Cerberus, the three-headed dog or serpent:
This star pattern has always been associated with the constellation
of Hercules. According to mythology Cerberus was the three-headed
dog who guarded the path to the realm of the Underworld. As one
of his Twelve Labors, Hercules had to capture Cerberus and bring
him back to King Eurystheus. The constellation of Cerberus has its
origins with the astronomer Johannes Hevelius, who placed it on
his star atlas Firmamentum Sobiescianum. Most representations
of the constellation have it appearing as a three-headed serpent
instead of a dog. Cerberus is no longer recognized as a separate
constellation, instead its stars are now part of Hercules.
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