Cancer

The story

Cancer's mythological ancestor is the giant crab in Hera's service. During Heracles' second labor — fighting the many-headed monster Hydra in the Lernean swamp — with Hydra already half-defeated under Heracles' foot, Hera (Zeus's wife who always hated Heracles) ordered the crab to attack Heracles' foot. The crab attacked loyally; to slow Heracles. Heracles in fury crushed the crab. The crab died but had fulfilled Hera's wish. Hera, to honor the small creature's loyalty, placed it in the sky — the constellation Cancer. It sits next to the magnificent Leo (whose dead lion-skin Heracles wears) — two figures with permanent unfinished business with Heracles.

Into the sky

Hera placed the crab — small and unglamorous — in the sky for dying out of loyalty. The Cancer constellation is faint — a counter-honor: "you didn't win great victory but you kept your word."

Themes

• Hera's crab
• battle with Heracles
• dying for loyalty
• small power