Maera (hound)

Maira (Greek Μαῖρα ) In Greek mythology, the dog Ikarios, the legendary founder of viticulture in Attica. After his death, he was transferred from Zeus as star Sirius in the sky.

Ikarios had been killed by drunken shepherd and his body lay unburied buried under a tree, according to another version had been thrown his corpse into the source slot of the Anigros. His daughter Erigone went in search of the father, with Maira helped her. After they had buried her father, Erigone hanged himself in despair. After Nonnos Maira starved on the grave, from which he would not budge. According to Hyginus Maira plunged into the source slot.

How Ikarios and Erigone is also Maira added under the stars, namely as Sirius, the " Dog Star ", which was called by the Greeks Maira. In Hyginus ( Astronomica 2.2) of the star is not as Sirius, but as Procyon, the main star in the constellation of the little dog, identified.

Swell

• Hyginus Fabulae 130 Mythographus
• Nonnus of Panopolis Dionysiaca 47219-264

• Creature of Greek mythology
• Mythological dog