What is the Connection Between Heracles and the Cancer Constellation?
The connection between Heracles and the Cancer constellation originates from one of his Twelve Labors, specifically the second labor, which involved slaying the Lernaean Hydra. According to myth, as Heracles fought the Hydra, the goddess Hera, who was always hostile towards him, sent a giant crab to assist the Hydra. The crab attacked Heracles, biting his foot. However, Heracles crushed the crab under his foot and continued his battle with the Hydra. To honor the crab's efforts, Hera placed it among the stars as the constellation Cancer.
