Homer’s ORION Over Moonlit Meteora, Greece

            The winter constellation of ORION was captured rising above Meteora, Greece, on January 20, 2021 (at 19:18’ hrs). The first quarter Moon was high up in the sky and cast light on the rock formations.

Orion’s distinctive features, visible in the shot:
—Orion’s BELT (stars: δ-Delta, ε-Epsilon & ζ-Zeta Orionis)
—Orion’s SWORD (with the “Great Orion NEBULA” or M42)
—The two SUPERGIANTS (the massive M-type red supergiant BETELGEUSE or α-Alpha Orionis and the B-type blue supergiant RIGEL or β-Beta Orionis)
—Orion’s SHIELD (six π-Pi stars)

Aldebaran (α-Alpha Tauri) is also marked, for reference. The rock formation above which Orion rose is 2,011 ft (613 m) high and is called “Platys Lithos.” METEORA is the name of the group comprising many impressive and lofty rock formations: The height of the sandstone megaliths ranges between 1,000-2,067 ft (300-630 m). The rock masses were formed 60 million years ago, are geologically unique and listed in UNESCO world heritage sites.

In Greek MYTHOLOGY Orion was a gigantic, supernaturally strong hunter, son of Euryale and Poseidon (Neptune), god of the sea. Orion was hunting partner of goddess Diana.

In Homer’s ODYSSEY, Odysseus (Ulysses) navigated by the guidance of stars’ constellations (he navigated eastwards by keeping Pleiades, Boötes, Ursa Major and Orion to his left). This mention of Orion as a NAVIGATIONAL AID for mariners is most impressing in the ancient text of Homer’s poetry (book 5, 270-279), instead of a mere mention of mythology heroes!

Since POETRY has been a soothing elixir for modern man’s stress, here come Homer’s Original and classical poem lines mentioning Orion as a navigational aid (pls see translation in comments below):

…αὐτὰρ ὁ πηδαλίῳ ἰθύνετο τεχνηέντως
ἥμενος, οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν
Πληιάδας τ᾿ ἐσορῶντι καὶ ὀψὲ δύοντα Βοώτην
Ἄρκτον θ᾿, ἣν καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,
ἥ τ᾿ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τ᾿ Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει,
οἴη δ᾿ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν Ὠκεανοῖο:
τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπ᾿ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέεν ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δ᾿ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα…

—Ὅμηρος [ Ὀδύσσεια, ε, 270–279 ]

📷 SETTINGS:

Canon EOS RP
Sigma 24MM F1.4 DG HSM Art
ISO 800 - f/1.8 - 6 sec × 37 light frames (stacked by Starry Landscape Stacker, Min Hor Noise algorithm).
   

Taken on: January 20, 2021

Tags:

Orion

constellation

winter

astro

astrophotography

astronomy

Homer

Odyssey

poetry

navigational aid

mariners

belt

sword

shield

Betelgeuse

Rigel

Aldebaran

Bellatrix

Meissa

M42

Orion nebula

Meteora

rock formations

nature

space

Papachristos

photography

UNESCO

Canon

NASA

National Geographic

NASA Earth

NatGeo Travel

Canon Greece

NatureTTL

ig_greece

ig_meteora

ig_europe « less

Sets appears in: • Astro • Long Exposure more » • Meteora • Night • Lines of Poetry • Thessaly, Meteora, Kalampaka • Nature « less

Groups appears in: • The Photographer's Club • FlickrCentral more » • Photography • GREECE! • canon photography • Artistic Photography • UNESCO World Heritage Sites • European Travel • Travel Photography • Flickr Nature - NO B/W, People, Structures etc • Chiaroscuro • Nature Photography • ART / REAL • Awesome Nature • canon digital photography. • The World Through My Eyes ... • Art in Public Spaces - 3 per day • ! ART & PHOTOGRAPHY ! All artistic works welcome • You Think this is Art • Greek photographers-Ελληνες φωτογράφοι • Light STREAM___ • Beautiful Capture • Astro-Photography and Similars • Digital Photography Life • World Photography - Public Photos - Traveling - Life • " MASTER CLASS PHOTOGRAPHY " • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" (NO AI, CGI or SL images) • Villages et petites villes d'Europe • ART circle • "History & Antiquities (Post 5 - Award 3)" • Fine Art Photography (in the footsteps of the masters) • Official National Geographic Group • BEST Landscapes • Fine Art Photography™ • ***SCREAM OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER*** • The world through photography • "FLICKR POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHER" POST1/AWARD3 QUALITY IMAGES ONLY • !!Perfect Composition!! • UNESCO World Heritage Site • National Geographic | World Wide • ***Flickr Global • !* THE BEAUTY OF ☙THE NATURE❧ *Post 1 Award & Fave 3 please • Canon Greece • !* The Beauty of Nature/ NO people! NO single buildings! P1/C2 • art for non-snobs • Digital Masterpiece • !* World Wide Nature * ! P1-A2 *NO buildings or people!* • Artistic Perspectives • Greek Flickr Users Group • !!* Ⓑlue Ⓑy ⓨou! ♣THE SUBJECT MUST BE BLUE! READ RULES! • ! * Skies-Sunsets-Reflections in Water - Post 3/ Award 4 please • ` FLICKR ´ • Περιοδικό ΦΩΤΟγράφος • flickr (unofficial) • EOS Experience • brilliant flickr • All kind of Landscapes • Art Geeks • Art dans tout ses états • Amateur Astro-Photography • Astroscape • Travel Photography - Through the eyes of the world • All beautiful photos are welcome! • Colours of Flickr • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit • Hellenic Photographers of the World - Έλληνες Φωτογ • FLICKR INTERNATIONAL - No 30/60 Groups Limit • The best photographs from around the world. « less

Camera: Canon EOS RP, f/1.8, 6 sec, 24mm, ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS RP
Lens:	24mm F1.4 DG HSM \| Art 015
Aperture:	f/1.8
Exposure Time:	6
Focal Length:	24mm
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 22.1 (Macintosh)
Show full info

Stats: 7,406 views / 16 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: