In Chinese astronomy, the stars forming the constellation Cassiopeia are found among the areas of the Purple Forbidden enclosure, the Black Tortoise of the North, and the White Tiger of the West.Д¬hinese astronomers also identified various figures in its major stars. It also figures prominently in the astronomical and astrological traditions of the Polynesian, Indian, Chinese and Arab cultures. Since Poseidon thought that Cassiopeia should not escape punishment, he placed her in the heavens in such a position that, as she circles the celestial pole, she is upside-down for half the time.Д¬assiopeia was one of the traditional constellations included by Ptolemy in his 2nd century CE tract, the Almagest. But the hero Perseus arrived in time, saved Andromeda, and ultimately became her husband. In either case, trying to save their kingdom, Cepheus and Cassiopeia consulted a wise oracle, who told them that the only way to appease the sea gods was to sacrifice their daughter.ДЄccordingly, Andromeda was chained to a rock at the seaвЂ™s edge and left there to helplessly await her fate at the hands of Cetus. This led the Nerieds to unleash the wrath of Poseidon upon the kingdom of Ethiopia.Accounts differ as to whether Poseidon decided to flood the whole country or direct the sea monster Cetus to destroy it.

Credit: Sidney Hall/United States Library of Congress Cassiopeia in her chair, as depicted in UraniaвЂ™s Mirror.

This led to her downfall, as she boasted that both she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than all the Nereids вЂ“ the nymph-daughters of the sea god Nereus. Her name in Greek means вЂњshe whose words excelвЂќ, and she was renowned for her beauty but also her arrogance.

In mythology, Cassiopeia the wife of King Cepheus and the queen of the mythological Phoenician realm of Ethiopia.

Cassiopeia meaning