Re: [tied] Constellations

From: Christopher Gwinn
Message: 5021
Date: 2000-12-11

Not knowing the history of this particular star name, isn't it also possible that Charlemagne was associated with the constellation by folk etymology? If the constellation was originally called "the churl's wain" (*karla-wagnen, "the peasant's waggon"), this name might easily be confused with Latin Carolus Magnus (especially wagn- vs. magn-), especially since Latin Carolus is simply a Latinized Germanic Karl.
-C. Gwinn