Orion

Orion

In a Nutshell

Orion, the giant, is a great big star. We mean this literally and figuratively. The guy literally kicks it as a constellation these days, but he was also a famous "star" for being a crazy good hunter. Here's the sad thing about stars, though: We can't take our eyes off them when they fall.

It's totally true, right? As soon as a star has a meltdown (Britney), or is accused of a crime (Lindsay), people can't seem to stop watching the whole train wreck go down. Whether it's the star's fault or not (with Orion it totally is), folks keep the TV on, check out the gossip rags and blogs, and do whatever it takes to keep up with the latest embarrassment.

Orion definitely doesn't disappoint on the whole spectacular downfall front. He gets convicted of sexual assault (twice in some versions), stumbles around blind until he's healed, then gets killed by a giant scorpion as punishment for trying to slaughter every animal on Earth. Whoa baby, if he were around today, the messed up lives of our stars might not seem quite so messed up by comparison.

 

Shmoop Connections

Explore the ways this myth connects with the world and with other topics on Shmoop

Who's the cooler son of Poseidon: Orion or Percy Jackson? Check out Rick Riordan's Lightning Thief and decide.

In The Odyssey, Odysseus spots Orion's ghost when he drops by the Underworld to get directions home from the shade of Tiresias (no GPS back then). Wait! We thought Orion became a constellation when he died. What's he doing in the Underworld?

In his poem "Lycidas," John Milton refers to Sirius, the "dog star" which is actually said to be constellation-Orion's best furry buddy up in the stars. (Do dog stars even have fur? Whatevs.)

We're guessing you Harry Potter fans know another character named after Sirius, the dog star. Yup, shape-shifting Sirius Black is also named after Orion's pooch.

Some chicks love it when you can point out constellations, especially Orion. Well, it works for Ethan Frome in Edith Wharton's tragic novella.

Crack detective Dupin gets some clues when he watches the narrator take a gander at the constellation, Orion, in Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." (You should check out this story just because. It's the first detective story ever, and it's awesome.)