Ptolemy: Leo
The starlines of this chapter involve the buttocks of the lion.
The stars of the Lion’s haunches help to sort the stars of the Bear
We also look more generally at the figure of the Lion, which bears an heraldic stance.
The ancient Greeks were rather nonchalant regarding matters of anatomy and nudity, even sexuality in works of art – and in their constellations.
We raise the possibility that θ Leo was originally the lion’s junk.
We’re not trying to be sensational.
Then again, we’re not trying not to be so.
We close with a bit of speculative fiction, addressing the possibility that Ptolemy’s text was subject to censorship at some point in its history.
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