During the 5th century, BC, the Greek and Romans came up with many myths about the constellations, many of them involving their gods and goddesses. In Homers The Illiad, Greek constellations are mentioned. Many of these legends still survive today.
Aquarius
Aries
Pisces
Sagittarius
Scorpius
Taurus
Ursa Major
Ursa Minor
Virgo
Andromeda
Andromeda was the daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus. The legend goes that her mother, Cassiopeia, bragged about her beauty and said she was more beautiful than the nymphs. This made Poseidon angry, so he chained Andromeda to a rock, to be eaten by a sea monster. Perseus, on his way home from slaying Medusa, saw Andromeda and agreed to save her if he could marry her. Perseus slayed the sea monster and the two were happily wed. Athene later put Andromeda in the sky between her mother and father.
Aquarius
In Greek mythology, Aquarius was Ganymede, who was the "cup-bearer to the gods". In Egypt, the constellation was thought to cause the flooding of the Nile every spring. At the time when the Nile flooded, Aquarius would be at it's zenith.
Aries
Aries, the ram, is representative of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts. About 2000 years ago, the virginal equinox was in Aries, and, even though this is not the case anymore, Aries is still regarded as the first constellation in the Zodiac.
Pisces
Pisces is the fish. The giant Typhoeus startled the gods into taking different forms. Venus and her son, Cupid, changed into fish, and the image was placed in the sky.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius, the Archer, is a zodiacal constellation. Sagittarius is the centuar archer who represents the cetaur Chiron. Chiron gave up his immortality to save Prometheus, so Jupiter placed him in the stars.
Scorpius
Scorpius, the scorpian, is a zodiacal constellation. Scorpius is believed to have been resposible for the death of Orion, so he was placed opposite from Orion in the sky to aviod further conflict.
Taurus
Taurus, the bull, is a zodiacal constellation. Jupiter fell in love with Europa and changed into a bull, and the head and torso of the bull were placed in the sky.
Ursa Major
The nymph Callisto angered Juno (Hera) and was changed into a bear by the angry goddess. Her son, Arcadia, came upon her hunting and tried to shoot her, so, to keep them safe, they were placed into the sky. Ursa Major is more commonly known today as the Big Dipper.
Ursa Minor
While out hunting, Arcadia, came upon his mother, Callisto, who had been changed into a bear by Juno (Hera), and tried to shoot her. To keep Callisto from being hurt, Jupiter (Zeus), changed Arcadia into a bear, as well, and placed them both into the sky. Juno (Hera) didn't want them to have the honor of being in the sky, and she forbade them from bathing in the sea (they don't go below the horizon in northern latitudes). Ursa Minor is also known as the Little Dipper.
Virgo
Virgo is the second largest constellation (after Hydra). It has also been known as Astraea. In ancient Egypt, it has been said to be the goddess Isis, the goddess of motherhood, while in other cultures has represented different goddesses, though they all seem to represent the goddess of motherhood.
