THE ORION MYSTERY AND THE MATHEMATICS OF THE ANCIENT WORL

ECHOES OF THE HEAVENS

- By Shaleeka Jayalath

Let us begin with a question as old as human curiosity itself: What is a constellation? At its most basic, a constellation is a group of stars that, to the attentive human eye (with the exception of Gen Z or Gen Alpha eyes, however attentive they may proclaim to be!), forms a recognizable pattern - an animal, a mythological figure, or a symbol that can guide and inspire.

In the ancient world, constellations were far more than aesthetic curiosities.

They were the original calendars and compasses of humankind. Farmers watched them to know when to sow and reap, and sailors used them to navigate the vast seas: find Ursa Minor, and you would find Polaris (the North Star) anchoring your latitude in a sky of wonders.

Thus, began humanity's enduring dialogue with the cosmos.

Among the stars, no celestial figure has captured the imagination more vividly than Orion, the hunter.

Though the name Orion comes from Greek mythology, this constellation was visible and significant to many ancient cultures, not just the Greeks. Its bright belt of three stars (Alnitak or Zeta Orionis, Alnilam or Epsilon Orionis, and Mintaka or Delta Orionis) forms a straight line that has drawn human eyes up through millennia. What is remarkable is how often this pattern seems echoed not just in stories but in stone.