation. NYPL Digital Gallerty History & Culture Ancient History and Culture Greece Figures & Events Ancient Languages Egypt Asia Rome Mythology & Religion American History African American History African History Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By N.S. Gill Ancient History and Latin Expert M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. our editorial process N.S. Gill Updated March 14, 2018 Here are the 48 original constellations introduced by the Greek Astronomer Ptolemy in "The Almagest," c. A.D. 140. The form in bold is the Latin name. The three-letter form in parentheses shows the abbreviation and the form in single quotes provides a translation or explanation. For instance, Andromeda was the name of a chained princess, while aquila is Latin for eagle. Additional information tells whether the constellation is part of the zodiac, a northern constellation or a southern one. The Argonaut's ship, the Argo is no longer used as a constellation and the serpent constellation is divided in two, with the Ophiuchus between the head and tail. Andromeda (And)'Andromeda' or 'The Chained Princess'Northern ConstellationAquarius (Aqr)'The Water Bearer'ZodiacalAquila (Aql)'The Eagle'Northern ConstellationAra (Ara)'The Altar'Southern ConstellationArgo Navis'The Argo(nauts') Ship'Southern Constellation (Not in www.artdeciel.com/constellations.aspx "Constellations"; no longer recognized as a constellation)Aries (Ari)'The Ram'ZodiacalAuriga (Aur)'The Charioteer'Northern ConstellationBoötes (Boo)'The Herdsman'Northern ConstellationCancer (Cnc)'The Crab'ZodiacalCanis Major (Cma)'The Great Dog'Southern ConstellationCanis Minor (Cmi)'The Little Dog'Southern ConstellationCapricornus (Cap)'The Sea Goat'ZodiacalCassiopeia (Cas)'Cassiopeia' or 'The Queen'Northern ConstellationCentaurus (Cen)'The Centaur'Southern ConstellationCepheus (Cep)'The King'Northern ConstellationCetus (Cet)'The Whale' or 'The Sea Monster'Southern ConstellationCorona Australis (CrA)'The Southern Crown'Southern ConstellationCorona Borealis (CBr)'The Northern Crown'Northern ConstellationCorvus (Crv)'The Crow'Southern ConstellationCrater (Crt)'The Cup'Southern ConstellationCygnus (Cyg)'The Swan'Northern ConstellationDelphinus (Del)'The Dolphin'Northern ConstellationDraco (Dra)'The Dragon'Northern ConstellationEquuleus (Equ)'The Little Horse'Northern ConstellationEridanus (Eri)'The River'Southern ConstellationGemini (Gem)'The Twins'ZodiacalHercules (Her)'Hercules'Northern ConstellationHydra (Hya)'The Hydra'Southern ConstellationLeo Major (Leo)'The Lion'ZodiacalLepus (Lep)'The Hare'Southern ConstellationLibra (Lib)'The Balance' or 'The Scales'ZodiacalLupus (Lup)'The Wolf'Southern ConstellationLyra (Lyr)'The Lyre'Northern ConstellationOphiuchus or Serpentarius (Oph)'The Serpent Bearer'Northern ConstellationOrion (Ori)'The Hunter'Southern ConstellationPegasus (Peg)'The Winged Horse'Northern ConstellationPerseus (Per)'Perseus' or 'The Hero'Northern ConstellationPisces (Psc)'The Fishes'ZodiacalPiscis Austrinus (PSA)'The Southern Fish'Southern ConstellationSagitta (Sge)'The Arrow'Northern ConstellationSagittarius (Sgr)'The Archer'ZodiacalScorpius (Sco)'The Scorpion'ZodiacalSerpens Caput (SerCT)'The Serpens Head' andSerpens Cauda (SerCD)'The Serpent's Tail' (Not in An Astronomical Vocabulary, but since Ophiuchus separates them, they must be Northern Constellations.)Taurus (Tau)'The Bull'ZodiacalTriangulum (Tri)'The Triangle'Northern ConstellationUrsa Major (Uma)'The Great Bear'Northern ConstellationSee The Story of CallistoUrsa Minor (Umi)'The Little Bear'Northern ConstellationVirgo (Vir)'The Virgin'Zodiacal Sources Constellations and An Astronomical Vocabulary, by John Russell Hind