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Ophiuchus

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Constellation depicting a man holding a serpent, often identified with Asclepius, the divine healer who was slain by Zeus for resurrecting the dead but honored among the stars.

Detailed Definition
Ophiuchus (“Serpent Holder”) is associated with Asclepius, who learned healing from serpents. Zeus placed him in the sky but excluded him from the zodiac. Poets invoke Ophiuchus to symbolize medical knowledge, the duality of poison and cure, and the healer’s divine mandate in cosmological and didactic poetry.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ophiuchus, serpent-bearer constellation linked to Asclepius, appears in Aratus and Hyginus; Poets use Ophiuchus to symbolize healing or forbidden knowledge (Asclepius raised dead); In celestial poetry, he bridges medicine and stars; “Ophiuchus’ serpent” might describe wisdom or venom; His placement near Scorpio evokes cosmic balance.
Additional Notes
Ophiuchus (“serpent-bearer”) is often identified with Asclepius, who learned resurrection from serpents—leading Zeus to strike him down and place him in stars. The constellation straddles Scorpius, symbolizing healing and danger. In poetry, Ophiuchus evokes medical art, the cycle of death/rebirth, or the healer’s peril—useful in hymns to Asclepius or cosmic allegories of medicine.
Also Known As
Serpent Bearer
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